Power of Drones: Transforming Construction Project Monitoring

Drone technology has been slowly emerging over recent years. A growing number of companies are embracing this cutting-edge innovation to reduce operational costs and increase operational efficiency – a testament to its potential value within the industry. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the need for remote site monitoring, and this demand has persisted.

As technologies continue to evolve rapidly, it’s essential for construction businesses to stay ahead of the curve if they want to remain competitive in today’s changing landscape. Drones have long been a topic for discussion among CIOs and project managers looking toward the future in digital transformation; however, many still need to be made aware of how drones might help them revolutionize the face of their business.

Drones offer a cost-effective way to obtain an aerial perspective of a construction site, saving time and money in the construction industry. They are the fastest method for data collection and workers/ managers can identify potential hazards not visible from the ground by having an aerial view of the site, minimizing accidents and injuries.

In this blog post, we will explore how drones can help organizations leverage their capabilities in innovative ways & unlock new growth opportunities. We’ll dive deep to examine how drones can provide innovative solutions across all aspects: surveying sites remotely rather than sending individuals physically to gather data; pre-programmed survey flights that fly at consistent altitudes giving incredibly precise mapping capabilities; 3D imagery with advanced software equipped with virtual reality — these are just some examples of what drone technology is capable today when applied in the right way within both large and small companies alike.

Stick around as we explore further below!

Ways of Procuring Construction Data

Drones usage has quickly become an industry standard in many fields, and construction is no exception. The benefits of using drones in construction are vast and can save companies time and money. Due to so many benefits, drones are quickly becoming an industry standard.

Getting construction data can be done in a few ways: on foot, via manned aerial vehicles, or drones. Each has its own set of benefits and drawbacks.

On Foot & Manned Aerial Vehicles

On foot is the most common way to get data. This is because it’s cheap and easy to do. However, it’s very time-consuming and can be difficult to collect accurate data this way. Manned aerial vehicles are faster than on foot, but they’re more expensive and can be dangerous. They also require operator training and certification, which can be challenging to get.

Drones

Drones are the newest way to get construction data. They’re much faster than both on-foot and manned aerial vehicles. The drone can be used in any terrain, including tough, challenging terrains like hilly areas, etc. Further, you can survey large areas in a very short time. They’re also much cheaper than manned aerial vehicles.

Drones allow construction teams to monitor any issue, track progress and develop better plans on-site by providing an unrivaled view of a site at a fraction of the cost.By using drones, we can generate a highly precise topographic base map and ortho-rectified imagery resulting in considerable time and cost savings, giving a superior visual output/deliverable,

Construction professionals all over the world are gradually taking up the adoption of drones/UAVs in various construction phases because of various benefits.

Benefits of using drones in construction

Using drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), is becoming an increasingly common practice across many industries. Its advantages are clear: drones allow for more efficient data collection and analysis, leading to better decision-making and improved productivity. In the construction industry, in particular, drones have already begun to revolutionize how projects are managed and inspected.

1) Larger Data Collection – Cover Larger Areas Easily

Drones can effortlessly cover much larger areas than traditional data collection methods, such as ground surveys or satellite imagery. They are essential for construction sites as they provide a comprehensive view of the site, allowing for progress monitoring and identifying potential problems. Furthermore, as drones become sophisticated, they can collect data at higher resolutions, allowing for greater detail in inspection and mapping.

2) Greater Survey Accuracy

Thanks to the accuracy of drone sensors and the ability to fly in tight spaces, drones can achieve survey accuracies far superior to traditional methods. This improved accuracy can be crucial when surveying difficult or hazardous sites, where mistakes can be costly or dangerous.

3) Inspection of Hard to Reach Structures

Drones are also well-suited for inspecting hard-to-reach structures such as tall buildings or bridges. By flying close to these structures, drones can capture high-resolution images and videos that would be difficult or impossible to obtain with other methods. This capability can be particularly valuable for safety inspections, allowing inspectors to look closer at potential hazards without endangering themselves.

4) Documentation of Higher Quality

With their ability to capture high-quality images and videos from any angle, drones are perfect for creating detailed documentation of construction projects. This documentation can be helpful for various purposes, such as quality assurance, marketing materials, or training videos. By providing a versatile and accurate project development record, drones can help improve overall coordination and communication among team members.

5) Improved Construction Site Safety

The ability of drones to quickly and safely access hard-to-reach areas makes them ideal for construction safety inspections. By detecting potential hazards early on, drones can help prevent accidents and injuries on the job site. Additionally, by providing accurate records of incident scenes, drones can help investigators piece together what happened in the event of an accident.

6) Lower Cost Than Traditional Inspections

Compared to traditional data collection and inspection (such as manual surveys or scaffolding), drones are often much cheaper. In addition, as drone technology continues to evolve, the cost-effectiveness of UAVs is likely only to increase.

Applications of drones in construction

Using drones in construction has been on the rise in recent years because of the advantages that drones offer. In addition to the benefits, there are some mind-blowing applications of drones that the construction industry can use to its advantage. Some of these applications include:

1) Pre-Construction and Initial Site Surveys – Strategize planning with 3D mapping.

One of the main applications of drones in construction is pre-construction and initial site surveys. Drones can be utilized to create a 3D map of the construction site, aiding in planning and ensuring that everything proceeds as planned. It can also be used to identify any potential problems or issues that may arise during construction.

2) Surveying job sites to Compare site conditions with plans.

With the help of drones you can survey job sites, and compare the site conditions with the plans. This ensures that the construction process goes according to plan and that there are no unexpected issues later.

3) Progress tracking and reporting to Keep the project on-budget.

Drone technology allows for progress tracking and reporting to those in charge, such as the client or stakeholders. It helps keep the project on budget and prevents any surprises from happening later during construction. Additionally, it helps ensure everyone is on the same page regarding the project’s progress.

4) Inspecting structures – Detect quality issues, hotspots etc. in a structure.

Used for inspecting structures such as buildings and bridges for quality issues, hotspots, etc. drones also ensure that the structure is safe and meets all safety requirements. Drones can detect issues early on, allowing for timely fixes and preventing them from becoming bigger problems.

5) Efficiently monitoring multiple job sites.

Another application of drones in construction is efficient monitoring of multiple job sites simultaneously, saving time and manpower resources. It also allows for quick communication between those working on different job sites, which ensures that everyone is on track with their respective tasks.

6) Quick communication / information sharing – Showing clients / stakeholders the progress .

The final application of drones in construction is quick communication and information sharing between clients, stakeholders, and those working on different aspects of the project. This allows for faster decision-making and better transparency regarding the project’s progress. Additionally, it can help build trust between all those involved in the project.

Challenges and limitations of using drones in construction

Using drones in construction has seen a surge in recent years as the technology has become more affordable and accessible. Although drones have benefits regarding efficiency and safety, it’s essential to consider their challenges and limitations before incorporating them into a construction project.

1. Drone Regulations Continue to Change

One of the biggest challenges facing using drones in construction is the ever-changing regulatory landscape. The rules and regulations governing the use of drones vary from country to country and even state to state, so it is vital to stay up-to-date on the latest rules before using drones in a construction project.

In addition, new regulations or updates to existing regulations can often be complex and challenging to comply with, so it is essential to understand the regulations before starting a project.

2. Optimal Use of a Drone Requires the Services of a Trained Professional

Another challenge facing using drones in construction is that it requires expert knowledge and training to operate effectively. Many construction projects involve tight deadlines and complex logistics, so having a trained professional on-site to operate the drone is not always feasible. As such, it is essential to factor in the cost of hiring a qualified professional when considering whether or not to use a drone in a construction project.

3. Drones Have a Limited Flight Time

A significant limitation of using drones in construction is their limited flight time. Most drones can only fly for around 30 minutes at a time, which can limit their usefulness in large construction projects. This limitation can be overcome by having multiple drones working on different parts of the project simultaneously, but this increases both the cost and complexity of using drones in construction.

4. Drones Don’t Fly Well in High Wind Conditions

Another limitation of using drones in construction is their susceptibility to high winds. High winds can disrupt the flight path of drones and even cause damage, making them unsafe and ineffective in certain areas of a construction project. As such, it is vital to consider wind conditions when planning a drone project and avoid using them in areas where high winds are common.

5. Reinvent business processes to Integrate usage of UAVs and fully benefit from their usage

Finally, there are also limitations to how drones can be integrated into existing business processes. Although drones can make specific tasks more efficient, incorporating their use into current methods may require companies to fully adjust or revamp their strategies to take advantage of the benefits. It can be time-consuming and costly, requiring significant investment in training and infrastructure.

Future of drones in construction

Drones in construction aren’t new, but construction companies are adopting them faster than ever before. In the early days of the industry, most tasks were done by hand because there was no other way to do them. With the development of machines, industries started utilizing them to automate tasks and enhance productivity.

Today, drones play a similar role in the industry by automating tasks once done manually. For example, drones can conduct land surveys, which can be utilized to generate models of the land. Using this information can help with more accurate construction project planning and prevent future problems. Drones can monitor both equipment and workers present at a construction site. By having a live video feed of the site, construction managers can better coordinate workers and ensure everyone works safely and efficiently. Construction.ai’s expertise lies in stitching the vast amount of drone data to help managers and workers make sense of it all, enabling swift decision-making and saving precious time.

Their current capabilities allow them to cut costs, time, risk, and labor while improving workflow, accuracy, communication, and efficiency. If this technology is implemented on a large scale in the future, it will only further streamline the construction life cycle and improve the construction process significantly.

Conclusion

The construction industry has long been an early adopter of new technology, and drones are no different. As the use cases for drones in construction continue to increase, the industry must embrace this new tool. Not only does this position the construction industry for survivability, but it also enhances processes moving forward.

Even as today’s challenges abate, the adaptive use of drone technology will allow the construction industry to stay at the forefront of delivering projects with the best in service, value, and quality.

If you’re interested in learning how ConstructN uses drone data to provide comprehensive progress insights and integrate them with other data sets to help project teams with automated progress tracking for all kinds of builders, reach out and talk to our team today.