DM Hall has introduced an in-house drone surveying capability across its UK Building Surveying teams, marking a significant step in the firm’s adoption of digital construction technology. The move reflects the growing demand for drone building surveys that improve accuracy, speed and safety in the inspection of both commercial and residential property.
The firm, one of Scotland’s largest independent practices of Chartered Surveyors, has invested in comprehensive training to bring drone operations under its direct control. Six surveyors in Glasgow have already been trained to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) standards, with further teams in Edinburgh, Perth, Aberdeen and the North of England set to follow. This structured rollout enables DM Hall to integrate UAV inspections into its core service offering and extend the benefits of drone technology to clients across the UK.
Clearer insight
The introduction of in-house drone capability allows the firm to access inaccessible or hazardous areas without the need for scaffolding, mechanical access equipment or external contractors. By capturing high-resolution images and detailed condition data, the Building Surveying team can provide clients with clearer insight into potential acquisition risks, maintenance requirements and structural concerns. This supports more informed decision-making at a time when accurate reporting is increasingly central to asset management and compliance within the built environment.
According to Martin Elsby, Partner in the Building Surveying team in Glasgow and lead for the initiative, the service has been developed to reflect the pace of technical change within the surveying profession. He explains that all participating surveyors have met CAA requirements and have been trained in the operational principles of UAVs, including safety considerations around roads, infrastructure and sensitive locations. Privacy awareness and regulatory compliance form part of this training, reflecting the maturing expectations surrounding drone use in property inspections.
Increase efficiency
DM Hall’s initial deployment uses the DJI Mini Pro, a lightweight UAV equipped with 4K imaging capability, obstacle avoidance technology and extended flight time. Its compact design enables surveyors to undertake both external and internal inspections, making it suitable for a wide range of building typologies, including large industrial assets and complex structures that present challenges for traditional access methods. These features align with broader shifts within digital construction, where drone inspections for hard-to-reach areas are increasingly used to reduce risk and increase efficiency.
The surveying team has already applied the technology on a commercial property in north Glasgow, identifying defects linked to significant storm-related water ingress. The drone survey enabled rapid diagnosis of the issue, highlighting the advantages of high-definition aerial data in early-stage problem identification. A further inspection at an industrial site in the Central Belt revealed multiple defects that were not visible from ground level, demonstrating the value of UAV inspections in routine maintenance planning.
Additional flexibility
Bringing drone surveying services in-house is expected to deliver operational benefits, including faster turnaround times and reduced reliance on external specialists. The ability to deploy drones indoors as well as externally provides additional flexibility for inspecting buildings such as churches, warehouses and manufacturing facilities.
As digital construction technology continues to evolve, DM Hall’s investment in drone building surveys reinforces its commitment to improving service delivery and supporting clients with accurate, data-led insight. The initiative positions the firm to respond to emerging industry expectations and to embed UAV inspections as a standard component of modern building surveying practice.
Read next: Advancing digital construction and AI in Saudi Arabia – Build in Digital
Are you a building professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
