11/03/2026
Some structures are simply not meant for humans to enter first. Recently, our team carried out a drone inspection inside a vertical industrial chimney, where conventional inspection would normally require rope access or scaffolding.
The drone was introduced from the base of the chimney and executed a controlled vertical ascent trajectory, stopping at predefined elevation intervals to perform 360° circumferential scans of the internal liner. This flight profile allowed engineers to document refractory deterioration, deposits, corrosion patterns, and potential structural defects along the chimney height.
Operating inside a tall cylindrical shaft presents challenges such as limited navigation signals, low light conditions, and vertical airflow (stack effect). Using stabilised flight control, onboard illumination, and visual positioning systems, the drone was able to maintain a safe stand-off distance from the chimney wall while capturing high-resolution inspection imagery.
This approach enables:
✔ Safer inspection without immediate human entry
✔ Faster condition screening of tall vertical structures
✔ High-quality visual data for engineering assessment
At AL Pine Utility Services, we deploy advanced inspection technologies to access environments where safety, precision, and engineering insight matter most.