Roofing Inspection Drones

This information was sourced from "Roofing Inspection Drones" by AI.GOV.UK, https://ai.gov.uk/knowledge-hub/tools/roofing-inspection-drones/?directTo=library. Licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0.

The challenge

Traditional housing inspections relied heavily on scaffolding, which posed safety risks, required extensive setup time, and created accessibility challenges for vulnerable populations.

The solution

Swindon Borough Council introduced drones for social housing roofing inspections. The drones leverage intelligent image analysis to detect roof damage, hazardous materials, and structural issues in real time. Supported by a collaborative, cross-council team and proactive community engagement, the programme integrated active opt-in and nudge theory to drive resident involvement and trust. Staff were trained and certified to operate drones, making it a sustainable, in-house capability, while also improving workforce happiness.

The results

Within a year of the initial trial:

• Inspection time reduced from 64 days to just 17 minutes
• £80,265 saved annually through improved efficiency and reduced scaffolding use
• Zero rework required post-inspection, demonstrating right-first-time repairs
• AI identified hazardous materials in 4% of cases, enabling prompt safety interventions
• 4% of inspections uncovered non-roofing issues, avoiding unnecessary scaffolding entirely
• Average scaffolding hire time cut by 45%
• 94% of tenants expressed positive feedback about drone use
• Staff reported higher job satisfaction and engagement, driven by new skill development and safer work environments with reduced risk of accidents

Learnings / insights

• Early focus on consent, transparency, and communication builds resident trust in tech
• Cross-department collaboration ensures innovation is embedded and scalable
• Upskilling staff in AI and drone tech improves workforce motivation and service delivery

Budget: Not disclosed