Digital Runway Inspection – Bristol Airport

Since 2022, InViewAssets has provided Bristol Airport with complete high-resolution surface capture and accurate 3D infrastructure modelling with asset intelligence consultancy.

About Bristol Airport

Bristol Airport serves over 10 million passengers annually, connecting the South West to more than 100 destinations across Europe and beyond.

The Airport handles flights from over 30 airlines and welcomes passengers from across the region and internationally, providing a gateway that links local communities with global opportunities.

The Airport has modern terminal facilities and infrastructure for passenger services, retail and dining, as well as cargo operations and business aviation across the site.

 

 

Their Challenge​

There were several distinct challenges:

  • Paper-based PCI (Pavement Condition Index) surveys for the runways + aprons were paper-based
  • CAA’s 36-month oversight cycle: requires audits with continued compliance
    verification – disjointed records are difficult to retrieve
  • Sharing across teams is challenging without digitised visual information
  • Capital decisions: based on incomplete and patchy evidence

Asset digitisation for shared defect reporting

Our online visual platform from Trendspek ensures 24-7 access to a single source of truth with cm-level accuracy.

  • Remote inspection: 3D online model verifies ground-truth observations and helps with the identification of rates of surface deterioration
  • Data integrated other existing geospatial airport data systems: seamless integration
    with GIS systems (e.g. ESRI) which meant data scales with airport growth and
    development
  • Cloud-based solution: provided airside operations, maintenance, and senior
    management with access to the latest defect data

Outcomes

CAA Audit Readiness: timestamped, geotagged documentation supports the 36-month oversight cycles

Trend analysis: historical digitised data demonstrates proactive maintenance implementation

Asset lifecycle extension: data-driven maintenance scheduling has extended runway surface life by 24-36 months to 2029

Efficiency improvement: reduced transcription errors, 2x faster data documentation online

Apron optimisation: better understanding of stand availability and aircraft spacing without the need for CAD

Cost-saving, safety and efficiency benefits

Hours/days capture time*

Versus the traditional ground-based data capture time of weeks or even months for large assets, saving days/weeks

De-risking data capture

Versus complex ground permissions, InView Assets tools are “zero-touch”

Up to 80% cost saving

Versus traditional manual survey costs by removing the expense of prolonged capture time and travel time. Reduces the need for repeated in-person site visits which are airside and can hamper operations

Fully digital remote inspection

Versus the traditional survey which does not “see” all of the asset from all aspects and elevations

Millions of data points

Versus ground surveys with limited access and finite resolution, allowing pinpoint accuracy across all assets

3D interactive outputs

Versus the traditional 2D paper-based reports and images which have limited access, coverage and quality

*For areas up to 10,000 or 1ha – roof inspection image capture in one day. Larger areas of up to 100ha are for landscape photogrammetry in one day.

Read our other Case Studies

Tone works

Thread Architects worked with InView Assets and Historic England to produce a high-resolution 3D roof model of a nationally important building at risk in Wellington, Somerset.

Read More »

UPP

UPP the UK’s leading provider of on-campus residential and academic accommodation infrastructure.

Read More »

EA

The EA create better places for people and wildlife, and support sustainable development.

Read More »