September 6, 2023: Queensland-based building defect detection technology solution company Voltin on September 5, 2023, announced its strategic partnership with real estate management organisation International Real Estate Partners (IREP). This collaboration with IREP will help Voltin extend its footprint to over 80 international markets, including India, and in turn, IREP will gain early access to the technology.
Specialising in visual data capture and AI-driven photogrammetry modelling software for building defect identification, this partnership underscores Voltin’s focus on India’s real estate sector with the support of IREP’s reach, enhancing automated building inspection and defect analysis technology in the country.
Abhinav Bhatia, senior trade and investment commissioner-South Asia at trade and investment Queensland (TIQ), said, “Queensland sees India not merely as a market, but as a partner in progress. At Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ), we are ardently committed to advancing Queensland companies like Voltin into India’s vibrant landscape. Their alliance with IREP signifies the commencement of a promising odyssey into the future of real estate technology — a realm teeming with potential.”
The Voltin System has already evaluated commercial buildings in Australia and identified defects within industrial properties and multi-story residential apartments. A primary feature of Voltin is its ability to operate an automated façade inspection device in high-density areas, bypassing the need for air safety approval. The system delivers a digital assessment of a building exterior, revealing previously unseen flaws and precise defect location. The technology is proficient in detecting more than 50 types of building defects, ranging from water penetrations and thermal losses to cracks, corrosion and paint peeling. The system operates effectively on diverse surfaces like concrete, cladding, glass and metallic composites. This translates into swiffer, more cost-effective and highly accurate automated building façade defect detection reports and remediation plans.
Stephen Thornton, managing director of Voltin, said, “This collaboration between IREP and Voltin holds immense promise, particularly for India’s burgeoning real estate sector. IREP’s robust belief in the power of technology aligns seamlessly with our innovative offerings, which are poised to revolutionise facility management solutions for Indian clients. Our joint venture has the potential to transcend regional boundaries, catering to the distinctive needs of clients across India and the broader South Asian region. As we move ahead into the latter part of 2023, we anticipate embarking on project development ventures in partnership with IREP in the Middle East and South Asia, including India.”
IREP operates in over 80 countries and manages portfolios for many brands worldwide in industries spanning across multiple sectors. This strategic partnership will enable IREP to incorporate external building structure and fabric data into the company’s analytical framework.
John Weber, IREP’s head of asset and energy management, said, “This partnership holds paramount importance for India’s real estate landscape. IREP’s substantial investment in digitising data sources, spanning energy metres, IoT sensors, air quality and occupancy sensors, as well as asset maintenance, leasing and finance aspects, has positioned us as trailblazers in harnessing technology’s potential. With our partnership with Voltin, we now bridge a crucial gap by incorporating external building structure and fabric data into our analytical framework. This seamless integration is poised to empower our clients in India with invaluable insights, propelling efficiency gains and cost reductions across their entire real estate assets.”
Only a handful of companies globally offer similar software service platforms for façade inspections. Unlike these counterparts, Voltin’s approach negates the need for free-flying drones which are usually restricted in downtown CBD areas or near airports, expanding the possibilities of application. It is also AI compatible and provides integration into a client’s own systems.
