Case Studies

Explore how Rope & Rotor uses drone inspections, LiDAR surveys and 3D digital twins to make site information easier to understand. Based in Sheffield, we support industrial, heritage and agricultural projects across Yorkshire and nationwide.

Industrial LiDAR survey: putting bolt inspection findings into context

A written inspection report recorded loose and missing bolts across an industrial structural bay. The maintenance team needed a clearer way to connect each finding with its physical location.

We used handheld mobile SLAM LiDAR and CAD modelling to build an interactive 3D digital twin. Modelled crane columns helped represent obscured elements, while individual bolts were labelled and colour-coded to show their recorded condition.

• Project scale: 28 columns, with more than 1,500 bolts mapped in the model.
• Delivered: A browser-based 3D model combining the captured site, aligned CAD elements and inspection annotations.
• Practical benefit: Maintenance teams can locate recorded defects, brief contractors and use the model as a reference for future inspections.

The model adds visual context to the inspection record, helping teams understand where attention is needed.

Explore our LiDAR survey services and 3D digital twins for asset management.

Kiplin Hall: 3D reality capture for heritage conservation

Our reality-capture project at Kiplin Hall created a detailed digital record of the building's exterior, including rooflines, turrets and masonry that can be difficult to view from ground level.

We used drone photogrammetry to turn overlapping photographs into an interactive 3D model. The video shows how the building can be explored from different angles, bringing high-level architectural details into view.

• Method: Aerial photography and photogrammetry.
• Created: An interactive 3D model and a video showcasing the captured building.
• Potential applications: A shared visual reference for conservation discussions, planning further inspections and documenting historic buildings.

The model demonstrates how non-contact reality capture can help heritage teams explore a building remotely and identify areas for a closer look.

Explore our drone roof and façade inspections and photogrammetry and 3D digital twin services.

Pre-harvest thermal survey: helping protect wildlife

Wildlife hidden within standing crops can be difficult to spot before harvesting. This project used thermal drone imagery to help identify areas needing attention before machinery entered the field.

We carried out planned survey passes at night, when reduced warmth from the sun helped improve the contrast between animal heat signatures and the surrounding ground and vegetation.

• Equipment: DJI Matrice 4TD with thermal and visual cameras.
• Delivered: Thermal imagery, mapped findings and GPS locations to support checks and machinery planning.
• Practical benefit: The farmer received a clearer picture of areas to investigate or avoid ahead of harvesting.

Thermal surveys support field decisions, but detection depends on vegetation cover, weather and site conditions. They cannot guarantee that every animal or nest will be found.

Explore our wildlife and agricultural drone surveys and thermal imaging services.