top of page

CONSTRUCTION

CONSTRUCTION.png

The value of the application of drones in the many areas of the construction industry are becoming more and more apparent.  

 

Some of the applications in the construction industry and the benefits are as follows:

  • More affordable than aerial images from full-sized aircraft.

  • Safer/more efficient than using ground personnel for surveys/inspections/reports.

  • More frequent, complete and up-to-date data for project management/progress reports.

  • Generate architectural overlays, 3D site & structure modeling.

  • Volumetric measurements (useful for monitoring stockpiles of costly resources like gravel and sand).

  • 4K ultra high-definition cameras provide more precise details (i.e. cracks/corrosion) from above.

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS REPORT

It has been documented in a recent survey that the overwhelming single use for drones in the industry is for tracking progress on a site through regular photo and video. Site managers who use drones to track progress on construction sites report what an invaluable tool it is.  Drones can be used to record and document activity on site and this footage can prove extremely useful for making it easy to share the status of a project with stakeholders and clients in real time, monitor change over the course of a period and also to dispute any claims.

The aerial view and high resolution photo and video provided by a drone enables site managers and other interested parties to acquire the data they need whilst saving money, time and removing the health and safety risk that might otherwise occur.

The convenience of being able to log in and view up to date imagery without having to be onsite and the clarity of the images provided significantly benefits construction managers and being able to provide regular photos and video of site progress is a great marketing tool to promote to clients.

 

One of the most exciting applications is using drones to perform regular flight paths over the site which are performed using GPS to ensure that the route is identical everytime.  This enables photos and video to be taken from the exact same location, heading and camera angle each and every time. This allows progress reports to be layered so that it is easy to toggle between each shot and see the progress.

A further useful application is using the drone aerial footage for live site monitoring.  In this instance, a site manager can monitor a particular event on site live online without actually being there. They can then communicate with people on site to give feedback and instruction.

Pouring Concrete from Above
Construction Benefits.png

BENEFITS OF CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS PHOTOS & VIDEOS

  1. Judge if work is being completed on schedule

  2. Document the progress over time

  3. Track the efficiency of the layout of the site

  4. Determine if there is any unsafe material or hazards on site

  5. More easily keep track of certain stockpiles, materials or sections of a job site

  6. Track and record sub contractor jobs

  7. Dispute claims for litigation purposes by using physical evidence

  8. Demonstrate when progress was at the most/least optimal point in the project. This helps to locate bottlenecks and improve efficiency in the future

  9. Stakeholders, Subcontractors and other key players can access the drone progress reports at any time which helps to explain and plan and keep them informed of what stage the project is in currently

  10. Use during internal meetings and presentations

  11. Showcase a project as a marketing tool to demonstrate to clients capabilities and efficiency

  12. A visual source of clear photographic records to release bonding capacity to be able to take on new projects

  13. Cheaper than using a helicopter or plane

  14. Can be taken more regularly, higher resolution than satellite imagery

AERIAL MAPPING AND SURVEYING FOR YOUR CONSTRUCTION SITE

The precise footage taken by drones allow for survey accurate representations of your site.  This data can be utilised for asset classification, construction validation as well as health and safety. In particular, a frequent mapping schedule provides a time series of the progress on a work site to identify new issues and mitigating risk rather than responding to it.

​

There are many bottlenecks that can be encountered on construction sites, unforeseen issues and variables that aren’t easy to deal with.  Drones are a very cost effective and efficient means of keeping on top of any potential issues.

​

Mapping drones can be used to monitor the current status and change in a construction site during operations. This is essential to determine the alignment between project planning and actual construction. These aerial maps can be shared online between stakeholders in the project to ensure everyone is on the same page and issues can easily be understood and rectified quickly.

CONSTRUCTION 3D.png

Useful applications include comparing previous surveys for:

  • Observing a visual change in the works

  • Cross sectional analysis for earth works or road grading for example

  • Cut and fill feature for accurately estimating earthwork volumes

  • Volume Calculations to determine the depletion of a material on site

  • Elevation/contour maps can be utilised in a number of ways although especially useful for flood modelling

bottom of page