What drone services does CAV Aerial offer?

CAV Aerial provides drone roof inspections, thermal imaging, 3D models, and campaign video production. All flights are insured and GVC-certified.

Who are your typical clients?

We work with architects, conservation officers, builders, councils, heritage trusts, church wardens, and private homeowners across the UK.

Are your services suitable for churches and listed buildings?

Yes, we specialise in drone documentation for sensitive sites, including listed buildings and churches. We're registered with the National Churches Trust network.

How We Delivered a Drone Roof Survey and 3D Model for Bruce Castle

29 Jul

Written By Constantine Callaghan

Bruce Castle, a Grade I listed Tudor building in Haringey, recently required a detailed condition survey of its historic roof. The team at Bruce Castle Museum and Haringey Council needed high-resolution visuals and a non-invasive way to inspect the structure without scaffolding.

CAV Aerial was brought in to deliver a professional drone inspection, 3D photogrammetry model, and cinematic footage to support both restoration planning and public engagement.

Why Bruce Castle Chose Drone Surveying

Traditional access methods like scaffolding or cherry pickers can be expensive, slow, and disruptive — especially for sensitive heritage sites. Drone inspections provide a fast, safe, and non-intrusive alternative.

For Bruce Castle, we were asked to capture:

High-resolution aerial photographs of all four main roof areas
A fully textured 3D model
A flight path map and access planning visuals
A cinematic aerial video
Assets suitable for both conservation and public communications

Our Drone Inspection Process

We carefully planned the operation to meet GVC (General Visual Line of Sight Certificate) standards, with full CAA compliance. Because the site is open to the public, we coordinated closely with the staff to ensure safety and discretion during flight operations.

We used:

A lightweight DJI Mini 4 Pro for safe, high-quality capture
Automated flight modes for consistency and accuracy
Ground control planning to document elevations and angles precisely

What We Delivered

The full survey package was delivered within 72 hours and included:

A 67-page roof condition report
Over 240 high-resolution photographs
An interactive 3D photogrammetry model
A short cinematic edit of the roof and site
Annotated maps showing roof areas and notes of concern

These materials support planning, funding applications, architectural review, and long-term conservation.

Why Drones Are Ideal for Heritage Inspections

Drone surveys are increasingly used by councils, architects, and heritage trusts because they offer:

Rapid, low-cost visual access
No scaffolding or roof access required
Photogrammetry for 3D documentation
Thermal imaging for damp or heat loss detection
Reusable visuals for planning, reports, or public engagement

CAV Aerial has experience working with listed buildings, churches, and conservation sites across the UK, including our registration on the National Churches Trust skills register.