Dan Carlson, Building Official, and Carl Brown, Building Inspector / Plans Examiner III, from the City of Wilsonville, will explain how the city’s Building Safety Division uses drones to enhance inspections of structures such as solar installations, tall warehouses, re-roofing projects, framing, shear walls, rooftop mechanical units, and final inspections.
Drone technology improves safety by reducing the need for inspectors to navigate hazardous conditions, increases efficiency by allowing quicker access across job sites, and enhances accuracy through high-definition cameras that capture fine details like nailing patterns. They will also discuss how drones support rapid post-disaster assessments, enabling faster evaluations and recovery efforts.
This session will provide valuable insights into the innovative use of drones in building inspections and how it benefits both the city and its residents.
The Rotary Club of Wilsonville meets weekly Thursdays at noon to carry out its purpose of providing service and fellowship to members and the Wilsonville community. Guests are welcome. Lunch is available off the menu; please arrive and order by 11:45 a.m. if you are ordering lunch. For more information, email president@wilsonvillerotary.com.
Official bios:
Dan Carlson serves as the Building Official for the City of Wilsonville. Before relocating to Wilsonville in 2016, he held the same role in Corvallis, Oregon, where he began his 29-year career as a code professional. While serving as an adjunct instructor and de facto program chair for Chemeketa Community College’s Building Inspection Technology Program, Carlson played a key role in reviving the program after a three-year hiatus caused by the recession. For this work, he received a special recognition award from the Oregon Building Officials Association in 2018 and the prestigious Raising the Profile award from the International Code Council (ICC) in 2023.
Carlson holds 21 certifications from the International Code Council and the State of Oregon and is an FAA-licensed UAS (drone) pilot. In 2010, he was appointed by Governor Ted Kulongoski to the Oregon Building Code Structures Board. He also served as President of the Oregon Building Officials Association (OBOA) Board of Directors in 2012 and was named Oregon Building Official of the Year by his OBOA peers in 2013.
Carl Brown is a building inspector for the City of Wilsonville with a passion for technical problem solving. A six-year building code professional, he specializes in structural, mechanical, plumbing, and fire-life-safety systems for both commercial and residential construction. He holds seven code certifications and an Associate of Applied Science in Building Inspection Technology.
A licensed drone pilot, Brown draws from hands-on experience using drones in inspections throughout the community. He looks forward to sharing insights on “using drones in building inspections” with the Wilsonville Rotary Club. Outside of work, he enjoys backpacking and volunteering on the local Codes Committee.
