Solar & Roofing Drone Operations
Standardized workflows, documentation, and clean closeout for drone operators delivering solar panel inspections, roofing condition assessments, thermal diagnostics, and installation verification.
Purpose
Solar and roofing drone services require precision, repeatability, and thorough documentation at every stage—from pre-install site surveys through post-installation verification and ongoing warranty inspections. Contractors, insurers, and property owners expect verifiable evidence that inspections were performed consistently by qualified operators. ColonyCore provides the operational accountability that ensures every inspection is scheduled, executed, documented, and invoiced systematically. See pricing aligned to recurring inspection operations.
Who This Is For
- Drone service providers delivering thermal and visual inspections for solar installers and roofing contractors
- Operators managing pre-install, post-install, and warranty inspection programs
- Teams coordinating multi-site roofing assessments for insurance or property management clients
- Operators building recurring inspection contracts with solar O&M providers
See who ColonyCore is built for to confirm alignment with your operation.
Operational Challenges in Solar & Roofing Drone Services
Solar and roofing inspection work has unique operational requirements that generic tools cannot address:
- Multi-phase inspection workflows — A single project may require pre-install survey, progress documentation, post-install thermal scan, and annual warranty inspection—each with different parameters and deliverables
- Thermal and visual data correlation — Operators must track which sensor was used for each flight, ensuring thermal data is captured with properly calibrated equipment
- High-volume batch inspections — Solar O&M contracts may involve hundreds of residential or commercial sites on recurring schedules
- Documentation standards for warranty claims — Manufacturers and installers require specific documentation formats for warranty submissions
- Contractor coordination — Coordinating with roofing crews, solar installers, and property owners requires clear scheduling and status tracking
- Equipment management complexity — Thermal cameras, high-resolution RGB sensors, and standard equipment require systematic maintenance and rotation tracking
Typical Workflows
Pre-Install Site Survey
Aerial assessment of roof condition, orientation, and shading before solar installation. Documentation supports design decisions and identifies pre-existing damage before work begins.
Thermal Panel Inspection
Post-installation thermal scans identify hotspots, cell defects, and connection issues. Flight logs document which panels were scanned, when, and with what equipment calibration.
Post-Install Verification
Visual documentation confirming installation meets specifications. Compare aerial photos against design plans. Records support installer quality assurance programs.
Warranty & Condition Monitoring
Recurring annual or semi-annual inspections for O&M contracts. Track degradation over time with consistent flight parameters and organized records per site.
How ColonyCore Helps
ColonyCore connects the entire inspection lifecycle—from initial job creation through deliverable submission and payment collection—into one operational system:
- Standardized job templates — Create templates for each inspection type (pre-install, thermal, post-install, warranty). Apply consistent parameters across every job using job management.
- Field execution tracking — Flight logs automatically capture date, time, location, aircraft, sensor payload, and pilot for each inspection flight.
- Clean closeout — Completed inspections flow directly to invoicing. No manual reconciliation between completed work and billing.
- Equipment and sensor tracking — Equipment management tracks thermal camera calibration dates, battery cycles, and maintenance intervals across your entire fleet.
- Recurring schedule management — Set up annual warranty inspection schedules across entire portfolios. Track completion status and flag overdue inspections.
Compliance & Operational Risk Factors
- FAA compliance — All flights are logged with Part 107 compliance data. Compliance-first operations ensure audit readiness for every inspection.
- Warranty documentation standards — Systematic documentation meets manufacturer and installer requirements for warranty claims processing.
- Liability from undetected defects — If a panel defect is missed because an inspection was skipped or poorly documented, the operator may face liability. Job tracking with status alerts mitigates this risk.
- Thermal calibration records — Equipment records document calibration status for each thermal sensor, supporting the validity of inspection findings.
Is This a Fit?
Solar and roofing inspection operators delivering repeatable, documentation-heavy services are a strong fit for ColonyCore. If your operation involves thermal inspections, multi-phase project documentation, or recurring warranty programs, ColonyCore provides the operational backbone that eliminates administrative overhead and documentation gaps. Learn more about who ColonyCore serves, or estimate savings with the ROI calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ColonyCore support thermal inspection workflows?
ColonyCore tracks the operational side of thermal inspections—scheduling, pilot assignment, equipment tracking (including thermal camera assignments), flight logging, and invoicing. Thermal image processing is handled by your existing analysis tools.
Can I manage multi-phase projects (pre-install through warranty)?
Yes. Create separate job entries for each project phase. All phases are organized under the same client and site, giving you a complete inspection history per property. Learn more about job management.
How does ColonyCore handle high-volume O&M inspection contracts?
Batch-create recurring inspection jobs across entire portfolios. Assign pilots, track completion, and invoice against completed inspections—all from one system.
Is ColonyCore suitable for solo roofing inspection operators?
Absolutely. Solo operators benefit from organized job records and automated flight logging from day one. As your client base grows, your operational records are already systematized. See pricing for solo plans.
Run Solar & Roofing Operations With Confidence
Set up your first inspection job, log a flight, and invoice your client—all in one platform. No demos required.
Request Early Access