How Drones Are Being Used in the Construction Industry

Construction is an ever-growing and fast-paced industry. With projects becoming more complex and new burgeoning technologies changing the landscape each year, it's important to stay ahead of the curve and keep up to date on the latest developments. One of the newest pieces of tech to hit the field in the past few years has been drones, and if you aren’t already familiar with them, then you might be behind the competition.

Let's look at some of the most common uses of drones in the construction industry and see how they can take your business to new heights.

One of the major advantages that drones have over most other tools is their ability to move in three-dimensional space. Most of the time you and your equipment are stuck on the ground, limiting your view of the jobsite. Drones don't have the same restrictions and can fly high into the sky, making them ideal for aerial mapping and creating topographical maps of the surrounding area.

Normally, topographical maps take a lot of time and money to make, meaning they aren’t always up to date when you need them. With a drone of your own, you can do your own aerial surveying and spot design ideas that might not work well with the terrain before the work gets started. This can save you time and resources by avoiding a costly blunder.

Drones make the perfect mapping tool due to their ability to capture image data in exceptional definition, thanks to their high-resolution cameras. These images can be manipulated in 3D modeling software, allowing the construction crew to discover and assess challenges before breaking ground. This helps to ensure accuracy, prevent having to backtrack once a project is started, and establish feasibility and a timeline of the overall project. All of this saves you time and money while providing more information about your projects than ever before.

A drone’s ability to fly and see from above also makes it excellent at planned maintenance of larger-scale structures like bridges, towers, and high roofs. A task that would take an entire team of surveyors can be completed in just a few hours with a skilled drone operator.

Construction drones have a wide range of tools and sensors built in, allowing them to do more than just take photos. Since they don't need to use scaffolding or stairs to get up to high elevations and multiple floors, they can provide crucial inspections that might be dangerous or time intensive for a person. Did you know that 34% of workplace fatalities in the US are caused by falls? Don't let your workers climb unsteady rigging or scale scaffolding that has been sitting up in the weather for weeks. Make the drone do it. After all, it's hard to fall when you can fly. A single drone operator can help prevent several workplace accidents over the years, keeping your crew safe and productive.

Drones can effortlessly fly around and throughout buildings to check for stability issues, and even take high-resolution imagery for analysis or picking out flaws in fine details. Some drones are even equipped with thermal sensors, allowing them to check for heat leaks, cold spots, and areas where insulation might not be installed correctly.

With their many useful functions, it's easy to see why drones are becoming commonplace in the construction industry. Their powerful cameras help to survey land and spot possible issues before they arise. They can comb through hard-to-reach and high-up places without the risk of falling, and their multiple sensors allow them to capture a huge amount of useful data, making you faster and more efficient. They can also be used to help monitor the jobsite and track equipment. Overall, a construction drone can not only help improve the speed at which tasks are complete but also enhance the quality of work. This can help you to build a reputation for yourself and build relationships with satisfied clients.

With so many moving parts on a construction site, it’s easy to misplace something. Every project manager has at some point lost track of a piece of equipment they needed, especially on a large jobsite. Without the right rental management technology, tracking down your equipment could turn into an Excel nightmare. Thankfully, this problem can be easily fixed with the use of a drone. The drone can fly overhead and do a quick search for the missing equipment. Drones can also be used to make sure areas are secure and locked up tight at the end of the day to help prevent theft and ensure the jobsite is meeting compliance regulations. With a drone, it is easy to keep track of inventory, ensure everything is in the correct location, and take quick site checks of the project’s progress.