Construction has always been a tough industry to be involved in, from the ancient pyramids of Egypt to the sleek, modern homes of tomorrow. And though technology has come a long way, plenty of the same old problems are still slowing projects down. Drones in construction promise to change that.
Across the construction industry, no matter what the project, you’ll need to put in plenty of legwork as you try to manage and document progress, inspect new structures, and keep an eye on the tiny details that can lead to big mistakes. Construction projects are complex, time-consuming and require plenty of resources and skills. Mistakes cost money.
With that in mind, it’s no real surprise that construction bosses are beginning to embrace drone technology as a way to cut costs and increase efficiency. Let’s take a closer look at the innovations available to those with an eye in the sky…
Pre-Construction: Land Surveying
Before many construction projects have even started, methodical planning has to take place, involving architects, local authorities and engineers. The latest drone software can take a pre-designed flight plan, perform it perfectly, and use the data gathered to build a 3D map of the area.
This image can then be used as part of the planning process, providing the foundation for the work of others. A land survey will need to be done, so why not use a drone and some smart software, instead of an expensive ground team?
Progress Monitoring
It’s not only at the start of a project that drones can come in handy. Many construction companies rely on regular flight footage to keep an eye on project progress and see how things are going. But again, smarter software is taking drone progress monitoring to an even higher level. Companies such as Kespry can provide stockpile measuring services, meaning the quantity of supplies can be constantly monitored, cutting a job that could take days down to a matter of minutes.
Combine this capability with a drone pre-programmed with an autonomous flight path, and you’ve got yourself a useful and efficient time-saving system.
Drones were used earlier this year to help document progress of the construction work at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, as work continues to secure the site of the 1986 accident.
Structure Inspection
We’ve come across the use of drones in infrastructure inspection before. In fact, it’s a billion dollar industry very much on the rise. Whatever kind of construction project you’re working on, there may be a point at which you want to inspect something you’re about to knock down, or check over something that’s just been installed. In either case, a single pilot can easily fly around whatever it is you want inspected and record a live feed of high-quality video to show to engineers on the ground.
This is a lot more cost effective than traditional inspection methods, while having the added bonus of not putting anyone in harm’s way.
Aerial imagery to impress investors and managers
We all know that aerial photography can add an extra layer of professionalism to any promotional video. Whether it’s highlighting a construction company’s services, or giving a tour of completed work, a bird’s eye perspective is always bound to impress investors and project managers.
How could you not be impressed by footage like this?…
As an example of the techniques above, the MIT Technology Review l included a story about a construction operation in downtown Sacramento, CA, and how drones are being used as part of the operation. “Once per day, several drones automatically patrol the Sacramento work site, collecting video footage. That footage is then converted into a three-dimensional picture of the site, which is fed into software that compares it to computerized architectural plans as well as the construction work plan showing when each element should be finished. The software can show managers how the project is progressing, and can automatically highlight parts that may be falling behind schedule.”
It’s not all plain sailing
Even though for construction companies the benefits of drone technology are clear, there are still plenty of barriers preventing widespread deployment.
First up is the fact that, in the US at least, operating a drone for commercial purposes is forbidden without a Section 333 exemption from the FAA. These can take months to receive, and don’t come cheap either.
Second, there are still plenty of concerns and gray areas around privacy issues when using drones. Do everybody on site and nearby residents need to give permission before any filming can occur? To be on the safe side, the answer is probably yes.
Finally, many commercial insurers are yet to respond to the growing UAV industry and cover drone-related services. This is partly out of uncertainty over who exactly is liable in the result of an accident. The pilot? The drone services provider or the construction company who hired them?
Until issues surrounding regulation, privacy and insurance are ironed out, it’s likely that plenty of construction operations will have to go ahead without the help of an eye in the sky.