This article is part of a blog series, in which we explore how drones will grow and the benefits and challenges of using them in the construction industry

Drones can play a fundamental role in site safety. It is easy and safe to navigate a drone around your construction site, helping you to discover early and worrying signs of hazards and safety risks.

Drones can warn site managers to take early corrective actions by:

• scanning assets and structures under construction
• detecting faults such as leaks or cracks.

Can drone technology change the construction industry?

Drones can be seen everywhere but what are their uses in the construction industry?

You can fly drones inside a building to survey a specific room, or outside to scan hazardous sites. The possibilities are endless as drones can be used in various applications.

Drones are immensely popular nowadays in the construction industry, thanks to their ability to collect data. They offer great benefits in:

• surveyance
• site monitoring
• site safety and security
• project management.

Drone technology can be used throughout the whole life cycle of a project:

• scope the project by collecting rich media like photos, videos, and imagery that can be inserted into the BIM Execution Plan (BEP)
• track the construction progress in real time
• optimize the efficiency and usage of construction by collecting real-time data.

Types of construction drones

Drones used in the construction industry are commercial drones, and their usage is growing fast. Drones are beneficial to survey terrains in the field by tracking and recording machinery.

You can use two distinct kinds of models. Their usage depends on why and what you want to do with them.

Fixed wings

Fixed-wing drones are used for mapping and scanning long distances. Their design is like an airplane, allowing them to fly over an area at high altitudes along a pre-set path. They are helpful to streamline pre-construction processes such as:

• mapping terrains
• surveying large and hazardous areas.

The downside is that they can only fly forward so they are less maneuverable in narrow areas or on terrains with several obstacles.

Rotating blades

Rotating blades drones are used for inspecting and surveying short distances. Their design allows them to fly without moving forward and stay still over a specific area, which makes them more manageable than fixed-wing drones. They are efficient in:

• birdlike inspections
• structural scans
• aerial photos
• short distance supervision

The downside is that they may be unstable, complex, and less efficient than other drones.

Why should you use drones in construction?

The main qualities of drones are their ability to:

• fly
• record data in real-time
• improve efficiency
• cut costs
• streamline workflows.

Below we explore how these devices are transforming the industry.

Drone features

Drones are supplied with many features to help capture data on construction sites, like:

• cameras to get high-resolution pictures and videos
• GPS systems to monitor longitude, latitude, and elevation points
• infrared, heat, and cold sensors to monitor temperature and take thermal images.

These features streamline the project management life cycle processes and increase efficiency and productivity. Drone software captures the information and sends it to computers via the internet so the data can be:

• analyzed
• interpreted
• organized.

Drone benefits

Drone capabilities directly impact the construction life cycle allowing the industry to improve:

• processes
• accuracy
• communication
• visualization
• efficiency
• confidence and certainty in project management.

While the impact of drones in the construction industry is developing, they are already revolutionizing the sector and changing how construction projects are managed. If the technology can pass aviation laws and zoning hurdles, it is safe to say that the commercial drone is here to stay.

The complexity of projects, as well as the requirements for sustainability of the existing buildings, are the main reasons for the exponential use of drones in the construction industry.

Contour mapping and terrain surveys

Depending on the type of drone you are using, you can save up to 20 times the cost of creating a topographic map using traditional methodologies.

Before designing complex, large-scale construction projects, drones can:

• expose potentially, costly, design errors
• complete feasibility studies
• aid with design.

With drones, you can not only produce accurate maps but also update them during the construction phase. During their maximum flying time, drones can cover:

• fixed-wing 900 acres, in one-hour
• multi-rotor 200 acres, in 40 minutes.

The teams will also be able to use software to create 3D models from the data collected, streamlining and speeding up the planning and analysis processes you may use in your projects. Thanks to the drone’s high-resolution imagery, you will be able to:

• keep the project on schedule and within budget
• ensure the accuracy and quality of the design
• overcome challenges during pre-construction.

Progress tracking

Drones can be used to:

• track equipment to know where they are located on the construction site, and redeploy them as needed
• record measurement errors and systems malfunctions to proactively plan maintenance
• drive and guide machines using artificial intelligence to avoid costly damage
• prevent expensive, accidental renting charges, for equipment not in use
• diagnose and solve recurring issues by providing visuals to understand the problem.

Remote reporting and monitoring

Companies using drones claim that they have improved their communication between all stakeholders by 65%. This was achieved by:

• capturing data in real-time
• sending photos and videos through the internet
• providing progress reports.

Drones increase visualization which improves client satisfaction by:

• providing aerial views of the project’s advancements
• reducing costs as clients do not have to visit sites
• reinforcing that the client’s spending is properly and efficiently used
• improving internal collaboration through connected software during handover
• giving simultaneous access to data, helping to follow up on projects and catching errors early during the design phase
• creating a document trail that will be useful in audit and facility management.

Security inspection

With drones, you can make sure that:

• your assets are safely secured
• you will detect any unauthorized individuals on a construction site.

Many companies have experienced theft on their sites, which could cost some money. $300 million to $1 billion of equipment are stolen per year from construction sites, according to Gulfshore insurance, and it is increasing year after year. Less than 25% is recovered.

Securing your equipment with drones is extremely easy and important, it will mitigate the risk of theft and save you a ton of money. You will be able to monitor people who are on-site and prevent unauthorized individuals from stealing your equipment.

Worker safety

Construction sites are notoriously dangerous with an elevated risk of injury or even death.

Using drones for inspection and safety checks can save thousands for the construction industry, especially in phase audits and works certification costs. DroneDeploy claims that their customers saw a 55% improvement in their construction sites' safety. They can achieve that performance by:

• making hard measurements in hazardous areas with drones
• monitoring falls to prevent accidents as 34% of fatalities are due to falls.

You should use drone video cameras to monitor your sites to:

• eliminate safety worries
• make sure workers are secured when measuring difficult areas
• prevent unstable structures
• tighten your equipment.

Renovation inspection

In renovation projects, drones can be used to capture data on the built conditions of the construction to:

• reduce costs by eliminating measurement issues and unnecessary costly reworks
• create marketing documents
• eliminate the use of scaffolding
• check structure stability
• analyze data to improve sustainability
• detect heat leaks, cold spots, and any electrical issues with thermal sensors
• plan preventative maintenance
• reduce the workforce.

In conclusion

Drones are not considered toys anymore; they are a mature technology for the construction industry. They are helpful to:

• survey sites in the pre-construction phase of a project
• remotely map potential sites before construction starts
• minimize the use of the human workforce on hazardous, and risky terrains
• optimize the need for trips to construction sites from non-site crews
• produce high-resolution images with much superior quality than the traditional surveying methods
• allow planners to spot potential issues early enough to avoid costly reworks
• permit efficient and effective deployment of equipment
• enhance safety and security.

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