Audit‑ready asset evidence: RPAS and terrestrial capture delivered the engineering way

Applus+ Digital Services in the Pacific region leverages disciplined development, structured validation, and controlled delivery to drive quality outcomes for our clients. We integrate RPAS and terrestrial data capture within a repeatable workflow that captures, measures, and archives defensible evidence for remote inspection and integrity decision‑making.

We elevate the work of our inspectors, focusing on higher‑value analysis supported by quality evidence, while continuing to improve safety and deployment efficiency. The result is an auditable, time‑and‑condition (T&C) record: a timestamped, quality‑controlled evidence set that captures asset state at a defined point in time and supports comparison and audit.

TIC first: technology as an enabler

As a Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) provider, our responsibility is to deliver independent, professional inspection and reporting that meets engineering requirements, regulatory expectations, and audits. Digital technology is deployed precisely to where it strengthens these outcomes.

Our priorities are:

• Defensible accuracy
• Sensitivity aligned to defect mechanisms and operating conditions
• End‑to‑end veracity and traceability of evidence
• Repeatability for T&C comparison across campaigns.

These principles distinguish engineering‑grade inspection from visually compelling but technically limited imagery.

From access to defensible evidence

High-quality inspection evidence isn’t just about collecting data. To meet HOIS Joint Industry Project expectations, service level agreements (SLAs), and expert requirements, the process must clearly show how accurate it is, how well it detects risks, and how certain (or uncertain) the measurements are.

Our engineered workflow includes:

• Structured coverage planning to minimise blind spots, reduce ambiguity, and enable repeatable viewpoints for reliable comparison over time
• Capture methodologies aligned to agreed standards and SLA criteria, with measurement intent embedded in planning
• Quantified measurement accuracy and uncertainty supported by control points, scale validation, calibration checks, and documented tolerances
• Sensitivity controls to confirm reliable detection of required defect types and sizes under expected site conditions
• Quality assurance and completeness gates to verify datasets are fit for purpose before acceptance as the inspection record
• Controlled processing and traceable data management with clear lineage from raw capture to final outputs

In this model, the integrity of the workflow is as important as the technology deployed.

Integrated RPAS and terrestrial capture

No single technology is appropriate for every scenario – RPAS and terrestrial capture each bring benefits.

• RPAS delivers reach, perspective, speed, and safer access in high‑risk or confined spaces.
• Terrestrial capture provides stability, precision, sensitivity, and measurement confidence where detail is critical.

A single engineered methodology governs both so outputs remain comparable and auditable across campaigns.

Remote inspection with closed‑loop verification 

Remote review as a first step enables experienced inspectors and engineers to scrutinize evidence without unnecessary travel or time on site, while maintaining governance and quality controls. It also helps prioritize on-site verification activities and define specific, location-bound, evidence-referenced actions. Outcomes can then be incorporated back into the inspection record, closing the loop.  

Examples of tasks requiring site-based inspection include tactile assessment, coating condition validation, specific contact measurements, and views obstructed by geometry, reflections, or line‑of‑sight constraints. In practice, around 80% of inspection needs can be resolved remotely, with the remaining 20% addressed through targeted on‑site verification.

Inspection‑grade insight, integrated by design

The Applus+ approach combines specialist capture partnerships, highly experienced inspection teams, and seamless data e-delivery to ensure inspection‑grade outcomes at scale. We bring together the latest technology with the strength of Applus+ inspection governance and engineering interpretation to deliver findings in non‑proprietary formats that integrate seamlessly with client CMMS (Computerised Maintenance Management Systems) and EAM (Enterprise Asset Management) data environments. 

Conclusion

Today’s RPAS delivery demands inspection‑grade evidence that can be measured, archived, integrated, audited, and acted upon. In the Pacific Region, the Applus+ Digital Services department has implemented an advanced engineering‑led workflow that integrates RPAS and terrestrial capture, enables remote scrutiny by experienced professionals, closes the loop with targeted on-site verification, and delivers outputs that support integration, continuous improvement, and the structured adoption of machine‑assisted insight.