Tall structure inspection

Industrial chimney inspection
by drone

A drone chimney inspection examines a tall structure over its full height from the air: concrete or steel shaft, joints, crown, casing, ladders, platforms and aircraft warning equipment. The same approach applies to silos, towers and other slender structures.

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Why use a drone

Inspect the full height without climbing it

Access to an industrial chimney usually calls for rope access teams or scaffolding over several tens of metres, with heavy preparation and, often, a production shutdown. It is one of the most exposed interventions on an industrial site.

The drone documents the structure over its full height and on every face, crown included, in a few passes. Defects are photographed in high definition and referenced by height and orientation, so you can decide on solid grounds whether a physical intervention is needed and where to concentrate it.

No rope access team or scaffolding to set up
Every face and the crown documented
Defects referenced by height and orientation
Compatible with keeping the site in operation

Deliverables

Our services on tall structures

The protocol is defined with you according to the height of the structure, its surroundings and the operating constraints of the site.

High-definition visual capture

Survey of the shaft over its full height and on each face: cracking, spalling, corrosion, condition of joints and repairs.

Survey of the crown and equipment

Downward views of the upper section, casing, warning lights, ladders, platforms and fixings that cannot be seen from the ground.

Infrared thermography

Highlighting thermal anomalies on the shaft and areas of degraded insulation, where the configuration allows.

3D modelling of the structure

Photogrammetric reconstruction to place defects on the actual geometry and track how they evolve between campaigns.

Located inspection report

Findings sorted by height and orientation, illustrated with the matching views, to prepare a maintenance programme.

Use cases

When clients call us in

Periodic check of an industrial chimney or silo
Diagnosis before repair or demolition works
Assessment after a lightning strike, storm or operating incident
Verification of warning lights and equipment at the top
Preparing a pricing file for a rope access intervention

Frequently asked questions

Does the installation have to be shut down?

It depends on the nature of the emissions and the outlet temperature. We look at this during scoping: many external inspections are carried out without a shutdown.

Up to what height can you operate?

The usual heights of industrial chimneys are within reach of our aircraft, subject to the rules applicable to the area and to the necessary authorisations.

Can the inside of the flue be inspected?

Inspection inside a flue or a confined space calls for specific equipment and procedures; we tell you during scoping what is feasible on your structure.

Which defects are looked for?

Cracking, concrete spalling, corrosion, degraded joints and repairs, condition of the crown, ladders, platforms and warning equipment.

Does the drone replace a statutory inspection?

It provides the visual evidence for a diagnosis and targets the areas to examine; it does not replace the checks required by your operating regulations.

Our method

How a mission unfolds

Four steps, from the first conversation to the delivery of your data.

01
Scoping
We define together the perimeter, the accuracy required and the format of the deliverables.
02
Flight preparation
Feasibility study, analysis of site constraints and regulatory procedures.
03
On-site acquisition
Our remote pilots operate on site, without interrupting your activity.
04
Processing and delivery
Data processing, quality control and delivery of annotated results.

Nationwide coverage

We operate everywhere in France

Dronexperts operates across the whole of France. Our professional drone pilots travel to wherever your site is, anywhere in the country, and across Europe for the specific missions our industrial clients require.

Our 5 registered training centres — Paris West (Beynes, 78), Strasbourg (Schiltigheim, 67), Toulouse (Labarthe-sur-Lèze, 31), Marseille/Toulon (Le Castellet, 83) and Bordeaux (Mérignac, 33) — act as anchor points so we can reach every region quickly. They are starting bases, not a limit: we operate throughout France, with the same procedures, the same insurance cover and the same standards from one end of the country to the other.

Paris West — Beynes (78)

Our anchor point in Île-de-France: Paris, the inner and outer suburbs and the wider Paris basin.

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Strasbourg — Schiltigheim (67)

Our Grand Est base: Strasbourg, Colmar, Mulhouse, Metz, Nancy, Reims and the German and Swiss border areas.

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Toulouse — Labarthe-sur-Lèze (31)

Our Occitanie base: Toulouse, Montpellier, Albi, Tarbes, Perpignan and the whole South-West.

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Marseille / Toulon — Le Castellet (83)

Our Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur base: Marseille, Toulon, Aix-en-Provence, Nice and the Mediterranean coast.

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Bordeaux — Mérignac (33)

Head office and historical base of Dronexperts, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine: Bordeaux, La Rochelle, Limoges, Pau, Bayonne.

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Is your site far from all five centres? That is not a problem: our bases are starting points, not a service perimeter. We organise travel for the team and the equipment anywhere in France, and across Europe for specific missions, on quotation.

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