Drones have quickly become a robust tool for the construction industry because they deliver accurate data that improves job site safety, reduces operational expenses, and increases project management efficiency.
Drones have quickly become a robust tool for the construction industry because they deliver accurate data that improves job site safety, reduces operational expenses, and increases project management efficiency.
Drones in construction have exploded in recent years, further validating the importance of utilizing aerial data to streamline and simplify construction processes. According to a recent report, the global drone construction industry is estimated to be worth nearly $12 billion dollars by 2027.
As markets become more competitive, further adoption of drones in construction will be imperative to compete and keep your company on the cutting edge.
The most critical aspect of a construction project is planning, which involves having a detailed understanding of the land where the project will be constructed. Traditional surveying methods create two-dimensional maps which require ground sensors and hours traversing the site to capture the necessary data.
Using drones in construction speeds up the construction process because they can be deployed within a few minutes and begin collecting information immediately. Aerial data can create real-time 3D maps, decreasing inaccuracies throughout the project life cycle.
Pre-construction planning maps are also used with modeling software to create site renderings with completed buildings, infrastructure, etc. We will talk in more detail about mapping below.
Orthomosaic maps are interactive geometrically accurate 3D maps created by overlapping and stitching numerous aerial images together using advanced photogrammetric software. According to a 2021 Drone Industry Insights Report, Mapping and surveying dominate all drone applications in construction at 80%. The ability to launch a drone within a few minutes and generate updated 3D maps is a tremendous asset to any construction company because it saves time and money.
The benefit of 3D maps is reusing them for many of the applications we list on this page. Aerial maps are highly versatile, whether it's for planning, progress photos, or stockpile measurements. Having up-to-date data keeps a project on track and helps avoid costly mistakes that might have been overlooked using conventional methods.
Using the visual data collected from drones, it has never been easier to monitor a project and keep your client informed.
It's critical to keep stakeholders in the loop by sharing photos, videos, and maps. It also helps determine what phase the project is in and whether the budget and timeline are accurate.
Without drones, the only way to report back would require physically walking the site and collecting data from the ground. A drone can complete the same task within minutes of launch while reducing safety risks, cost, and time that are more prevalent with traditional methods.
An aerial perspective can also identify key issues or highlight aspects of the project that may need to be reevaluated. Aerial reports offer flexibility as recording this data often (even daily) is much more practical and accurate than using ground-based sensors.
Volumetric measurements of dirt, rocks, and other construction materials are essential to monitoring the number of materials on a job site. Another use is to track how much material has been removed from a particular area. 3D models that have already been created are often used to estimate the volume of materials, or specific models of the stockpiles can be made with updated data sets throughout the project.
Stockpile monitoring can also approximate how much material would be needed to fill an area in or how much needs to be removed to flatten a pile. The ease of use and quick turnaround time makes drones ideal for tracking this type of information.
Using drones to market your construction business is a great way to show prospective clients what you do from a unique perspective. You know what they say; you're only as good as your latest work.
A drone is an excellent tool for telling a story, and with having all of the footage already captured, it's not difficult to convert them into impactful marketing materials.
If you are interested in utilizing drones in construction, you may be curious about the next steps. Here at DRONEADAIR, we help connect you to the best-certified drone pilots to help you capture the data you will need to help you grow and scale your business.
Our new Enterprise platform (Coming Soon) allows you to automatically assign missions to pilots inside your organization or send mission requests to our Pro Pilots, and we will match your project with the perfect pilot for your specific needs.
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We hope you found this list of the top uses for drones in construction to be helpful! If you would like to learn about other drone applications, check out our drone industry pages below.
