Drones are gradually revolutionizing construction technology in the modern century. Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles, are useful tools that improve communication technology by utilizing aerial view. Today, they have become popular in the world of construction. They help to capture real-time images and track progress from the area of operation.
Drone technology has added value to construction management by improving safety and simplicity. You can use drones for mapping, building surveys, site inspections, promotional photography, and other uses. In other words, drones have impacted construction projects by making them safe, simpler, and traceable. The following are the applications of drones in construction.
Mapping
Aerial mapping is one of the basic functionality of drones in most construction projects. Mapping is the initial step in every construction project. Drones have proven to be reliable and important in this vital stage. They help to monitor the area topography and its physical state. Therefore, enabling the construction company to plan for equipment movement, deliveries, and excavation accurately. Hence, saving more valuable time.
Building surveys
This is another major application of drones in construction technology. During building surveys, you need a proper roof view and visibility for better assessment and building evaluation. Now, in most cases, accessing the roof is usually hard, and you have to use ladders and cherry pickers. Today, you don’t have to go through all that trouble. Using a drone can give you a better view of the roof, saving you time, and minimizing the safety risks that are involved in roof surveys.
Aerial photography for commercial purposes
Drones have become common in the world of marketing. When a construction project wants to advertise itself, especially on social media, drones are a valuable tool. Most people are using drones to take promotional photography to promote their construction businesses. Drones can capture exquisite 4D videos and photos from different unique angles, taking an impressive shot to the building or property you wish to sell. They also help to capture the real size of the object more simply.
Site inspection
Site inspection, especially on risky and busy construction sites, can be dangerous. However, thanks to drones. Drones help you to carry out a site inspection in risky areas safely. They not only reduce the safety and health risk involved but also saves time. Drone inspection is more recommendable. It can record the construction footage, which can be sent to the concerned stakeholders effectively and quickly. Also, drones can help you to take construction site inspection regularly to ensure smooth construction progress.
Carrying out maintenance inspection, especially on complex and high structured projects such as towers and bridges, can be risky. Besides being risky, the inspection can be costly and time-consuming. However, drone technology makes work easier. Drones help to carry inspections in such areas easily and fast, reducing the risk and cost involved.
Construction progress report
Construction progress reports are usually prepared periodically against the construction programs. The reports include survey reports, photographs, and videos. Using drones can be a fast way to generate construction progress report needed by the project stakeholder. You can use drones to generate progressive aerial shots that will give a better insight to the stakeholders. Additionally, drones can help to collect progressive reports as regularly as you want, since it’s fast, safe, and easy.
Site logistics
Drones can be very useful in managing and monitoring site logistics. There are a lot of movements in the construction sites, perhaps deliveries and equipment placements. Now, a drone gives a real-time update of all activities happening on the site. Additionally, drones can be used to stream live the site footage to the relevant project stakeholders with a quality visual.
Live feed
Most projects, especially the high-risk ones, require concerned professionals to gain a real-time update of the project. You don’t have to employ anybody to report an update to the stakeholders. Drones help to monitor the progress of a project and transfer the footage to the professionals on a real-time basis. They make the work simple and most importantly, safe.
Thermal imaging
You can use drones for thermal imaging recordings to assess hot or cold spots. Therefore, enabling the engineers to spot the areas with defects to make necessary adjustments and rectifications. Additionally, drones help to evaluate the entire construction project, exposing the areas that need close assessment and improvement.
Site inductions
Mostly, site inductions are usually tedious and time-consuming. However, drones can easily monitor site operation risks on a real-time basis. Thus, helping the engineers and surveyors to demonstrate active movements in the construction site to the concerned stakeholders.
Drones are vital tools that have improved construction technology. They have become popular because of their ability to simplify the work, giving live feeds, and reducing the risks involved, especially in building assessments. Now, various rules regulate the use of drones. They include;
Drone registration
It’s mandatory to register a drone before flying it outdoors. Now, you may be wondering how to do register for a drone license once and for all in the U.S. You need to register with FAA before flying your drone. Failure to registration may cost you legal penalties.
In most cases, flying drones for recreational purposes does not need a pilot’s license. As long as you maintain the basic rules such as not flying over a group of people or near an airport, you are good to go. However, using drones in a construction project is a different thing. It’s for commercial reasons, and that paves the way for legal regulations. In such instances, the drone should be flown by an experienced pilot, who is already licensed by the FAA. Today, a drone pilot will also need to take a flying test before acquiring the license. This is to ensure they do it correctly to prevent any damage or accidents.
All in all, drones are beneficial in the construction industry. They are constantly becoming popular, and essential tools. Drones help with mapping, area surveys, site inspections, and thermal imaging recordings. The good part is that all these can be on a real-time basis. They are easy to use, safe, and makes work less costly.