2026
Decommissioned Dragline
In the Central Queensland, next to a main road, sits a dragline. Insite used drone-technology to fully capture its external structural condition.
Inspection
Digital Twin
Overview
6,420 high-resolution images
105 minutes of flight time
1.2 Million data points
The Challenge of Inspecting Draglines
A dragline is one of the most complex assets on a mine site. The combination of exposed structural steelwork, active rope systems, and elevated platforms creates an inspection environment where conventional methods are slow, expensive, and introduce their own safety risks.
Access and height - Boom structures extend 60 to 100 metres above ground. Inspecting boom chords and mast connections manually requires scaffolding or rope access which can be days of logistics for a few hours of data collection.
Rope systems - Hoist and drag ropes operate under extreme cyclic loading. Visual inspection from ground level cannot resolve wire breaks, strand deformation, or localised wear at sheave contact points. Close-proximity aerial capture closes that gap.
Mast and platform structures - A-frame masts, walkways, and elevated work platforms accumulate corrosion and fatigue damage in areas that are difficult to access without a full scaffold build.
Asset complexity - A large dragline has thousands of individual structural members. Manually tracking defect locations, severity, and progression across inspections requires a systematic data structure. Ad hoc records create gaps and inconsistencies.
How Drone Inspection Helps
Three structural zones on a dragline that deliver the highest return from aerial inspection. Each area is difficult or hazardous to inspect conventionally. All three were captured in a single 105-minute flight.
Rope Systems
Hoist ropes, drag ropes, and suspension ropes were captured at close proximity with high-resolution RGB imagery. Wire breaks, kinks, birdcaging, and abrasion at sheave contact points are resolvable in the imagery without physical access to the reeving system.
Boom Structure
The boom chord members, cross-bracing, and gusset connections were mapped across the full boom length. Corrosion and section loss on chord members are identifiable in the without requiring boom-mounted access platforms. Defect locations are pinned directly on the 3D model for report reference.
Mast, Platforms & Ladders
A-frame mast connections, operator cab access platforms, and ladder structures were captured from multiple angles. Defects in these areas present safety risks to personnel and are not visible from ground leve. The aerial survey captures condition data without any personnel working at height.
What We Deliver
Insite delivers 3 key items to streamline maintenance and allow planners and supervisors to remotely scope works.
Digital Twin - Insite uses state-of-the-art software to build digital twins of each asset we inspect. The model highlights all defect locations and can be easily viewed and shared by site personnel.
Condition report - analysed, compiled and signed off by a qualified engineering team.
Full Image Library - All Insite clients are able to access all imagery for their own scoping and planning.
Other Projects
FAQ
01
What is the typical pricing?
02
What is the turn-around time?
03
What do you need to get started?
04
How do you manage risks associated with drone operations?
05
Can you integrate with our existing GIS or asset systems?
06
What insurance do you hold?
07
What are your qualifications and compliances?
2026
Decommissioned Dragline
In the Central Queensland, next to a main road, sits a dragline. Insite used drone-technology to fully capture its external structural condition.
Inspection
Digital Twin
Overview
6,420 high-resolution images
105 minutes of flight time
1.2 Million data points
The Challenge of Inspecting Draglines
A dragline is one of the most complex assets on a mine site. The combination of exposed structural steelwork, active rope systems, and elevated platforms creates an inspection environment where conventional methods are slow, expensive, and introduce their own safety risks.
Access and height - Boom structures extend 60 to 100 metres above ground. Inspecting boom chords and mast connections manually requires scaffolding or rope access which can be days of logistics for a few hours of data collection.
Rope systems - Hoist and drag ropes operate under extreme cyclic loading. Visual inspection from ground level cannot resolve wire breaks, strand deformation, or localised wear at sheave contact points. Close-proximity aerial capture closes that gap.
Mast and platform structures - A-frame masts, walkways, and elevated work platforms accumulate corrosion and fatigue damage in areas that are difficult to access without a full scaffold build.
Asset complexity - A large dragline has thousands of individual structural members. Manually tracking defect locations, severity, and progression across inspections requires a systematic data structure. Ad hoc records create gaps and inconsistencies.
How Drone Inspection Helps
Three structural zones on a dragline that deliver the highest return from aerial inspection. Each area is difficult or hazardous to inspect conventionally. All three were captured in a single 105-minute flight.
Rope Systems
Hoist ropes, drag ropes, and suspension ropes were captured at close proximity with high-resolution RGB imagery. Wire breaks, kinks, birdcaging, and abrasion at sheave contact points are resolvable in the imagery without physical access to the reeving system.
Boom Structure
The boom chord members, cross-bracing, and gusset connections were mapped across the full boom length. Corrosion and section loss on chord members are identifiable in the without requiring boom-mounted access platforms. Defect locations are pinned directly on the 3D model for report reference.
Mast, Platforms & Ladders
A-frame mast connections, operator cab access platforms, and ladder structures were captured from multiple angles. Defects in these areas present safety risks to personnel and are not visible from ground leve. The aerial survey captures condition data without any personnel working at height.
What We Deliver
Insite delivers 3 key items to streamline maintenance and allow planners and supervisors to remotely scope works.
Digital Twin - Insite uses state-of-the-art software to build digital twins of each asset we inspect. The model highlights all defect locations and can be easily viewed and shared by site personnel.
Condition report - analysed, compiled and signed off by a qualified engineering team.
Full Image Library - All Insite clients are able to access all imagery for their own scoping and planning.
Other Projects
FAQ
01
What is the typical pricing?
02
What is the turn-around time?
03
What do you need to get started?
04
How do you manage risks associated with drone operations?
05
Can you integrate with our existing GIS or asset systems?
06
What insurance do you hold?
07
What are your qualifications and compliances?
2026
Decommissioned Dragline
In the Central Queensland, next to a main road, sits a dragline. Insite used drone-technology to fully capture its external structural condition.
Inspection
Digital Twin
Overview
6,420 high-resolution images
105 minutes of flight time
1.2 Million data points
The Challenge of Inspecting Draglines
A dragline is one of the most complex assets on a mine site. The combination of exposed structural steelwork, active rope systems, and elevated platforms creates an inspection environment where conventional methods are slow, expensive, and introduce their own safety risks.
Access and height - Boom structures extend 60 to 100 metres above ground. Inspecting boom chords and mast connections manually requires scaffolding or rope access which can be days of logistics for a few hours of data collection.
Rope systems - Hoist and drag ropes operate under extreme cyclic loading. Visual inspection from ground level cannot resolve wire breaks, strand deformation, or localised wear at sheave contact points. Close-proximity aerial capture closes that gap.
Mast and platform structures - A-frame masts, walkways, and elevated work platforms accumulate corrosion and fatigue damage in areas that are difficult to access without a full scaffold build.
Asset complexity - A large dragline has thousands of individual structural members. Manually tracking defect locations, severity, and progression across inspections requires a systematic data structure. Ad hoc records create gaps and inconsistencies.
How Drone Inspection Helps
Three structural zones on a dragline that deliver the highest return from aerial inspection. Each area is difficult or hazardous to inspect conventionally. All three were captured in a single 105-minute flight.
Rope Systems
Hoist ropes, drag ropes, and suspension ropes were captured at close proximity with high-resolution RGB imagery. Wire breaks, kinks, birdcaging, and abrasion at sheave contact points are resolvable in the imagery without physical access to the reeving system.
Boom Structure
The boom chord members, cross-bracing, and gusset connections were mapped across the full boom length. Corrosion and section loss on chord members are identifiable in the without requiring boom-mounted access platforms. Defect locations are pinned directly on the 3D model for report reference.
Mast, Platforms & Ladders
A-frame mast connections, operator cab access platforms, and ladder structures were captured from multiple angles. Defects in these areas present safety risks to personnel and are not visible from ground leve. The aerial survey captures condition data without any personnel working at height.
What We Deliver
Insite delivers 3 key items to streamline maintenance and allow planners and supervisors to remotely scope works.
Digital Twin - Insite uses state-of-the-art software to build digital twins of each asset we inspect. The model highlights all defect locations and can be easily viewed and shared by site personnel.
Condition report - analysed, compiled and signed off by a qualified engineering team.
Full Image Library - All Insite clients are able to access all imagery for their own scoping and planning.
Other Projects
FAQ
What is the typical pricing?
What is the turn-around time?
What do you need to get started?
How do you manage risks associated with drone operations?
Can you integrate with our existing GIS or asset systems?
What insurance do you hold?
What are your qualifications and compliances?