Drone inspections for infrastructure & complex built assets

Infrastructure inspections using autonomous and heavy-lift drone systems

Book a drone roof survey
Call now 0203 051 6403

What we do

    • Overhead lines, pylons, poles, crossarms, insulators

    • Visual condition capture for engineering review

    • Repeatable inspection missions using autonomous flight

    • Identification of vegetation within statutory clearance zones

    • Corridor-level inspection across long linear assets

    • Supports vegetation management and maintenance scheduling

    • Linear infrastructure inspections across transmission corridors

    • Useful for electricity, pipelines, rail and access routes

    • Captures asset context, terrain and access constraints

    • Rapid aerial inspection following storms or incidents

    • Safe assessment of hard-to-access or unsafe areas

    • Supports response planning and follow-up works

    • Scheduled repeat missions along fixed corridors

    • Consistent flight paths for comparison over time

    • Supports monitoring, maintenance and planning

    • Sites unsuitable for ground access or traditional inspection

    • Live infrastructure environments

    • Reduced need for working at height or near live assets

    • High-resolution contextual imagery of assets and surroundings

    • Supports asset registers and planning documentation

    • Delivered for integration into existing asset systems

    • Thermal imaging of electrical infrastructure where required

    • Supports identification of abnormal heat signatures

    • Operated as part of defined inspection programmes

What our clients say

Full Roof Survey - Residential Property, Wimbledon

I recently employed the services of CAV Aerial to give me a thorough assessment of my roof and chimney brickwork. With the high resolution imagery provided we were able to detail problem areas and make accurate assessments on what For those of us who need good images of inaccessible places, I would highly recommend CAV for such projects.

Adrian, Professional Landlord, Wimbledon

Tower Survey: The Friends of Hornsey Church Tower

“Many thanks for the terrific job you did for us all. We are extremely grateful to you for the time and effort you gave to create such a detailed survey."

Peter Sanders, Chair

Church Roof Survey: Holy Innocents, Norwood

I found the drone survey most helpful. I was able to set up drawings indicating the rooftiles we need to work on. I loved the detail you captured.

Paul Jackson RIBA CA AABC IHBC EASA, P B Jackson Architecture

Services

A top-down aerial view of the top of a tall historic stone tower surrounded by trees and pathways.
Brick building with a decorative crest on the roof and a weather vane at the top.
View of rooftops and cityscape from a rooftop, featuring a small tower with a greenish, weathered, conical roof and vented sides, under a clear blue sky.

Church & Heritage
Roof Inspections

We work with surveyors, heritage architects and community groups to inspect Grade I and II listed buildings, churches, and sensitive heritage sites.

An aerial view of a house with a large, multi-gabled roof surrounded by green lawns and pathways, with parked cars on the street nearby.
Aerial view of a house with a tiled roof in a green neighborhood, surrounded by trees and a lawn, with a car parked on a driveway.
An aerial view of a flat roof with various vent structures and black cables, bordered by a balcony with potted plants and seating area.

Residential & Commercial Blocks

We support block managers, property managers, surveyors and roofers with fast, accurate roof inspections.

Aerial view of a neighborhood showing houses, backyards, and a street with parked cars.
An aerial view of a residential backyard and street, showing a rooftop in the foreground, a small garden with hedges, trees, and two people walking on the sidewalk.
Close-up of a brick chimney with weathered bricks, mortar, and stone foundation, shown alongside grey and black roofing materials.

Private Homes & Estates

We work with homeowners, landlords and estate agents to provide quick, affordable roof surveys.

Hand holding a yellow infrared thermometer measuring 17°C on a rusty metal surface underside of a wooden structure.
Interior of an attic with exposed wooden framing, insulation on the floor, and a hatch in the ceiling.
A construction site showing a dirt floor, a concrete wall with visible cracks, and a gray electrical conduit pipe on the ground.

Internal Attic
Inspections

Internal roof-space inspections are carried out where safe access allows, supporting external drone surveys and identifying signs of moisture ingress, timber condition, insulation issues, and historic repairs.

Close-up of a chimney with four red clay chimney pots on a mossy brick chimney stack against a suburban neighborhood background.
Close-up of a small puddle with fallen dry leaves and small rocks surrounded by wet stone pavement.
Close-up of a weathered chimney on a roof, with moss and signs of aging, surrounded by other rooftops and trees under a cloudy sky.

Roof inspections carried out to support insurance claims, providing clear photographic evidence and condition reporting following damage or defects.

Insurance Roof Inspections

Annotated aerial view of a city block with buildings labeled from A to G in various colors, including red, blue, green, purple, yellow, and gray, with streets and parked cars surrounding the buildings.
A technical drawing of a rooftop with a leak indicated at the roof junction, showing parked cars around the building.
Close-up view of a roof with damaged and missing shingles, and an inspection report overlay showing the severity level as 'A1' for a slipped and displaced slate.

Condition Reports & Defect Documentation

We provide clear photographic condition reports highlighting defects, deterioration, and areas requiring attention. Reports are used to support maintenance planning, surveys, pre-purchase, and funding or conservation decisions.

Our reports are designed to be clear, visual, and easy to understand.

  1. We begin with an aerial overview image to divide the roof into clear sections.

  2. Defects are then labelled using architectural-style references (e.g. A1, A2) and supported with high-resolution images and close-ups.

  3. The final report provides clear visual evidence to help surveyors, contractors, and property owners understand condition and prioritise repairs.

Recent jobs

Pricing

All projects are priced based on building size, access, airspace considerations and reporting requirements. The packages below provide guide pricing for typical projects, most surveys are quoted individually to ensure accurate scope and compliance.

Essential Package

From £249 + VAT

Quick, high-resolution roof survey for small buildings. Ideal for roofers, small landlords and single properties.

  • High-resolution roof imagery

  • Clear defect visibility

  • Same day delivery

  • Secure delivery

Optional add-ons:

  • Internal moisture readings (loft)

  • Traffic-light condition report

  • Edited media video

  • Thermal Imaging

  • 3D interactive Model

Book essential survey

Fully insured • CAA-authorised • UK-based operator

Enhanced Package

From £599 + VAT

Comprehensive roof survey for medium to large buildings.
Ideal for block managers, surveyors, managing agents and commercial properties.

  • High-resolution roof imagery (RAW & JPEG)

  • Edited 4K aerial video overview

  • Traffic-light condition report

  • Secure Google Drive delivery within 48 hours

    Optional add-ons:

  • Internal moisture readings (loft)

  • Thermal imaging

  • 3D interactive model

Get enhanced survey

Fully insured • CAA-authorised • UK-based
operator

Comprehensive Package

From £999 + VAT

Full building or complex heritage-site roof inspection with detailed reporting.
Designed for listed buildings, churches, conservation projects and complex sites.

  • Comprehensive annotated PDF condition report

  • Interactive 3D photogrammetry model

  • Short campaign or documentation video (if required)

  • Secure Google Drive delivery within 48 hours

    Optional add-ons:

  • Thermal imaging

  • Internal moisture readings

  • Extended documentation or phased surveys

  • 3D printed model

Request survey

Fully insured • CAA-authorised • UK-based operator

Ideal for roofers, surveyors and portfolio managers

Multiple
properties package

Available for portfolios of 4 or more properties, surveyed on the same day. Pricing applies from the 4th property onwards.

  • RAW + JPEG imagery

  • Short 4K aerial overview

  • Same-day capture

  • Secure delivery within 24 hours

From £99 + VAT per roof

We recently did a collection of roofing surveys for a roofing company. In just one day, we surveyed five properties from Barking to Harrow via Paddington — and delivered all photos and videos the same day.

Read case study

Pricing assumes straightforward access and standard airspace conditions.

case study

Haringey Council: Bruce Castle Roof Inspection

We carried out a full roof inspection on Bruce Castle Museum and Archive. The deliverables included a 67 page report, A 3D photogrammetry model of the roof, a short promotional film and edited images for print and web.

Read our case study
View of rooftops with brick and tile roofs, a crest with a dragon and shield in the foreground, and a white watchtower with a weather vane in the distance under a clear blue sky.

Book a professional roof inspection

External drone surveys and internal inspections for residential, commercial, and heritage buildings.

We work across London and the South East and can often attend site within 24 hours.

Complete the form and we’ll be in touch shortly to confirm next steps.

Or you can speak to us directly:

Phone: 0203 051 6403
Email: info@cavaerial.com

FAQs

  • No — as long as we have access to the property and permission to take off and land, you don’t need to be there. We’ll handle everything and send you the results.

  • Yes — we are fully qualified to fly in congested areas. For properties in central London or near sensitive sites, we’ll take care of airspace checks and permissions.

  • Most inspections start from £199 (+VAT), depending on location, size, and complexity. Send us the postcode and a brief description and we’ll quote within the hour.

  • You’ll receive a folder with:

    • 4K images (angled, top-down, and close-ups)

    • Annotated observations (e.g. blocked gutters, tile movement, masonry cracks)

    • Optional 3D models or elevation diagrams if requested

  • Within 2–4 working days depending on scope. If you’re working to a grant deadline or urgent repair timeline, let us know — we can often prioritise.

  • Yes — we hold CAA Operational Authorisation, are fully insured for £2m+, and have specific training in thermal inspections and heritage documentation. We’ve already surveyed Grade I and II* listed properties across the South East.