Drones a game changer for maintenance

The drone pilot kicked off in late October as part of our roof replacement programme, which focuses on re-roofing older Kāinga Ora houses, significantly extending the life of the home.

The pilot is offering a completely new approach to how we deliver this important work.

Karen Jacobs, Manager Planned Programmes, explains. “We currently plan re-roofing based on lifecycle estimates — the number of years a certain type of roof can be expected to last before it needs replacing. The drone footage means we can better design tailored solutions rather than a full roof replacement.”

It’s one example in a wider Kāinga Ora effort to transform how we look after our homes, delivering work more efficiently, cost-effectively and with better outcomes for our homes and tenants.

The main benefit is delivering the right work based on the condition of the roof. It’s also achieving significant savings.

Out of 309 roofs reviewed to 16 December, only 46 have been assessed as needing re-roofing and 77 need minor work. The remainder have been assessed as needing no work at this time, which is a cost saving of over $5.7m. That money can be allocated to other important work.

Karen says it’s the level of detail offered by drone footage that is making all the difference.

“Usually, our contractors will visit the home, physically inspect the roof and gutters and take photographs of problem areas. That’s a time-consuming exercise, and while the photos are helpful for later analysis, they can’t give you the full picture,” says Karen.

“With the drone footage, you get an entirely different perspective. You can see the whole roof in one shot and the software allows you to zoom right in and see if the screws and nails are rusted. We can go down into the gutters, see if they're cracked, if brackets are missing. The image quality is so high. It's brilliant.”

If a home is also due for a repaint or work is needed on the cladding, the drone will capture detailed footage of the home’s exterior walls, too.

Privacy is top of mind. Our tenants know the day and time we will arrive, and the drone is usually in the air for around two minutes, only capturing detail needed for the assessments.

The video footage is reviewed by our roofing team who have many years of on-the-ground experience inspecting homes. From their desk they can translate what they are seeing on screen into a detailed assessment and roof upgrade plan for the home, leaving nothing out.

“This is a great example of how a small change can deliver big results,” says Karen. “This is work delivered in a much more efficient and financially sustainable way, without compromising our commitment to warm, dry and healthy homes.”

The drone pilot will conclude in mid-February next year. A full review including whether drones will become a regular tool in Kāinga Ora maintenance programmes, will be completed after that.