Hong Kong authorities used drones to scrutinise 157 ageing buildings last year for signs of potential concrete spalling and facade problems, slashing the time needed for such inspections and improving accuracy.
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The Buildings Department’s remotely controlled unstaffed aerial vehicles were able to spot defects more precisely, complete inspections and generate reports using artificial intelligence (AI) faster.
Except for simple visual inspections of buildings from the street or rooftop, traditional methods of checking for defects sometimes take months, or even years, because of paperwork, meetings with building owners, tender processes and scaffolding requirements.
The department intends to increase the use of technology and is getting more of its staff trained in piloting drones.
Chief structural engineer Stephen Chow Hing said drones and AI provided a tool to detect facade damage more precisely, including in hard-to-find spots that might be blocked.
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Hong Kong is facing a crisis of ageing buildings, with the number of private homes in buildings aged over 70 years rising from about 1,000 in 2018 to 373,000 by 2048.