Drones can be used in many different ways, from the pre-construction stage to the design, onsite, and post-construction phases.
Despite being a relatively new technology, drones have already significantly altered the construction industry. Greater accuracy and accessibility of data have facilitated easier communication and conflict resolution between external teams that can occasionally be at odds with one another.
According to research by a drone cloud computing company, Drone Deploy, the construction sector adopted drone technology faster than any other in 2018.
It is a common issue in the construction industry for deadlines to be delayed or budgets exceeded due to a number of factors, including environmental issues, miscalculations, or scope increases. However, drones can assist in eliminating or mitigating a number of these issues.
In reality, the range of services a drone can offer in the construction industry goes far beyond using them for surveying and mapping. Drones can also gather additional information and video that is directly fed into other applications, like mapping software, to build extensive datasets.
What are the benefits of using drones?
1. Clarity
Any significant construction project usually involves a number of subcontractors who are hired to complete specialised tasks as part of the larger project. With the digital files and project updates provided by drone surveying, project managers gain a new level of clarity and reporting accuracy to closely monitor the project’s overall progress.
2. Time Efficiency
Drone surveying significantly increases surveying speed and accuracy, allowing for much faster and more informed decision making, which can significantly reduce project timelines.
3. Site Security & Surveillance
Drones can be used to spot trespassers and unauthorised activity on a construction site. The majority of construction operations are continuous, with staff arriving and leaving at various times. A construction company or security company can use drones to provide site surveillance.
4. Site Surveys
Creating and updating topographic maps are expensive and time-consuming activities. Drones can map large areas of land, saving on the time it takes to gather information needed to develop topographic maps and visualisations for modelling.
5. Data Analysis
Drone photogrammetry is the process of measuring real-world distances from overlapping photos that account for all angles and perspectives. This assists project managers in tracking progress, comparing as-built conditions to design plans, and identifying any discrepancies or issues that need to be addressed.
Drone use on construction sites is constantly evolving and becoming more and more user-friendly every day, proving very popular among site managers due to the benefits that drone usage brings.
The amount of labor required to map the terrain is less with drone footage. Less employees traversing potentially hazardous terrain means a lower chance of mishaps and injuries.
Companies are also able to use the imagery and visuals collected by drones to help improve marketing standards by using higher quality visuals that can also be converted into 3D models that can prove to be very useful, specifically in the pre-construction stage.
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Fewer Harrington & Partners is an Irish Architects Practice with offices in Waterford, Dublin and across the world.
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