The construction industry has always been an area of innovation, and in recent years, the use of drones has transformed the way construction companies approach their work. Drones in construction offer a wide range of benefits, from improving safety and efficiency to reducing costs and increasing accuracy.
With the ability to capture high-resolution imagery and data, drones in construction industry are being used in a variety of applications, from surveying and mapping to inspection and monitoring. Moreover, drones also assist construction leaders in providing Streamflow Simulation, 3D modelling, Contour Mapping, and other details for analysis and decision making.
In this article, we will explore different ways that drones are changing the construction industry and how they are transforming the way we build.
The use of drones in construction is expected to increase by more than 239% from 2018 to 2023, according to a report by ResearchAndMarkets.
12 Ways Drones in Construction are Changing the Industry
1. Planning and Design:
Drones can provide detailed aerial imagery that can be used in the planning and design phases of construction projects. This information can help architects, engineers, and construction managers make more informed decisions about site selection, layout, and design.
2. Surveying and Mapping:
Drones can be used to create detailed and accurate maps of construction sites, allowing for precise measurements of the terrain, structures, and other features. This can save construction companies a lot of time and money, as it eliminates the need for manual surveys.
3. Monitoring Progress:
Drones can be used to monitor construction progress, allowing managers to track the project’s development and make any necessary adjustments in real-time.
4. Inspection:
Drones can be used to inspect hard-to-reach areas such as roofs, towers, and bridges, eliminating the need for scaffolding or other expensive equipment. This can improve worker safety and reduce the risk of accidents.
5. Cost Reduction:
By streamlining operations and increasing efficiency, drones can help construction companies reduce costs and improve profitability. Drone can survey acres of land within 30 minutes. These can help in saving 20x the costs required to create topographic maps.
6. Quality Control:
Drones can be used to inspect materials and structures for quality control purposes. For example, drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras can detect defects in building insulation, while drones equipped with LiDAR sensors can create 3D models of structures for inspection.
The top three ways that construction companies are currently using drones are for surveying and mapping (63%), inspection (45%), and monitoring progress (25%), according to a survey.
7. Planning for Maintenance and Repairs:
Drones can be used to identify areas that require maintenance or repairs. By using drones to inspect structures, construction companies can identify issues before they become more serious and costly to repair.
8. Increased Accuracy and Precision:
Drones can be programmed to fly pre-determined flight paths, ensuring that the images and data captured are consistent and accurate. This can lead to more precise measurements and fewer errors in construction projects.
9. Improved Communication and Collaboration:
Drones can be used to share real-time data and images with project stakeholders, improving communication and collaboration among team members. Drones have also improved collaborations by 65%. It helps capture real-time data and provides intelligence and progressive reports for more clarity.
10. Documentation:
Drones can capture high-resolution images and videos of construction sites, which can be used for project documentation, progress reports, and marketing materials.
11. Marketing and Sales:
Drones can be used to capture stunning aerial footage of completed construction projects, which can be used for marketing and sales purposes. This can help construction companies showcase their work and attract new clients.
12. Safety:
Drones can be used to monitor construction sites for potential safety hazards, such as loose debris, unstable structures, or unsafe working conditions. Drones have improved the workforce safety at construction sites by 55%. The technology helps take measurements of potentially inaccessible areas on human resources’ behalf.
An industry survey found that 59% of construction companies are currently using drones in their operations, while another 18% plan to incorporate drones in the next year.
Conclusion
Overall, the use of drones in construction has the potential to improve safety, increase efficiency, and reduce costs, making it an essential tool for modern construction companies. As technology continues to improve and drone capabilities expand, we can expect to see even more innovative uses for drones in construction.
Explore How Technology is enabling Construction Project Management!
Interested in exploring more about how CONSTRA SURVEY is helping construction leaders leverage Drone Technology for their construction projects, book a demo with our Product Evangelist.
An overview of what drone-assisted land surveying & AI-assisted analysis of CONSTRA SURVEY looks like,
- Drone-based land surveys can be conducted in one-third the time of traditional means.
- Costs 1/3rd the price of the traditional approach.
- Capture 6+ layers of topographical data in one flight.
- Captures the natural and man-made structures in the land parcel.
- CV can visualize your land in 2D & 3D.
- Avoid the cost and time of commuting.
About CONSTRA
CONSTRA is a Visual Intelligence Platform that leverages Drones, Photogrammetry, Computer Vision, ML & AI technologies to manage complex construction projects.
CONSTRA derives insights from construction-site pictures and videos, helps you efficiently monitor the progress, identify deviations from the plan, manage snags, and improve operational efficiency.
