[222] Evaluation of remote visual inspection (RVI) techniques for inspection of high-hazard plant: results from an ongoing cross-industry research project
A Bannister, G Alliott, M Stewart and O Okunribido
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Science Division, UK
Close visual inspection (CVI) forms a cornerstone of integrity assurance and is often the primary means of detection and sizing of surface flaws and corrosion damage in assets such as offshore structures, vessels and tanks. Recent advances in access technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones, coupled with imaging technology, provides a potential replacement of the human access associated with visual inspection. Remote visual inspection (RVI) such as this can present benefits in avoidance of high-risk manned interventions in confined spaces, working at height or in hazardous environments. However, comparative studies exploring the limitations of RVI methods in terms of recognition and sizing of different types of degradation are currently limited in both number and scope.
HSE Science Division is currently running a research project in collaboration with a range of industrial partners to evaluate the capabilities of RVI methods. Organisations from oil and gas, pharmaceutical, aerospace, nuclear, water and inspection industries are participating in the project. In this presentation, observations from an initial technology review are summarised and the outputs from a partner survey on the implementation, challenges and requirements for RVI are presented. The status of a series of trials for inspection of a range of defect and damage types using UAVs will also be covered.
HSE Science Division is currently running a research project in collaboration with a range of industrial partners to evaluate the capabilities of RVI methods. Organisations from oil and gas, pharmaceutical, aerospace, nuclear, water and inspection industries are participating in the project. In this presentation, observations from an initial technology review are summarised and the outputs from a partner survey on the implementation, challenges and requirements for RVI are presented. The status of a series of trials for inspection of a range of defect and damage types using UAVs will also be covered.
