Mitie has unveiled plans to use drones to inspect high rise buildings. The UK-based facilities management company said the unmanned aerial vehicles fitted with thermal sensors will help check for pests in properties that stand up to 400 feet without the need for specialist equipment. The process which is said to be simple will eliminate the need to send people on top of buildings to investigate. Also, the data collected by the drones can be processed using a smartphone or tablet.

Mitie to use drones to inspect high rise buildings and check for pests such as seagulls
Mitie’s managing director said that drones were more cost and time efficient than traditional surveying methods Reuters
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The company has already completed trials of its drone service in its pest control business, checking for birds' nests on rooftops. It now plans to extend use of drones across its other business verticals as well.

It hopes to use them to check for general building damages and also to find out if a building needs to be cleaned. Besides, it plans to use drones for aerial mapping and landscaping services, according to the Telegraph.

Peter Trotman, managing director at Mitie's pest control business, said: "Drone technology is great innovation which increases our safety when working at height and it also offers both cost and time efficiencies compared to traditional surveying methods." Mitie said all its drones will be operated by licensed Civil Aviation Authority members.

Apart from Mitie, Rentokil Initial, another British company which operates in the field of pest control, has revealed plans to use drones. Some companies are also said to have manufactured specialist drones which look like raptors in order to scare smaller birds.

In addition to facilities management companies, many firms operating across different industries have unveiled plans to use drones to improve business. Silicon Valley start-up Zipline said it will transport blood bags across Rwanda using its drones, while Royal Mail, DHL and Amazon have suggested using drones to deliver parcels. Also, while Network Rail has mooted using drones for surveying the UK's railways, energy companies such as Shell are said to be trialling drones for inspecting some of their hard-to-reach plants.