Drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are revolutionizing how construction businesses approach new building projects. Having an aerial view of each job site allows teams to improve how they plan, design, manage and collaborate on each endeavor.
With so many diverse uses, drones are making construction a more efficient and secure industry. From surveilling the job site grounds to tracking equipment in real time, the capabilities of a high-quality UAV can take your business to the next level.
We are breaking down the ways your business can take advantage of UAVs and drones in the construction industry to elevate your operations.
5 Ways Drones and UAVs Are Transforming the Construction Industry
Drones and UAVs are exploding in popularity. In fact, experts project the commercial drone market will grow at a 13.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2023 to 2030. The diverse uses of UAVs drive this growth across various industries, especially construction.
Explore the following ways construction businesses can utilize drones and the impact these uses have on the industry.
1. Taking Photos and Conducting Inspections
Drones are changing the way construction businesses are tackling inspections and photography. At the most basic level, a drone is a flying camera. Traditionally, job site progress aerial photographs have been captured through costly helicopter flights. Now, this can easily be accomplished by a quick automated drone mission to acquire these images.
You can replace the need for scaffolding or heavy machinery for exterior building inspections. The high-resolution cameras on UAVs can capture the fine details for your professionals to analyze.
Drones are also incredible tools for assessing maintenance needs on large structures, such as towers or bridges. Some models also feature advanced sensors for detecting things like heat leaks and electrical issues.
2. Mapping and Project Planning
Drones are completely transforming the way construction professionals tackle new projects. They can streamline the data collection process, helping engineers, architects and construction managers gain a better understanding of the terrain and potential challenges they will be working with.
Older methods for generating topographic maps come with a high price tag and take a longer time to complete. Now, a UAV can do the job faster and at a lower cost, helping your operation stay on time and within budget. Plus, you can get extremely high-resolution images that can be used for precise 3D models.
Using drones for land surveying and project planning helps your operation improve plans during the preconstruction phase, saving you many headaches and costly blunders.
3. Remote Project Monitoring and Reporting
UAVs and drones make remote project monitoring easier than ever. Managers, stakeholders and clients can access impressive, detailed views of the job site and its progress without having to travel to the property. This saves time and money on travel accommodations.
Remote progress monitoring and reporting also allow different teams, including designers, architects and engineers, to easily collaborate. Drones can improve project accuracy by helping businesses identify design mistakes before they become expensive change orders.
4. Keeping Personnel Safer
UAVs are also providing construction businesses with greater job site visibility and safety. Since construction is among the most dangerous industries in the world, it is essential to take measures to reduce the risk of accidents. Drones and construction safety go hand-in-hand because they can replace human workers for certain dangerous tasks, such as:
- Taking measurements at high heights.
- Navigating hazardous job sites.
- Climbing unstable platforms.
Companies can improve their worker safety by using drones to tackle some of their most dangerous jobs.
5. Heightened Security and Surveillance
Another way drones and UAVs are revolutionizing construction is by enhancing surveillance measures. Heavy equipment and building material theft are major issues in the industry, and heightened security can help mitigate these risks.
Your equipment is a massive investment. Losing just one machine can negatively impact your business's bottom line, halt progress and extend project timelines. Drones allow you to stay vigilant and monitor your job site from an aerial view. Project surveillance has never been easier than with the help of a drone.
Benefits of Using Drones in Construction
Drones can be a highly valuable addition to your construction business. The following are some of the key advantages of using UAVs for your building projects:
- Streamline project planning: A massive benefit of using drones for your construction projects is creating an informed plan with a comprehensive understanding of the terrain and landscape your team will be working with. A UAV can help engineers, architects and designers identify challenges before the building process kicks off.
- Improve efficiency: Having a bird's eye view of your construction operation and a closer look at your tall or hard-to-get-to structures with a drone allows teams to supercharge their project efficiency. You no longer have to rely on human labor, 2D blueprints or time-consuming inspections.
- Save costs: Another major advantage of using drones for your construction operation is saving costs. Only about 8.5% of building projects finish on budget, so finding ways to cut down on your overall expenses is highly valuable for construction businesses looking to lower costs.
- Boost visibility and safety: Worker safety is always a top priority for any building project. Taking measures to create a more secure and less accident-prone job site is beneficial for construction businesses. A drone can help improve visibility to ensure teams are as safe as possible.
- Better asset management: A UAV can be an incredible tool for improving asset management. Keeping track of each machine is key to combatting heavy equipment theft and improving efficiency since you know exactly where your fleet is on the job site.
UAVs and drones are elevating the construction industry in many valuable ways. BuildingPoint SouthEast wants to help your company take advantage of these benefits.
Contact BuildingPoint SouthEast to Learn About the DJI Drone
If your construction business is looking for a high-quality drone to supercharge your aerial surveying operations, turn to BuildingPoint SouthEast.
DJI drone available from BuildingPoint SouthEast can help you boost job site efficiency, improve precision and take your construction company to the next level. DJI drones are equipped with best-in-class obstacle avoidance technology and GPS stabilization, which makes them easy to use, durable, and feature high-resolution cameras for capturing accurate images of your job site.
Are you ready to elevate your construction business? Contact BuildingPoint SouthEast to learn more about DJI drone solutions today!