More on Drones and the Chemical Industry

Read my earlier post on Drones here first. 

Another potential application of drones is in reconstructing 3D models of old plants. A large proportion of today’s plants are built during the time when CAD has not made its mark, using paper drawings or at best plastic models. This primitive documentation becomes a hurdle when these plants have to be revamped or modified, because the present generation engineers are more conversant and comfortable with 3D design. Some of the plant owners have undertaken exercises to reconstruct their plant in 3D formats. These are based on laser scanning techniques and are expensive and time-consuming and also far from perfect. Drones fitted with special cameras can fly computer controlled sorties to construct 3D images of plants. Such services are already being offered by more than one company in USA.