Drone Opportunity - Gutter & Downspout Inspection

Experience with the use of a drone in a multi-building townhouse development in Lakewood, WA has led me to consider creation of an inventory of actual and possible uses of drones in other situations.  I have created a simple Drone Opportunity Template to compile the results.  This is the first of many... 

Drone Opportunity Template

Title: Gutters and Downspout Inspection

What is the Problem?: Gutters and downspouts in single and multifamily homes and commercial buildings adjacent to, or built within, wooded areas are subject to drop of, or wind-blown, leaves and needles, which plug them, requiring frequent cleaning.

Why is it a Problem?: Pluggage and failure to clean gutters and downspouts result in overflowing gutters, resulting in water damage to vertical walls, decks, and foundations, including, in some cases, seepage inside buildings, destroying carpets, furniture, and other property.   Constant dampness may produce dry rot or mold damage, creating adverse health effects, property devaluation, legal risks to inspectors, and difficulties in financing and selling the property.  Corrective action is often costly, time-consuming, and borne by the homeowner, contractor, and/or insurer.

How is it Now Being Addressed?: Owners and contractors must periodically diagnose and clean gutters and downspouts to keep them clear, resulting in costs of time and money.  Failure to recognize and clean plugged gutters and downspouts in a timely manner can result in the effects above.

What Can Drones Do to Help Solve the Problem?: By providing a stable platform for aerial photos, regular (or on call, for example immediately after or before storm events) aerial surveys of gutters and downspouts could replace physical inspection by homeowners, contractors, or property managers who typically use ladders to access difficult locations, reducing time for inspections from hours to minutes, and providing a permanent record of findings.  This would allow a prioritized cleaning program to be implemented.

What Will be the Benefit From Using Drones?:  A greatly reduced cost in time and money to inspect gutters and downspouts; a prioritized list of problem sites (thereby avoiding useless efforts to access and clean areas not needing cleaning); possible finding of other, related problems on the imagery (loose, sagging, or broken gutters and downspouts, roofing materials, roof penetrations seals, painting needs, woodpecker holes, vermin nests, etc.)

What Should be Done to Enable Drone Use?: Create a way forward for the use of drones over private single- and multi-family homes, and commercial and industrial properties, by commercial licensed, bonded, and insured drone operators, while protecting privacy concerns of residents, workers, and customers on the site.