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Elevated base operations

(eg rooftops)

In certain places, such as sites with nearby high pedestrian / vehicle traffic, or those with limited / non-existent outdoor areas, operating from a rooftop can overcome massive logistical challenges. Operating from most commercial rooftops usually allows me to easily meet CASA’s mandatory 30m separation from people requirement, without the need to seek approval to block areas off with barriers, or run traffic management (both of which can cause major disruption to normal business operations, add costs, and add delays). When performing Visual Line-of-Sight Verification surveys, it also makes it possible to operate the drone at low altitudes above the roof (simulating a low mast), whilst still easily maintaining CASA’s mandatory Visual Line-of-Sight requirement with the drone (impossible, if operating from the ground nearby and the building is tall).  Both these things are mandatory CASA safety requirements, unless an exemption has been granted (which requires extra costs and delays!)

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Contrary to what most drone service providers will tell you, it is actually a lot safer to operate a drone from a rooftop base, than on the ground! This is because when you work from a rooftop, you can see first-hand all obstacles around you, whereas from the ground, many obstacles are blocked from your line-of-sight. Other myths perpetrated by drone service providers are that you need expensive equipment to get onto rooftops, such as cherry pickers and scissor lifts. Having flown drones from more than 500 commercial rooftops, I can honestly say that it would only be about 1% of the time that a cherry picker or scissor lift is required. (PS: I have permits for these, too!) Most of the time, a top-floor access hatch will get you onto the roof. Sometimes a ladder or two is required, other times (eg factory / warehouses), a customer will have on-site a high-reach forklift with an approved safety cage. If it's an industrial building that is being refitted prior to new owners moving in, often there will be a scissor lift or cherry picker on-site that you can use, or be taken up in. None of these methods cost anything, and all can be done perfectly legally and in perfect safety, if you have the right permits, equipment, and experience.

 

If performing Visual Line-of-Sight Verification works, being able to work on a rooftop also provides the ability to take photos with a handheld zoom camera, which has far greater (up to 125x) optical zoom ability than any zoom camera available on a drone (up to 30x), so is far superior to a drone’s zoom camera, for long-distance shots! If doing inspection work, it also allows you to closely inspect first-hand any anomalies found, and if possible, take action to rectify!

 

CDS Differentiators:

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