The drought has hit the state of California hard. In March, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the first three months of 2022 were the driest ever recorded in the state’s history. On top of this, in 2021, all 58 California counties were under a drought emergency proclamation.

It’s clear that we all need to do our part to help reduce water usage and get California back on track. As individuals, the state of California recommends water usage tips such as turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth and taking five-minute showers, but what can companies do to conserve water usage and avoid overuse fees?

CAM Property Services, your commercial property management expert, recommends the following best practices:

1. Install Smart Irrigation Systems
A large amount of our water is used outdoors for landscaping, but according to the state of California, much of it can be lost through evaporation, wind, and runoff. More efficient irrigation systems can prevent this, resulting in reduced water usage and preventing overuse fees. Our CAM Property Services experts can help not only pinpoint water loss but also install smart irrigation systems to prevent it.

2. Install Drought Tolerant Landscaping
Another way to reduce the amount of water used outside is to install drought-tolerant landscaping. According to Save Our Water, the use of drought-resistant plants and trees can save you 30-60 gallons per 1000 sq. ft. each time you water them. CAM can help in this process by removing your current landscaping and installing more water-conservative fauna that is indigent to the area.

3. Set Your Mower Blades to 3 Inches
If you’ve grown attached to your lawn, don’t fret! Another easy-to-implement tip to save water is to set your mower blade to three inches. According to the state of California, such a simple trick can allow your grass to grow deeper roots, saving up to 50 gallons of water per day. Our experts at CAM Property Services can easily implement this tip, saving you water without sacrificing the landscaping you’ve grown to love.

4. Fix Leaks On Your Property
This may come as no surprise, but fixing any leaks both outside and inside your building is one of the most effective ways to save water. According to the state of California, a leaky faucet that lets out one drip-per-second can lose you over 3,200 gallons of water per year! Luckily for you, the experts at CAM Property Services are trained not only in fixing leaks inside and outside the building but in identifying them as well. You’ll have peace of mind in knowing that we identify and eliminate all leaks, reduce the amount of water your building uses, and help avoid costly fees.

There are many ways to reduce water usage for your building. Let CAM Property Services help get the job done.

Call (800) 576-3050 to find out the many ways we can help you be water-wise and do your part during the drought.

As the world begins to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses are finding it challenging to entice employees to return to the workplace. In what has been called “The Great Resignation,” waves of workers are leaving their jobs at record levels, and the requirement to return to the office full-time is playing a big part in that movement.

According to a recent poll by McKinsey, a global management consulting company, 30 percent of respondents said they would consider quitting if forced to return to full-time, on-site employment, and about half of those who left their jobs cited a lack of a positive work-life balance as a primary reason. Faced with the challenges of this “new normal,” many employers are seeking to reach a middle ground, utilizing a hybrid model in which workers are on site or in office only a few days a week.

Businesses who find themselves in a similar predicament — welcoming employees back in a hybrid capacity — should take this opportunity to reassess how the workspace fulfills their current needs. Fortunately, CAM Property Services can help you navigate this “new normal.”

Redesign Your Workplace

Under this new hybrid model, only a fraction of the workforce is in the office at any given time. Due to that, businesses are needing 40 to 50 percent less space than before the pandemic. As the workplace shrinks, the need to remodel and reimagine existing space comes into play. CAM can connect you to specialties to navigate these obstacles — from planning and design to general construction and ADA remediation, we can help revitalize your space for “the new normal.”

Under this new hybrid model, only a fraction of the workforce is in the office at any given time. Due to that, businesses are needing 40 to 50 percent less space than before the pandemic. As the workplace shrinks, the need to remodel and reimagine existing space comes into play. CAM can connect you to specialties to navigate these obstacles — from planning and design to general construction and ADA remediation, we can help revitalize your space for “the new normal.”

Companies that improved overall performance during the pandemic relied on small, cross-functional, and cross-silo teams that worked with an in-person dimension. These teams brought with them a strong sense of socialization, something that has been missing in the remote work world. Taking a strategic approach to redesigning your office space in order to facilitate better collaboration, teamwork and socialization can help better maximize your company’s performance.

Make A Clean And Safe Space

It’s imperative that employees feel secure knowing that they are returning to a clean and safe work environment. Firms are starting to expect concierge-level, face-to-face services for workers for them to feel at ease about the cleanliness and safety on their return to the workplace.

CAM Property Services can fulfill this need by providing on-site professionals that ensure the facility is operating cleanly, smoothly, and efficiently. From ensuring that the interior office is up to code, all the way to cleaning graffiti and addressing vandalism, you can rest easy knowing our professionals are on the job.

CAM provides the highest quality services for over 1,300 properties across California, and that number is constantly on the rise. Whether you need to remodel your office or hire day porter services, our reputation for knowledgeable and personable care is unmatched, and we’re always taking on new clients, big and small.

Your property is being judged before people even step foot on it. If your grounds aren’t enticing or aesthetically pleasing, the first impression to tenants and visitors is already sullied. An ideal way to keep your business park landscaping curb appeal pristine is with pre-emergent spraying.

As a property professional, there’s nothing worse than putting time, energy, and resources into your commercial landscaping — only for it to be slowly taken over by pesky weeds. Luckily for you, CAM Property Services offers pre-emergent spraying to keep those uninvited guests at bay. Prevention is key, and we’re here to help.

Here’s how it works:

When utilizing the pre-emergent spraying process, herbicide is sprayed (before weeds are visible) to create an invisible barrier below the soil. As weeds begin to grow and hit that barrier, they are killed upon contact, and never break through the soil.

When it comes to weed control, the pre-emergent process is the most effective preventative measure. It’s safe to use around essential plants, and once applied, kills weeds permanently. This is not to say that dormant weeds can’t make a return down the road, or that animals or uncleaned mower head decks won’t transport seeds. It’s not a miracle worker. Some things just cannot be controlled.

Keep in mind that pre-emergent is only effective if employed before your property has a weed infestation. Once germination begins, it’s very difficult to stop. Proactive spraying prevents the germination process from even initiating. This is why we recommend an herbicide treatment before or during Spring. When done then, you can look forward to a weed-free summer.

CAM Property Services is here to help keep your maintenance and landscaping to the highest standard. We currently provide the highest quality services for over 1,300 properties across California, and that number is constantly on the rise. Commercial landscape pre-emergent weed control is just one of the many services we offer. Our reputation for knowledgeable and personable care is unmatched, and we’re always taking on new clients, big and small.

Call (800) 576-3050 to find out how you can onboard California’s ultimate landscaping services for your commercial property.

The eyes and ears of a dedicated service partner can make the difference between complete safety and potential hazard. When it comes to multifamily property management, it’s critical to contract with a team that provides an abundance of services — in all the necessary places — throughout your property.

Southern California-based CAM Property Services adeptly identifies problem areas and provides site audit reports detailing conditions that could pose a safety risk.

When a company provides multiple services, its employees tend to be more attuned to safety concerns on a larger scale. Empowering them to file a site audit report encourages proactive awareness and results in safer conditions.

Day porters and janitors can be great sources of information regarding multifamily interiors and exteriors. These team members maintain clean, safe environments while also being on the lookout for unsafe situations. Reporting or repairing flooring issues can prevent trip-and-fall injuries. Trash chutes with damaged parts can lead to injury or fire safety violations.

Parking lot sweepers, landscapers, steam cleaners, and handymen are all excellent sources for recognizing safety issues. Property supervisors, account managers, and their crews work in unison for the benefit of property owners and managers. They often recognize and report issues such as illegally dumped items, homeless activity, broken doors and locks, fire lane obstructions, worn painted curb zones, and structural damage.

Besides site audit reports, these teams also have access to a network of professionals to assess and remediate safety concerns. Some situations may require a professional assessment by a safety inspector, engineer, ADA CASp inspector, or even an aerial drone inspection. Quick action can make the difference in averting a tragedy.

Contracting an array of multifamily property services from a single company is beneficial in so many ways. Tenants experience a higher standard of cleanliness and maintenance. A consistent presence easily notices changes in property conditions, thereby identifying abnormalities. Team members share information with property managers, forming a cohesive perspective. And watchful eyes imbued with the power to speak up, can alert property managers about potential safety issues before they become a problem.

The stakes are high with multifamily properties. Reports of tragedies are usually followed with an accounting of unsafe conditions that were ignored or went unreported. Using a professional team to meet all your property needs can lead to both improved tenant satisfaction and retention, safer conditions, and more value for your property.

The trend to use contract labor for municipality needs is on the rise as local governments rely more on outsourced contract work to provide basic services once fulfilled by city and county workers. This offers clear advantages as private companies adapt more easily to fluctuations in demand and regulatory changes, while providing services by workers with specialized property skills.

During the pandemic slowdown, facilities were able to get by with limited staffing and deferred maintenance. As the general public begins to congregate in greater numbers, city governments, county departments, business improvement districts (BIDs), and even schools are turning to commercial property services companies for assistance with primary property needs.

CAM Property Services, a California-based company, recently secured a contract to provide “janitorial services in three City of Pasadena parking lots.” Contracted services include daily cleaning of parking lots including use of a sweeper truck, picking up trash, emptying public trash cans, and pulling weeds in tree wells. While this is not their first municipal contract, it represents a shift toward more basic services than previous contracts covered.

As cities face difficulties in meeting their standard labor needs, they are outsourcing tasks that have traditionally been handled internally. They are finding mid-sized companies that provide a variety of services are in the best position to meet these needs.

Service companies also tend to provide staff with a higher degree of skill and expertise in a particular service. They often come with specialized equipment and experience across multiple asset classes, therefore can provide a higher level of professional service than a general laborer might.

Janitorial, day porter, facility repair, parking lot maintenance, sweeping, landscaping, and power washing are some of the services now being outsourced on a regular basis as municipalities turn to property service providers to fill the void left by unfilled job vacancies.

On the other side of this equation, property service providers can also face labor shortages and tend to lean toward servicing entities with which they have a prior relationship or wish to establish a new, long-term business arrangement.

Picking up government contract work is no easy task for companies either. The process requires strict adherence to bidding guidelines. Financial transparency, substantive liability coverage, human resources adaptability, and proven operational proficiency are a few of the hurdles required just to qualify and submit a bid for government contracts. Besides the significant amount of work that goes into bidding these jobs, the minimum performance qualifications present a high bar that many service companies are unable to meet, thereby excluding those companies from submitting a bid.

If you are a government entity, you may wish to establish a relationship with a property service company before the need becomes dire. Working out the nuances of bid contract work and building rapport is better achieved under normal circumstances.

As every sector readjusts to post-pandemic conditions, many of these variances may become the norm. Municipalities will adjust their labor needs and processes, the benefits of outsourced property services will be realized, and the labor force will take on a different form. A shift in the way you contract business today will help keep your “supply chain” of property services steady to meet future needs.

When it comes to managing trash collection at a facility, good logistics can make a huge difference. Small problems compound easily when taken to a large scale at places such as a multifamily apartment, high-rise office, hotel, or sports stadium. Trash chutes can make a big impact on many levels. They can improve facility cleanliness, air quality, labor costs, and even workplace safety.

Multifamily residences are unique in this category as tenants of all ages are most likely to be accessing the trash chute door. Safety is a top priority. The first step is to make sure that the trash chute was professionally installed. Facility managers should also regularly schedule crews to clean and maintain trash chute equipment properly to prevent injury or harm to users, as well as financial liability.

There are regulations that require proper inspection and maintenance of trash chute systems for a variety of health and safety reasons. Although concern is far more than a fire safety issue, the main authority is NFPA 82 (National Fire Protection Association). Local laws may have regional variances, so be sure to check. A reputable commercial contractor should be familiar with related building codes and annual inspection requirements.

Another code consideration is that the installation complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). There are requirements about aspects such as accessibility, door handle hardware, height, and enclosure space. Chutes not in compliance may require retrofitting or stiff penalties may be assessed. A CASp inspector can help identify and avoid these costly problems.

Industrial trash chutes face the same regulations, although they are typically confined to “employees only” areas accessed by professional cleaning staff. Places like office buildings, commercial complexes, hotels, and assisted senior living facilities often have trash chutes for hauling away large volumes of garbage quickly and easily.

Hauling trash indoors in this manner can minimize odors in common areas, hallways, elevators, and stairwells. It can also prevent slips from leakage and other employee injuries from hauling trash.

These industrial chutes are typically installed during initial building construction, however, there are methods for installation in existing buildings. Experienced and licensed construction companies can provide more detailed information.

Keep in mind that many large construction companies shy away from this type of work, so a reputable, specialist construction company may be the ideal partner.

A sports stadium is well suited for trash chute system installation. Volumes of baseball, football, basketball, soccer, and hockey fans generate tons of trash at each sporting event. Their unique building structure allows for trash chute installations before, during, and after primary construction.

Trash chutes often deposit trash directly into lower-level dumpsters or trash compactors. This convenience can save time and labor costs. It also reduces the number of times trash is handled directly, in a time when cleanliness is at the forefront.

While this can be convenient it also poses a problem. Combustibles and other hazardous materials commonly cause fires in trash areas. To prevent the quick spread of fire through these conduits, fire safety closures must be properly installed at the end of the chute. Upper-level access doors must also be fire-rated.

Chutes are either rectangular or round. The shape may be determined by construction constraints or the manufacturer’s equipment. However, when presented with the option, one should consider the benefits of a round trash chute. Much like the infamous query “Why are manhole covers round?” – a round chute is more likely to prevent oversized items from becoming wedged as they cannot be rotated for a different fit as rectangular chutes allow.

Modern trash chutes may also come with extra features. Deceleration tracks and noise dampeners are common. Built-in cleaning systems are also prevalent, dispersing cleaning agents and sprays to help alleviate internal grime and odors. However, cleaning personnel may still be required for more extensive power washing and external hardware.

If you are considering the benefits of installing a trash chute or need professional maintenance on existing equipment, the best resource for referrals may be your janitorial or facility maintenance crew. They are likely to already offer those services or work in conjunction with those who do. For installation try specialist commercial construction companies that are familiar with industrial buildings and local codes.

Commercial trash chutes are more than a useful convenience, they can provide significant savings on labor and accident costs. Larger commercial facilities should consider the installation and regular maintenance of trash chute systems to improve the health and safety of those around.

Written in conjunction with CAM Property Services, a facility maintenance company offering a broad range of property services throughout Southern California.

As technology continues to improve, new ways to apply it are being implemented across all industries to provide better service for customers. The commercial property services sector is no exception. The latest tech to help property managers make decisions is drone inspections. These digital property surveys are helping guide management decisions, improving performance and profitability.

More than just aerial images, the data points provided by professionally piloted drone surveys continue to impress. Paired with sophisticated software, aerial drone footage enables property managers to work efficiently and effectively with single properties or across entire portfolios.

Drones receive most of the attention, but the behind-the-scenes software is the real star. The post-flight processing of the data can identify topography, building elevations, contour lines, breaklines, and even changes in slope. The ability to provide this important data depends on the software quality, which can cost hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands. A professional drone operation will have invested in a higher-end program.

Sophisticated software will also have the ability to process thousands of measurements, adjust for 2-D image distortion, generate geolocation tags, and provide accurate horizontal and vertical measurements. Accumulating and processing these data points accurately can provide valuable information for important property management decisions.

Drone inspections provide a “big picture” overview to aid facility manager planning. Aerial footage can effectively capture areas such as property boundaries, landscape, rooftops, exterior walls, storefronts, parking lots, and hazardous zones. Difficult access points can also be inspected up close, such as facades, signs, and high vertical surfaces. Drones have also been used to detect vandalism, graffiti, dumping, and illegal encampments.

With high quality equipment, measurements can be as accurate as +/- one centimeter and produced in a much shorter time than traditional methods. This can greatly reduce the cost of labor and human error for surveying properties. It also provides easier access to survey locations that may be difficult to reach.

Identifying maintenance needs is another area in which drone inspections can save money. Troubleshooting HVAC equipment, spotting rooftop water pools, and repairing solar panels in a timely manner can help management teams reduce property expenses.

A comprehensive aerial inspection can establish the baseline condition of a property for better risk assessment. Accurate aerial property surveys can also increase real estate valuations by putting all property assets into perspective. Realtors, bankers, buyers, and sellers are relying more and more on drone property inspections to support appraised values.

In the digital era, people have become accustomed to having information at their fingertips. Cloud-based aerial drone footage can be viewed online. Digital video files can be saved, archived, or shared easily. Access is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Liability protection is another important benefit of aerial drone inspections.

The first step is to accurately identify problems and perform repairs in a timely manner to reduce the number of accidents occurring on a property. Overhead views can identify problem areas. Liabilities such as trip and fall hazards, unsafe zones, and parking lot potholes may not be as noticeable at ground level but become obvious at higher elevations.

An aerial inspection can also provide an evidential timestamped video of property conditions, which can prove invaluable to insurance companies and litigators. Regularly scheduled drone inspections provide an ongoing record of property conditions and proof of maintenance.

Drone coverage can also help with ADA compliance and lawsuits. Not identifying and repairing ADA accessibility issues can bring devastating financial losses to a business. Overview footage can be used to identify problem hotspots and target them for remediation prior to any lawsuit filing or code violation.

If interested in ordering an aerial drone inspection for your property, you might start with the company that provides your property services. They tend to know your property the best and can likely refer you to the best source in your area.

Aerial drone inspections make sense on so many levels. Property managers are as good as the quality of information they receive. Providing better tools results in better outcomes. Drones generate comprehensive information that can help management make informed decisions, avoid serious losses, and save money.

The construction of linen chutes for commercial use is a modern necessity for an operation such as a senior living facility, hotel, hospitality business, multifamily high-rise, or industrial facility. These convenient conduits can be installed inside internal building shafts or as external structures. While relatively simple in design they feature several elements that require construction expertise.

Placing linen chute access points on upper floors allow for the easy transport of dirty laundry down to a central location, often directly into the laundry facility. Dirty and odorous linen can avoid elevators and other common areas. This also prevents potential injury from moving heavy laundry down long hallways or stairs.

Linen chutes are classified as gravity chutes because they are non-mechanical, relying on basic physics to move the load to a lower floor. The main vertical chute is either round or rectangular, traversing several floors.

Building codes and compliance are the top considerations for new laundry chute construction. Proper installation demands mechanisms are in place for the safety of the building and its occupants.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has strict guidelines about linen chute equipment. The governing codes in NFPA 82 include section 11.2.2, which states “Waste and linen chutes and transport systems including chute intake and discharge doors, shall be inspected and maintained not less than annually in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions.”

Fire suppression devices are important features as fire can travel and spread quickly through open conduits such as chutes. The first safety device is a sliding closure at the bottom level. Normally in the open position, it is held in place by a pin assembly that discharges under high heat. This automatically closes the shaft to prevent air, smoke, and fire from spreading rapidly if the laundry room is the point of origin.

Laundry chutes are accessed at each upper floor through hinged metal doors. These doors are typically fire-rated at 90-120 minutes, depending on local codes. They may have other fire suppression features, such as sprinklers at each floor level.

Chutes also have child-safe latches to prevent accidental opening. Doors are self-closing and openings are commonly limited to 18”. All door heights and hardware must be ADA compliant.

Clearly the maintenance and inspection of linen chute systems are important. If you have maintenance questions, repair needs, or concerns about compliance inspections, a good place to start is your facility services team. They may provide this service or can refer you to a reliable source.

Regular cleaning of linen chutes is also essential to maintain hygiene and a good working condition. Even if your system has an internal self-cleaning function, the exterior doors, hardware, and hopper require supplemental cleaning to stop contamination and prevent corrosion.

Linen chutes may appear similar to ventilation shafts but they are typically made of a thicker gauge sheet metal to withstand the weight of heavy linen, which may also be wet. There are other structural elements to account for the heavy load, such as deceleration tracks, braces, and reinforcement at impact points.

Constructed of stainless steel or aluminized steel, long shafts are welded together. The interiors are smooth and fitted to prevent damage to falling linen. Noise dampeners are also employed to reduce banging and ringing sounds. Rooftop exhaust ports are also essential.

While basic in appearance, there are many components that require professional expertise in the construction, custom fabrication, and installation of linen chutes. Incorporating them into existing facilities demands knowledge of commercial construction methods and practices.

Linen chute manufacturers may offer installation but can be unfamiliar with building construction challenges. Chute projects often fall below the minimum threshold required to interest a large construction company. Therefore, the ideal sweet spot for linen chute installation is a small construction company with the industry expertise and flexibility to meet your needs.

A company such as Omnia Pacific Construction is ideally suited to install your linen chute system in California. With decades of experience in the commercial space, they have worked with assisted living facilities, multifamily apartments, hotels, and industrial warehouses to bring convenient and cost-effective upgrades to their facilities. Call 800-974-4515 today to find out what they can do for your property.

As the pandemic eases, construction costs are rising across the commercial sector. There are several uncharted factors impacting these market forces. However, even with the increases, demand is expected to rise as retail, offices, medical facilities, industrial properties, and multifamily businesses re-enter sectors of the economy they have put off during the last eighteen months.

Commercial real estate inventory, demand, cost of building materials, supply chain disruptions, interest rates, labor shortages, and the pandemic are heavy influences of current pricing trends. Federal infrastructure spending in the near future is expected to squeeze resources further. You may continue to see construction costs rise or at the very least remain unstable for the next year or two.

Let’s just look at one building material – lumber – perhaps the single most important building supply. Since the start of the pandemic the price of lumber has fluctuated greatly. The unit price for a thousand board feet of lumber reached a low of $258 in April 2020, and then staggered its way to a record high of $1670 in May 2021. This was an increase of nearly 650%. It fell steadily since then to the mid-$400s in August 2021, but climbed to over $600 in September. Many analysts put the price in the pre-pandemic range of $350 in the months ahead, but it is really anyone’s guess.

Other costs have risen substantially in year-over-year comparisons based on the producer price index (PPI) for new nonresidential building construction. These are the year-over-year percentage rate increases for common building materials:

Despite increases in material costs, orders are rising. As material costs reach double digits, the costs for new construction are still tempered with moderate single digit increases. Here are the PPI increases for new buildings:

These increases impact construction costs, but more importantly, the volatility is changing the construction bidding process. Bid prices are guaranteed for much shorter time periods, requiring quicker decision making. This is expected to continue as long as the price of materials continues to fluctuate unpredictably.

Scheduling also becomes challenging. The bid process may require shorter lead times, while material back-orders extend schedules. Pre-ordering and securing construction materials may become necessary to meet deadlines.

Building supply costs are just one price consideration in the overall cost of construction. Another refrain from construction companies is the shortage of skilled and unskilled labor. As unemployment benefits begin to run out, the labor supply is expected to increase. While this may have some impact, wages are also expected to increase as the labor supply struggles to meet demand.

The pandemic has also impacted the labor market in extraordinary ways. Health and safety rules have limited the number of people allowed on a job site or within a confined work area. Work reductions in government offices have slowed the rate of inspections and permit approvals.

Interest rates have remained the one constant. And while historically low rates will eventually rise, they are expected to do so at a slow rate. However, commercial financing and construction loans are not just based on interest rates. In recent years the architecture of these loans has changed significantly from long-term lending to shorter bridge loans throughout various phases of a project.

As construction booms and resources tighten, smaller projects may get pushed aside by large construction companies. Finding a smaller, yet experienced company may be the right answer for many. Omnia Pacific Construction, a Los Angeles based company specializing in retail and commercial projects, is seeing an uptick in small and mid-level construction. Space conversion, remodeling, and ADA remediation are popular requests.

Another area growing in popularity is space demising. As commercial properties evolve, many larger spaces are looking to demise rooms into smaller, multiple rental units. These projects are perfect for a small construction company, as they require industry experience and expertise but are often too small for the bigger firms.

It is clear that commercial construction is entering a new phase. As labor and supply resources tighten in the months ahead, finding the right construction resources might be essential to complete your project in a timely and cost-effective manner. Tapping into new sources might pleasantly surprise you with the best possible outcome.

Sources:

Construction Material Costs Overall Continue Rise, While Lumber Drops; Floor Daily
https://www.floordaily.net/flooring-news/construction-material-costs-overall-continue-rise-while-lumber-drops

Material Cost Escalation, Delays and COVID-19: Managing Risk in Challenging Times; JD Supra
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/material-cost-escalation-delays-and-3911119

Covid to Impact Construction Claims Until at Least 2023; Pinsent Masons
https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/analysis/covid-impact-construction-claims-2023

Facility thermal drone inspections are more than just colorful video footage or photos. When drone services are provided by property professionals, the camera captures data most relevant to the specific needs of property managers. The more familiar a drone operator is with a property and its trouble spots, the better the resulting analysis.

While the quality of non-thermal drones is dependent on camera lens quality, resolution, and image storage, thermal drones raise the stakes. The quality of thermal cameras can vary considerably in price depending on sensitivity, targeted accuracy, and range of datapoints collected.

Color changes can provide good basic information about the general location of trouble spots, which may be adequate for some situations. Upper end units have radiometric thermal cameras which can provide the temperatures of various pinpoint locations within an image.

However, capturing the data is only part of the process. Another critical aspect of thermal drones is the software used to capture, collect, and process large volumes of critical information in real time and during post-flight analysis. The ability to process all of the datapoints for meaningful analysis separates the professional thermal drone operations from the hobbyists posing as surveyors. Inspections from equipment that costs nearly twenty thousand dollars produces far different results than drone gear that costs a fraction of that.

Roof inspections are one of the most obvious uses for thermal drones. These areas typically serve as hubs for utilities. Heat sensing detection can reveal problems with HVAC equipment, poorly insulated areas, structural issues, roof penetrations, and even water damage when evaluated by an experienced drone pilot.

Utility control panels can be assessed with thermal imaging. Alleys, parking lots, fenced areas, and behind buildings are common utility equipment areas easily accessed by a drone. Nearby utility poles, transformers, and powerlines are also ideal inspection points for detecting wasteful energy loss. Mitigate the high cost of commercial electricity with a thermal drone energy audit.

Solar panels are another area in which inefficiencies and problems can be revealed via heat imaging drones. Variations in panel activity is easily identified by changes in color. You can also thermally image properties to identify the best location to place solar panels.

Preventative maintenance saves facility managers time and money by avoiding larger problems, scheduling repairs to minimize downtime, and enabling strategic planning with Information collected through drone imaging. Even events that may go unnoticed, such as normal wear and tear, loose connections, and nearly imperceptible defects can be revealed in a timely manner with thermal imaging.

It is not just buildings that benefit from these types of inspections. Large properties, parking lots, and landscaped areas can reveal anomalies and problem areas. Pooling water, insect & animal activity, and hots spots can be revealed. Troubleshooting lighted signs and equipment in high places can also be achieved with thermal imaging.

Recording property conditions can be useful for supporting future insurance claims. Before and after documentation can assist in investigating and validating property problems. Drone imaging can be recorded and saved on the cloud for anytime, anywhere access.

Full aerial views can help with strategic planning while closeup images can reveal root causes. Working with your current property services company is ideal if they offer drone services. These professionals are in the best position to understand your property needs and problem areas.

The tools exist today for asset managers to be proactive in their approach. Maintenance costs can be reduced through thorough inspections. Identifying problems early is an important key to help save time and money and prevent minor issues from becoming critical. Consider thermal drone imaging to help get critical, analytical information for managing your property effectively.

Resources:

High Resolution Thermal Imaging for Drones: Changing the Game on Building Inspections
https://dronelife.com/2018/07/25/high-resolution-thermal-imaging-for-drones-changing-the-game-on-building-inspections

Drone Training, News, and Resources
https://uavcoach.com

Thermographic Inspections – U.S. Dept of Energy
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/thermographic-inspections

Thermal Imaging: How can this technology be useful?
https://a-actionhomeinspection.com/inspection-services/thermal-imaging