Prepping for Disaster: The Age of the Drone

More restoration companies are taking advantage of drones to get fresh angles and perspectives of projects, and even obtain thermal images that can show areas where moisture may be present. This is allowing restoration contractors and insurance carriers to more accurately scope losses and identify potential problem areas before they create a structural issue. DroneDeploy is among the companies that offer software and a network of drone pilots nationwide to make it easier for smaller restoration firms to benefit from the technology. During last year's deadly Camp Fire in California, the company helped capture 1.4 trillion pixels of drone images that were used to determine, among other things, which houses were standing and which were gone and where the ground might be unstable and susceptible to mudslides. The images also were useful to homeowners needing to file claims at a time when they were unable to access their properties.