aerial-decisions

Tag: construction monitoring

  • The Construction Revolution: The Impact of Drones on Project Monitoring

    The Construction Revolution: The Impact of Drones on Project Monitoring

    As construction executives, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve and utilize new technologies that can save time and money on construction projects. One such technology is the use of drones to monitor construction progress.

    Image of Construction Management Crew X
    Construction Crew Site Walk-Through

    In the past, construction managers would have to physically visit a construction site to inspect the progress and take photos or videos. This process was not only time-consuming but also expensive, as it required transportation costs and the cost of having someone present at the site.

    A recent study found that drone usage has been steadily on the rise. Currently, drones are being utilized on 55% of projects, up from 48% in 2021 and 36% in 2022.  According to Dodge, usage is higher among large contractors (67%) compared with small contractors (9%).

    By using drones, construction managers can now remotely monitor construction sites in real-time and receive high-quality photos and videos of the progress. This has several benefits, including the following:

    • Increased Efficiency: Drones can cover a large area in a short amount of time, providing construction managers with a quick and efficient way to monitor progress. This saves time and allows construction managers to focus on other important tasks.
    • Reduced Labor Costs: With drones, there’s no need to have someone physically present at the site to inspect the progress. This reduces labor costs and makes the process more cost-effective.
    • Improved Safety: Drones can be flown over hazardous areas, reducing the risk of injury to construction workers. They can also be used to inspect tall structures, reducing the need for workers to climb up and inspect them.
    • Increased Accuracy: Drones are equipped with high-quality cameras and can provide detailed images and videos of the construction site. This allows construction managers to identify any issues and make necessary changes in real-time, resulting in more accurate and efficient construction.
    • Time Savings: With the ability to remotely monitor construction sites, construction managers can save time by not having to physically visit the site. They can also quickly receive and review progress reports, allowing them to make informed decisions and keep the project on track.

    In conclusion, the construction revolution is in full swing and the impact of drones on project monitoring and management is un-mistakable.  It’s clear, using drones to monitor construction progress is a cost-effective and efficient solution that can help construction executives save time and money. With the ability to remotely monitor construction sites, reduce labor costs, improve safety, increase accuracy, and save time, it’s clear that drones are a valuable tool for the construction industry.

    From The Editor:

    Do you need to hire a professional drone service provider?  To speak to an aerial data specialist, fill out a form, email us or for even faster response times, give us a call at (833) FLY-4YOU or (833) 359-4968.  Check out our transparent pricing at Drone Photography Pricing  and watch this space as we expand on the above topics and more over the coming weeks and months.  If you like this post, feel free to click the share button at the bottom of the page.  We appreciate you helping us by spreading the content we share on our blog.

  • How Drones Can Solve Several Construction Industry Challenges

    How Drones Can Solve Several Construction Industry Challenges

    The construction industry involves the building, maintenance, and improvement of infrastructure and buildings. This includes a wide range of activities, such as residential and commercial construction, road and bridge building, and utility work.

    There are several challenges that the construction industry faces, including:

    1. Cost and budget management: Construction projects often have strict budgets and timelines, and any delays or cost overruns can have significant financial implications.
    2. Safety: The construction industry has a high rate of workplace injuries and fatalities. Ensuring the safety of workers is a top priority.
    3. Productivity: Construction projects can be complex, with many different stakeholders and variables involved. Maintaining productivity and efficiency is crucial to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget.

    Several other challenges, including, skilled labor shortages, environmental concerns and the rapid technological advancements are prominent but in this post, I want to focus on how drone technology can help the top 3 on the above list.

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    Drone pilot working with site GM to solve construction project challenges.

    Here are my Top 5 ways drone technology can solve challenges the construction industry faces today:

    Construction Monitoring

    Drones provide a cost-effective way to manage critical functions for Contractors and Construction Firms. Drones can produce high-resolution, on-demand, aerial photography of important project elements such as monitoring subcontractors, stockpile management, materials, equipment, and site security.

    Construction Surveying

    The use of drones in construction surveying has become commonplace in today’s building landscape. Where older surveying technologies fell short in terms of production turn-around, cost, and accuracy, photogrammetry has been a game-changer in each of these areas.

    Construction Progress Reporting

    Key stakeholders (i.e.., Investors) can be visually connected to project progress in new and innovative ways. The programmatic use of drones to produce high-quality aerial images and video enables near real-time inspection of all aspects of the project. Images can be easily rendered in 3D models, orthomosaic maps, and other photogrammetry data to monitor site progress.

    Construction Inventory Management

    One of the most basic functions for a contractor is inventory management. Aerial photography of a job site provides actionable data for contractors to assess and respond to critical inventory needs.  Drones transform the risky, labor-intensive and time-consuming job of manual inventory counts and volumetric assessments into timely and cost-effective tasks.

    Construction Structural Site Integrity

    Assessing structural vulnerabilities is a key job function of the project General Contractor. Key stakeholders are acutely attuned to the notion of minimizing the risk associated with potential structural defects. The use of drones to identify such defects helps to mitigate potential lawsuits and other aspects that could create costly delays in project completion.

    It’s clear drones have the potential to solve several construction industry challenges and make project deliverables more efficient, safe, and cost-effective.  

    From The Editor:

    Do you need to hire a professional drone service provider?  To speak to an aerial data specialist, fill out a form, email us or for even faster response times, give us a call at (833) FLY-4YOU or (833) 359-4968.  Check out our transparent pricing at Drone Photography Pricing and watch this space as we expand on the above topics and more over the coming weeks and months.  If you like this post, feel free to click the share button at the bottom of the page.  We appreciate you helping us by spreading the content we share on our blog.

  • 4 Ways Drones Impact the Construction Industry

    4 Ways Drones Impact the Construction Industry

    Worker Safety

    Image of Construction Worker Safety X
    Construction Safety is a Priority
    • There were 1,102 work-related fatalities in the construction industry in 2019.  The most important asset in every company is the people they have working for them.  Losing a valuable member of a team can lead to decreased morale, concerns about safety, coworkers quitting because of concerns with safety and a huge financial impact of possible lawsuits and replacing valuable members of your team.
    • Drones in construction can help reduce the risk of accidents and increase the level of safety and accountability around a construction site.  Drones can be used to photograph, map and 3D model a construction site to help monitor potential hazards and identify equipment in hazard locations.
    • A key safety element of using drones is the operators themselves.  Drone teams consist of licensed and insured pilots as well as skilled visual observers.  Together, drone pilot led teams help to minimize cost, increase safety and reduce the overall time to convey critical real-time data.

    Saving Money

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    Drone Building Facade Inspection
    • Drones can save a construction company millions of dollars on a construction site through multiple drone use cases.  These include site photos, 2D orthophotos and 3D models, LIDAR Maps, time-lapse videos, promotional videos, visual timelines.  These can all be done at a fraction of the cost just 10 years ago, thanks to the extensive array of tools drones can carry to help the construction industry.
    • Construction companies have found that a 2 –3-week process and several tens of thousands of dollars cost has become a 1 day process when working with a licensed and certified drone service provider.  When you’re looking at dramatic 75 percent or greater cost and time improvement, it’s really powerful,” said Hunter Cole, Brasfield and Gorrie General Contractors.

    Improvement to Infrastructure

    Image of Glendale College Construction Orthorectified X
    An orthomosaic is a great way to capture close to real time construction progress updates
    • When civil engineers are tasked with improving the value and infrastructure of a certain property, they need to survey the property several times.  This is where drones can help by surveying the land quickly and precisely and at a much lower cost than traditional surveying techniques.
    • When construction companies look at large projects that are floated by government organizations of public institutions, using drones to survey and understand the complexities beforehand can provide intelligence that can help create and submit the most comprehensive and competitive bid.

    Audits and Inspections

    Image of Construction Evaluation X
    Construction Workers Face Dangerous Situations
    • Drones are unique in where they can be operated with or without human interaction.  Drones can be operated by humans when they need to help with audits – where a qualified drone inspector or professional can survey the land or property as per guidelines, standards or requirements set out by a governing body.
    • Drones can also be programed to fly from a sheltered home-base and fly the same routes, the same time of day or week.  This can help to make sure that the property isn’t being tampered with and that the project is progressing to scope.  This can save a construction company hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially in reduced theft, phase audits and work certification costs.
    • In summary, construction companies have been using drones for construction progress monitoring, planning and marketing for years now, but with continued advancement in drone capabilities, the impact of drones to the construction industry continue to streamline time and cost as well as worker safety issues factors.

    We’d love to hear your thoughts on matters pertaining to the safe, professional, and ethical operation of drones. Please check our website at  and watch this space as we expand on the above topics and more over the coming weeks and months.  If you like this post, feel free to click the share button at the top of the page.  We appreciate you helping us by spreading the content we share on our blog.