Robots have learned to detect defects and violations in Russian high-rise buildings
High‑tech inspection robots in Russia are now capable of identifying structural defects and safety violations in multi‑story residential buildings, offering a faster and more precise way to assess hard‑to‑reach areas
Energy, Utilities, and Urban Tech
In the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YNAO), VENOM inspection robots are helping housing inspectors uncover structural defects and code violations in high-rise buildings, according to the regional government’s press office.
Equipped with high‑resolution cameras, these robots reach locations that are difficult or dangerous for humans — including rooftops, building facades, chimney systems, ventilation shafts, crawl spaces, and other confined or elevated areas.
Diagnostics Without Entering Apartments
Using drones, inspectors can conduct both visual and thermal imaging assessments of multi‑apartment buildings without entering individual units. This dramatically reduces the time required for inspections while improving diagnostic accuracy.
The drones detect cold‑bridge zones, insulation failures, heat leaks around windows and doors, heating system disruptions, and areas of elevated humidity that signal deeper structural problems.
Digital Passports for Buildings
After each inspection, a 3D model of the building is generated and stored in a digital database. This model becomes a “digital passport” — a continuously accessible record that urban authorities can use for monitoring, planning, and long‑term maintenance.
Such robotic inspection systems are already operating in the cities of Salekhard, Noyabrsk, Novy Urengoy, Nadym, and Tarko‑Sale.
