A photo of a storage tank being inspected by a drone

Drone Inspection of Tanks, Silos and Vessels Drone inspections and surveys of tanks and silos all for safer, faster, more detailed reporting.

Faster and more efficient inspections

The traditional inspection and surveying of tanks and silos is a slow and costly operation. Today, drones have revolutionized the process. Tanks and silos can be inspected inside and out in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost, with minimum asset downtime. Engineers With Drones tailors your inspection, so the deliverables are exactly what you asked for.

The inside of a silo during an inspection
Remote Monitoring

Remote Monitoring

The use of drone 3D modelling technologies gives you the opportunity to inspect a digital twin of a tank, silo or vessel from the comfort of your office. This detailed replica can be inspected at a minute level, allowing you to make a record of any areas that are in need of attention. Issues such as poorly executed repairs, general damage and other potential weaknesses can be shared with your employees, suppliers and other shareholders at the click of a button.

The roof structure of a tank seen by a drone
Locate Irregularities

Locate Irregularities

Drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras allow you to accurately assess the condition of a tank, silo or vessel. Infrared photographs can be used to detect extreme temperature differences that can locate otherwise unseen issues, such as concealed moisture damage and heat leakage.

A confined space drone used to inspect vessels
Precise Measurements

Precise Measurements

Using drone photography and orthomosaic technology, allows us to perfectly reflect a geographic area. Giving you a crystal-clear top-down view that has been corrected for geometric distortions — resulting in a pinpoint representation of the Earth's surface. An orthomosaic map is a state-of-the-art measuring device for accurate readings of scale and distance.

An overview shot of the inside of an underground concrete tank
Access Hard-To-Reach Areas

Access Hard-To-Reach Areas

The use of specialist impact-resistance technology deployed with our drones allows us to access areas that are otherwise too hazardous or difficult to reach. Get instant data from confined spaces without the time-consuming, labour-intensive and costly methods of the past, and with zero risk to personnel.

Why choose us?

Qualified engineers

As licensed engineers, we also provide the expertise, understanding, and knowledge necessary to carry out a thorough inspection, with deliverables to match. Our skilled engineers are at the ready.

IAA certification

The Irish Aviation Authority has awarded Engineers with Drones full approval in accordance with the most recent European-wide EASA regulations.

Latest technology

To ensure that you always get the best possible service and cutting-edge deliverables, we purchase the most up-to-date drone technology as soon as it's available.

Rigorous HSSE standards

The operation of Engineers With Drones is governed by a comprehensive HSSE system. Our guiding principles are to reduce risk through rigorous assessment, and to maintain a high level of staff education and training.

Fully insured

We have 6.5 million in public and product liability insurance, and 13 million in employers' liability insurance. Engineers with Drones are fully insured to fly wherever you need.

Based in Ireland

As we're situated in Ireland, we can respond to your needs quickly, with zero travel complications.

First-class deliverables

As seasoned engineers in the field, we are aware of the trouble that shoddy reports and deliverables can create. For this reason, we provide you with exactly what you require.

Quick turnaround times

Thanks to our fast turnaround times, your entire project can be completed in a fraction of the time of traditional methods, without any compromise in the quality of your deliverables.

4K and VR Footage

In addition to quadrupling the resolution of an HD camera, 4K also gives you quicker frame rates, incredible contrast variations, and expanded colours. VR video takes the level of immersion and clarity to the next level.

Why use a drone for your tanks, silos, vessel inspection?

Safety

The safety of your personnel and our own is paramount, and we place it at the forefront of our company culture. Ask us about our HSSE systems and practices.

Cost-efficient

Drone inspections take up less of your manhours and resources than traditional inspections, giving you a faster and more budget-friendly return on your investment.

Quick turnaround

We understand that you need answers fast. We can deliver a plain-English report with clear-cut conclusions in days. Then, you can take the steps you need to and get back to doing what you do best.

Hard-to-reach spaces

Drones aren't just for flying up in the sky. Our specialist drones can fly into confined spaces like chimneys and boilers to look for issues that would otherwise be inaccessible.

No scaffolding or ropes

Drone technology is cheaper, safer and more reliable than traditional methods such as scaffolding, cherry-pickers and ropes. It's also quicker and less labour-intensive. We will bring everything we need and be out of your way that same day.

No risk to your assets

Our equipment won't touch or even go close to your assets. Our high-resolution cameras use optical zoom to give extreme close-up views while staying a safe distance away.

Detect hidden problems

We use cutting-edge technologies to detect problems that would otherwise be invisible. These include ultra-HD photography/video, LIDAR and thermal imaging.

Real-time consulting

Sometimes the brief can change even in real-time. If need be, you can be stood there right next to the drone operator, directing them as the situation develops.

Regular inspections can be done by drone, faster than common methods

Depending on local regulations, tanks and silos need to be inspected every five to 10 years. In the past, these inspections meant that the asset would have to be accessed by rope, cranes or scaffolding. It also meant there was a risk for the people working at heights in confined spaces, and the risk of contamination and damage caused by objects or tools falling into the tanks during inspections.

Using the latest confined space drone tech, we can complete your inspection much faster than traditional methods would allow. All the information you need in less time with less hassle and risk.

A drone's view of an opening in a confined space tank
Get a closer look without the hassle, delays or risk

Detect abnormalities before they worsen

Maintenance of tanks will always pose the same problems, whether it's LNG tanks, freshwater tanks, or oil storage tanks; corrosion, weather damage and general wear and tear. With advances in drone technology, the detection and repair of these issues have become a lot easier, faster and safer.

Using the latest technology, our drones can identify areas of thermal abnormalities and cold spots in a fraction of the time of traditional methods, without the labour and time-intensive need for cranes, rope or scaffolding. Our drones allow endless possibilities when it comes to angles and perspectives of your assets, all recorded in crystal clear high-definition.

A man with a confined space drone ready to fly in a tank

Let's talk

Working with you

Engineers with Drones' pilots are all fully licensed and certified. Together we can create a detailed flight plan to ensure data is collected efficiently and safely.

Let's talk

How does it work?

Reach out and tell us your idea

We take emails, phone calls, messages, everything! If you are unsure of what's possible we are happy to advise, the most important thing is to get in touch. We would be delighted to answer any questions you may have.

Start at the end

With drones, it's best to begin where you want to end up. What sort of deliverable would you like when it's all finished? If you are not sure then we can advise. We can look at what you would like and work backwards from there.

Scope of work and set a price

Once we have agreed on what is to be done, the scope of work is set and a price is agreed upon. We feel it is vital that everyone knows what they are getting and what they are paying for it. There should be no confusion.

Permits and other paperwork

Once we have confirmation you are happy to proceed, we start the ball rolling. We organise things like RAMS, site permits, Air Traffic Control clearance and much more. Basically, we generate everything needed to turn up on-site with all our ducks in a row.

Field Operations

Next, we do the work on site. We have the gear, we have the know-how, so now it's time to get the job done. This can sometimes be affected by the weather, but for the most part, we get the job done on the date specified.

Post Processing

This is where we take what we generated in the field and turn it into a final deliverable for you. This can be anything from the raw data itself, to fully processed Orthophotos, condition reports, CAD line work or thermal imagery.

Handover

The final step is the handover of the deliverables. We tend to use a cloud-based service, so you can access your data anywhere. We can also tie into your existing systems if that is more convenient.

Get a quote

Our Services Not just photos from the sky

Spoiler alert: we don't do weddings! We're professional engineers who have learned to fly drones really well. If you're looking for a photo of your garden or a swooshing shot of your wedding reception, we're probably not the right people for you. But if you need an engineer's eyes and experience, combined with next-generation UAV technology and industry-leading deliverables, then you've come to the right place.

Drone Photography

Capture high-quality imagery of your assets from never before seen vantage points.

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Thermal Imaging

Detect abnormalities within your assets that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye.

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Photogrammetry

Capture real-world locations and assets digitally, for quicker and more cost-efficient inspections.

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Internal Confined Spaces

Mitigate the risk factors of traditional confined space inspections, without compromising on quality.

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What technology do we use for tanks, silos, vessel inspections?

We purchase the latest drones as they come on the market to ensure you are getting the highest quality service from us at all times. Here is a quick look at what we would be most likely to use for a typical drone tanks, silos, vessel inspection.

Our equipment
DJI MatriceM300 RTK M300 RTK by DJI

Our flagship drone: The M300 RTK by DJI is the premier enterprise-level inspection drone on the market. With a flight time of up to 55 minutes, lots of built-in redundancy, and a host of payloads to choose from, this is our go-to UAV for inspection work. When coupled with the Zenmuse H20T camera, it is capable of safely inspecting high-value assets at a stand-off range.

  • Drone
  • Camera
  • Thermal Imaging
  • Ultra HD
  • Long range
More info
Our equipment
DJIZenmuse H20T Zenmuse H20T by DJI

One payload with a multitude of sensors. The H20T is specifically designed for conducting inspections of high-value assets. When coupled with the Matrice M300 aircraft, the various sensors on the H20T give the operator a wide array of options to get the best imagery possible.

  • Camera
  • Thermal
  • High-resolution
  • Wide-angle
More info
Our equipment
MultinnovStereo 2 Stereo 2 confined space drone by Multinnov

The confined space master: The Stereo 2 by Multinnov is the cutting-edge in confined space and indoor inspection drone technology. Eliminating the need to send personnel into hazardous locations, the Multinnov Stereo 2 can be deployed at a fraction of the cost, and with zero downtime. This is a drone designed from the ground up to get into restrictive and hard-to-reach places.

  • Drone
  • Camera
  • Confined spaces
  • Indoors

People often ask us about...

Our Equipment
Check out our cutting-edge drone equipment and find out what it can do for you.

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IAA Certification
We are fully accredited by the Irish Aviation Authority to the latest European-wide EASA regulations.

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HSSE
Health and safety is a core principle of our business. Find out how we put these principles into practice.

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Fully insured
We hold 13m employers' liability insurance and 6.5m public & product liability insurance.

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Deliverables
Tell us what you need in your inbox, and we will start planning from there. Fully customised.

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Expert engineers
We are experienced engineers with strong technical backgrounds.

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Irish location
Based in Ireland, we'll be with you quickly - ready with all the correct permits.

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The Weather
Find out how we factor the weather into when we provide drone services.

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We have worked with...