The Challenge
AHAM Vastgoed manages a portfolio of historic properties in Amsterdam's iconic canal district — buildings dating back centuries with ornate facades, delicate stonework, and irreplaceable architectural details. These heritage structures require regular condition monitoring, but traditional inspection methods posed serious risks.
Scaffolding against protected facades risks physical damage. Rope access is expensive and provides limited coverage. Manual inspectors can only assess what they can reach, leaving upper stories, rooflines, and recessed details undocumented. For a heritage portfolio, incomplete data means missed deterioration that compounds over time.
The Solution
To prove the technology, Aeroscan proposed a direct side-by-side comparison: the same building inspected using traditional methods and drone-based 3D capture. AHAM could evaluate both approaches against the same structure and make a data-driven decision.
The drone inspection captured the full exterior in a fraction of the time, producing a navigable 3D model where every stone, every joint, and every ornamental element was measurable. The traditional inspection report documented visible issues from accessible vantage points; the digital twin captured the entire building, including areas no inspector had ever reached.
- Side-by-side comparison on the same heritage building
- Zero physical contact with protected facades
- Complete exterior coverage including previously inaccessible areas
- Permanent digital archive of irreplaceable architectural details
- Faster delivery at lower cost than scaffolding-based methods
The Results
The comparison was decisive. The drone-based inspection delivered more detail, covered more surface area, and created a permanent digital record — all without touching the building. AHAM permanently switched to Aeroscan for their entire heritage portfolio.
Every facade detail is now digitally archived. When restoration work is needed, contractors receive precise measurements and high-resolution imagery before arriving on site. The 3D models also serve as a heritage documentation tool — a permanent record of these irreplaceable buildings as they exist today, available for future generations of property managers, conservators, and historians.
Why This Matters for US Properties
The United States has countless historic and heritage buildings — from warehouse district conversions to century-old apartment blocks. AerialSpect brings the same non-invasive, high-detail approach that AHAM trusted for Amsterdam's most precious properties to your portfolio, whether you manage historic landmarks or any building where access is difficult and documentation gaps are unacceptable.