Gill Viaduct

THE PROJECT

Story Drones provided support to our in-house ecologists that were completing a preliminary Ecological Appraisal prior to masonry repair works commencing. The viaduct required a thorough inspection to identify any potential bat roosting locations within cracks and crevices of the structure. Traditionally inspection would be undertaken by rope access operatives and can often mean works would need to be undertaken nightshift with the operatives accessing from the track above and roping down the structure checking thoroughly. Multiple set ups would be required and inspecting the structure would take a great deal of time and cause increased disturbance to any roosting bats.

Story drones were able to complete a very detailed inspection of the structure from below with using the Mavic 3 Enterprise thermal drone and its digital zoom, search lights mounted on the drone allowed for illumination of any likely roosting locations with the crevices / voids. All of works were completed safely during the day meaning no requirement for nightshift working and possession of the railway line, data collection was less than 3hrs, there was no requirement for roped access operatives.

4k Video / photographs were issued to the ecologists for inclusion in their final reports, on this occasion the structure was confirmed as having no roosting bats and therefore no constraints for the repair works.