PHOTOGRAPHIC TRACKING AND COMPARISON OVER TIME
Monitor changes in your aircraft's external condition with automated photographic inspections and DVI's comparative assessment expertise.
An aircraft's external condition changes through operation, maintenance and the events to which it may be exposed.
Drone Visual Inspection (DVI) supports aviation professionals in building photographic histories to document and compare the external surfaces of the same aircraft at different times.
Combining automated drone acquisition technology with specialist technical expertise, DVI offers solutions for visual monitoring, before-and-after comparisons and documentation of airframe condition.
Our aim: to turn successive photographic surveys into visual information useful for technical monitoring and maintenance decisions.
WHY ESTABLISH PHOTOGRAPHIC MONITORING?
Go beyond examining an aircraft at one point in time, with visual references that reveal changes in its condition.
In a conventional inspection, findings generally reflect the condition observed at the time of the check.
When another inspection takes place months or years later, changes may be difficult to assess without sufficiently detailed earlier photographs.
Photographic monitoring creates successive visual records of accessible external surfaces.
By comparing surveys, DVI can help identify apparent differences between two periods, document areas showing visible changes and facilitate technical teams' investigations.
This approach is particularly useful for monitoring surface damage, coatings, overall external condition and maintenance operations.
WHEN CAN THIS SERVICE BE USED?
01 — PERIODIC MONITORING OF EXTERNAL CONDITION
Maintain a photographic history throughout aircraft operation.
Inspections at different intervals build a sequence of visual airframe condition records.
Images can serve as references during later inspections to document apparent differences in covered areas.
This approach can be particularly useful for operators seeking regular photographic monitoring of their aircraft.
02 — COMPARISON BEFORE AND AFTER MAINTENANCE
Document the aircraft's external condition on arrival for maintenance and at redelivery.
An initial survey creates a photographic baseline before the work.
A second survey after the work provides an updated visual record.
Where the data are comparable, analysis can help identify apparent differences between the two inspections and facilitate discussions between the operator and maintenance organisation.
03 — MONITORING VISIBLE DAMAGE
Retain photographic references to facilitate observation of apparent changes.
Where an anomaly has already been identified, images can provide a reference for future observations.
Depending on acquisition quality and comparability, DVI can document visually perceptible changes in a scratch, dent, surface deterioration or other anomaly within the agreed scope.
This service does not replace any measurements and technical checks required to monitor the damage.
04 — COMPARISON BEFORE AND AFTER PAINTING
Obtain photographic documentation of external surfaces before and after painting.
Surveys can retain an initial visual record, then document surfaces after the work.
This comparison can help track apparent coating changes and document finishes.
Differences in lighting and photographic conditions are considered in the analysis limitations.
05 — DOCUMENTATION DURING A TRANSACTION OR CHANGE OF OPERATOR
Retain a visual reference of the aircraft's external condition on a given date.
An inspection during acquisition, sale, redelivery or a change of operator can establish a photographic baseline.
This documentation can later be used to compare accessible external surfaces, provided sufficiently usable data are available.
It provides additional technical information without, by itself, proving the cause or time of occurrence of damage.
06 — FLEET PHOTOGRAPHIC MONITORING
Organise recurring image capture according to the needs of multiple aircraft.
For operators or maintenance organisations managing several aircraft, DVI can assess the introduction of regular photographic campaigns.
Acquisition arrangements, aircraft concerned, schedules and deliverables are defined according to operational needs.
These arrangements can facilitate the creation of individual photographic histories for each aircraft.
HOW DOES PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPARISON WORK ?
01 — ESTABLISHING A BASELINE
An initial inspection collects photographs of accessible aircraft surfaces.
The data form an initial visual record that can be retained for possible later comparison.
02 — PERFORMING ANOTHER SURVEY
During a second inspection, DVI organises acquisition within an appropriate scope, seeking coverage and photographic conditions as comparable as possible.
Aircraft configuration, accessible areas and operating conditions are taken into account.
03 — MATCHING THE DATA
Photographs from the different sessions are reviewed to identify surfaces and areas suitable for meaningful comparison.
Image comparability is assessed with particular regard to viewing angles, resolution, lighting and photographic coverage.
04 — ANALYSING APPARENT CHANGES
DVI experts can search for and document visible differences between surveys.
Analysis may cover:
-
Anomalies visible in one survey and not identifiable in the other.
-
Apparent differences in coating appearance.
-
Visually perceptible changes in previously documented areas.
-
Findings requiring further examination or checking.
05 — DELIVERING THE COMPARATIVE REPORT
Within the agreed scope, DVI supplies photographic documentation and a technical report bringing together findings from the different sessions.
Comparability limitations, uncovered areas and any reservations are specified where necessary.
BENEFITS FOR YOUR MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS
TRACEABILITY OF EXTERNAL CONDITION
Build a dated photographic history of inspected surfaces to retain usable references for future work.
A CLEARER VIEW OF APPARENT CHANGES
Compare successive photographic records to identify and document visible differences in covered areas.
STRUCTURED, REPEATABLE IMAGE CAPTURE
Automated flight paths support a consistent photographic method, facilitating comparable data where technical conditions allow.
SUPPORTING TECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS
Comparative findings can help direct maintenance teams towards areas requiring direct examination or further checks.
DOCUMENTING MAINTENANCE WORK
Retain visual references before and after certain maintenance, painting or repair operations.
REMOTE TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT
Where several photographic sessions are already available, DVI can assess remote comparison, subject to usable images and sufficiently consistent data.
SEVERAL OPTIONS TO SUIT YOUR ORGANISATION
Successive one-off inspections
DVI performs photographic surveys on different dates, according to the client's requests and agreed scope.
Recurring campaigns
For regular needs, specific arrangements can be assessed to schedule several inspections over a defined period.
On-site drone system deployment
For organisations with a drone system on site, authorised teams can capture images under the agreed operational arrangements.
The data can then be sent to DVI for technical assessment.
Remote comparative assessment
DVI analyses images from multiple sessions to document apparent differences within a clearly defined scope.
This analysis is a separate service, quoted individually.
ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS FOR MEANINGFUL COMPARISON
The quality of photographic monitoring depends on the quality and comparability of the available data.
For comparative analysis to be meaningful, several factors must be considered:
-
Photographic coverage of the areas to compare.
-
Image resolution and sharpness.
-
Camera angles and lighting conditions.
-
Aircraft configuration during the different surveys.
-
Identification of sessions and inspection dates.
-
Availability of the initial photographic data.
A visible difference between two photographs does not always mean deterioration occurred between the inspections.
Some differences may result from acquisition conditions, lighting or surface coverage.
DVI experts specify comparison limitations where they affect interpretation of findings.
ASSESSMENT COMPLEMENTING MAINTENANCE CHECKS
Photographic monitoring documents visual changes without replacing prescribed inspections and technical assessments.
Photographic comparisons cannot always establish the cause, time of occurrence, depth or structural acceptability of damage.
Dimensional measurements, detailed inspections, non-destructive testing and other checks required by applicable maintenance data continue to be performed by competent personnel.
DVI reports are technical records of observations and comparative analysis. They do not, by themselves, constitute approval for release to service or airworthiness certification.
BUILD A VISUAL HISTORY OF YOUR AIRCRAFT
Would you like to compare an aircraft's external condition at different times or establish regular photographic monitoring?
DVI helps define a solution suited to your organisation, documentation needs and fleet characteristics.
Whether you already have images or wish to organise new surveys, we assess comparison options and the most appropriate service arrangements.
Request a photographic monitoring assessment →
Explore our other applications →