CASE C28 · NL ·
Dutch municipality: drone assessment of an unsafe 1930s landmark building's attic
A Dutch municipality had the attic of a dilapidated 1930s landmark surveyed by caged drone before restoration. Human entry was judged unsafe; the survey took one day at about a third of the usual cost. Dust raised by the propellers cut visibility and required careful lighting.
Office buildings & facadesConfined spacesGNSS-deniedDarknessDust & smokeOxygen deficiency & toxic gas
| Owner | Municipal authority, Netherlands (not named) |
| Provider | Tetra Tech (Netherlands) |
| Location | Netherlands |
| Aircraft | Flyability Elios 3 |
| Sensors | 4K camera, LiDAR |
Before
Weeks of assessment, planning and stabilisation before anyone could enter; attic entry was judged unsafe.
With drones
A caged drone was flown into the attic, where asbestos was also suspected, to record the structure with video and LiDAR.
Outcomes
| Metric | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| duration | 1 day vs weeks | Reported |
| cost | about 3 times lower than a standard inspection | Reported |
| reporting | results delivered the same day | Reported |
Caveats & limits
- Manufacturer case study; building, city and year not named.
- Propeller downwash raised dust that reduced visibility; oblique lighting was needed.
Sources
- Safety First: Flying the Elios 3 Drone Inside a Burnt BuildingFlyability Full text read
Sources checked: 2026-10-22