In the past few years, enhanced modern technology and their versatility have resulted in the mounting popularity of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), widely called DRONES. The early adapters swiftly recognized the several uses of these modern aircraft in business settings and began to leverage it—The construction industry is no exception here. Yes, the uses of drones in construction have started to take off.
Construction Is Now The Leading Sector Using Drones
According to one of the leading cloud software platforms for commercial drones, the construction industry is the fastest growing commercial adopters of Drones at a surging 239%.
In addition to this, the use of drones in construction is projected to expand the industry especially after the clearance from the Federal Aviation Regulations which confirms operators do not need a pilot license when using drones for different commercial purposes.
With growth symptoms like these, you probably have several questions one of which is – How Drones Are Being Used In Construction? Let’s answer this in our blog.
Before That, What Is A Drone?
A drone is a recognizable aircraft, normally comes with a compact design but varies in size. Drones are controlled remotely and collect information, mainly images or video footages. The data collected by drones are used to directly feed into other software and mapped to create comprehensive datasets.
As an aircraft, this aircraft is designated as ‘unmanned’ mainly because it is controlled remotely by a person who is on the ground. This is the major reason why drones are denoted as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
And Then, Who Uses Drones In Construction Sites?
You may think people who are technology experts or may be pilots, to your surprise, No! Project managers, superintendents, and technology managers are the top users benefiting from drone data at the job site.
10 Interesting Uses Of Drones In Construction
Employing drones for mapping and surveying is only one of the many uses when it comes to putting drones at work in construction. We are now going to list down 10 interesting uses of Drones In construction:
1.Survey Job Site
Drones can be used to quickly survey the job site and build maps. It can eliminate the need for human resources, expensive surveying tools, and heavy machinery which ultimately produce complex data. Drones can do the job of initial site surveying in half the time and money, and the other greater advantage is that is doesn’t compromise on accuracy.
2. 3D Modelling & Construction Mapping
Combined with site surveys, based on the footage and data collected, drone technology can produce accurate contour maps and 3D models.
3. Monitor Work Progress
Drone systems incorporate real-time monitoring making the production of weekly progress maps much easier, quicker, and less costly than traditional manual reporting.
4. Prevent Mistakes At Site
Drones can be armed with cameras, infrared sensors, geo-location sensors, etc. to gather exact details about job site prior to and during construction. We already mentioned, the data is fed into computer systems and turned into accurate 2D orthophotos and 3D models, which creates a rich digital representation of the job site. This allows the project managers to pinpoint specific constructability challenges in the preconstruction phase, identify mistakes, and measure progress during construction.
5. Enhance Safety
The advent of drones in construction is instigating a sharp increase in security efficacy. Whether they are being used to maintain the safety of employees or protect the job site from theft, Drones are gradually witnessing bigger implementation in the construction industry.
6. Improve Collaboration
Collaboration is key to be successful in the construction industry. Drones can improve collaboration by gathering data on-site and easily and quickly distributing it through platforms like BIM 360. The data can be accessed by engineers, virtual design teams, superintendents, contractors, and owners from any smart devices. This empowers everyone to see how things were going on before and compare it with the present data. With the data produced by drones’ discrepancies can be easier to spot before they become serious problems.
7. Reach Inaccessible Or Unsafe Areas
Drones can be put to work in areas that are completely inaccessible or unsafe. Drone technology can save time and minimize risk; for e.g. drones can analyze roof structures from above much above, this option is much safer than sending inspectors or workers up onto areas which have tiny safety limits.
8. Showing The Progress To Clients
Monitoring the progress on the job site is one thing, showing the progress to the client is another. When clients stay away from the construction site and cannot really afford to visit the site again and again, drones serve as an inventive way to demonstrate and validate to the clients the progress of building, renovation, or inspection.
9. Transportation
Since drones are small with high levels of maneuverability, they are being actively used as an alternative to traditional vehicles. What’s even better is the fact that these do not have to adhere to the general traffic laws, hence they can make deliveries in a fraction of the time, using hemi of the resources. Drones play a big role in transportation in construction. By providing aerial deliveries of materials, equipment, and notices drones facilitate and improve the logistic practices.
10. Inspection
The use of drones in job site inspection means a radical increase in worksite safety by eradicating several dangers and safety hazards. With drones transporting goods aerially, companies can execute difficult inspections and keep track of all that enters and leaves the job site. This helps in saving time and money and at the same time keep the site secured.
Final Thoughts
It’s not tough to see why the construction industry has jumped on the drone bandwagon. These tiny UAVs augment project costs, lessen hazard exposure, and encourage construction safety. Are you ready to give this new construction trend a shot? Do share your thoughts with us in the comment section below!
Curated by editor at Wienerberger India
