Critical infrastructure

Inspection and monitoring without service interruption

Bridges, energy networks, industrial sites and airports: HighCloud delivers visual, thermal and georeferenced surveys with certified drone operations (RPAS), operator coordination and full traceability.

ROC

Certified operator

2017

PAPI at CZBM since

Case studies

~15 min / threshold

PAPI verification

Mission types

Capabilities for structures and sensitive sites

Infrastructure managers, airport operators, utilities and industrial clients: we adapt sensors, flight profiles and deliverables to your operational and safety constraints.

Bridges, viaducts & structures

Visual and thermal inspection of decks, piers, joints and hard-to-reach elements — without scaffolding or prolonged closures, with georeferenced findings.

Energy networks & utilities

Transmission lines, substations and corridors: visual spotting, thermography for hot spots or insulation defects, mapping for maintenance planning.

Industrial facilities

Structures, roofs, tanks and elevated equipment: systematic data collection for preventive maintenance and reduced personnel exposure.

Perimeter & asset monitoring

Recurring or one-off aerial coverage of sensitive sites, visual inventory and orthophotos for asset management and change tracking.

Method

Documented inspection chain

Every campaign fits our operational structure: planning, authorization, controlled acquisition, QA and traceable delivery.

Scoping & authorization

Site analysis, operator coordination, NOTAM when required, risk assessment and operation profile validation (VLOS, EVLOS, advanced operations).

Repeatable flight profiles

Stabilized trajectories, checklists, crew briefing and perimeter setup — essential for NAVAID inspections and recurring structure surveys.

Multi-sensor acquisition

High-resolution RGB, radiometric thermography, photogrammetry or video sequences depending on the mandate and lighting conditions.

Findings & deliverables

Timestamped report, georeferenced images, orthomosaics or GIS exports — archiving per our operations manual.

Capabilities

Technologies & areas of expertise

Radiometric thermography

Detection of delamination, leaks, electrical hot spots and thermal inefficiencies on structures and networks.

Photogrammetry & orthophotos

3D models, point clouds and up-to-date mapping for asset inventory and work planning.

PAPI & NAVAID verification

Stabilized flight profiles to observe light banks and approach geometry — documented campaigns since 2017 at Bromont (CZBM).

Aerial structure inspections

Facades, roofs, piping and structures: preventive maintenance without working at height.

Compliance

Operating near sensitive infrastructure

Critical infrastructure inspections require rigorous airspace planning and operator coordination. HighCloud holds an RPAS operator certificate (ROC) and applies documented risk management.

Compliance with airspace restrictions: site selection tool, controlled zones and NAV CANADA coordination when the mission requires it.
Coordination with airport operators, structure owners and competent authorities before any deployment.
Advanced operations and SFOC depending on profile — procedures, insurance and traceability aligned with Transport Canada (CAR Part IX).
Systematic pre-flight inspections and MANOPS suited to high-visibility, low-margin environments.

References: CAR Part IX, AIM 2025-1 (RPA), AC 922-001 — RPAS safety assurance.

Field proof

Case studies — critical infrastructure

Documented missions on sensitive and airport sites in Quebec.

CZBM (Bromont) — PAPI verification by drone

Since 2017, PAPI verification by drone at Bromont (CZBM). Typical timeline: about 15 minutes per runway threshold (~30 minutes for both thresholds on one runway), with high-precision readings from a stabilized profile.

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