Capturing aerial images to track construction progress is a popular use for drones in construction, but drone benefits for the industry don’t stop there! There are many other drone applications within the construction industry that can make the life of builders, general contractors, and construction managers much easier.
Drones can be used throughout the entire construction lifecycle and deliver sophisticated data with potential issues that the human eye cannot detect. Check out some of the advantages of implementing a successful drone program in construction and take your future projects to the next level.
1. Eliminate costly construction processes
The right drone solution provides several cost-saving opportunities. General contractors can eliminate or reduce helicopter and pilot fees, cut labor costs by eliminating the need for large ground crews, and identify additional project savings by gathering accurate data at the construction site.
The accuracy of the data provided by commercial drones can reduce the need for potential change orders, speeding up the project completion and keeping it on or even under budget. The upfront investment needed to implement a successful drone program easily pays itself with countless cost-reduction possibilities throughout the phases of the project.
2. Manage large-scale construction projects more efficiently
Large-scale construction projects require efficient processes to ensure that each stage is completed in a timely manner and that risk is mitigated throughout the project. Drone programs compile crucial data to effectively manage and automate complex construction workflows. From the start of a project, drones capture aerial images and help to gather data for pre-construction surveys, topographical maps, and 2D and 3D models.
By leveraging drones to measure progress, you can achieve real-time insights to quickly identify potential issues. Improving design accuracy, land surveying, building inspections, and monitoring on-site activities are examples of how a drone program can increase efficiency. Ultimately, these will allow construction managers to make better decisions in and out of the field.
3. Reduce or eliminate manual work
Drone technology can optimize paper-trail workflows, reducing the need for manual touchpoints. Documenting site conditions, measuring dimensions, estimating construction material, and performing inspections are activities that can be automated with the use of construction drones and effective software. The possibilities are endless and will help you save time while increasing the efficiency of your construction operations.
Drone flight automation allows for task planning and identification of rapidly changing situations. Moreover, project managers don’t have to rely on workers to be physically on site when drones can be scheduled to retrieve specific information based on project needs.
4. Increase construction safety
Hard-to-reach areas are no longer a problem or safety hazard for workers when you have an efficient drone program in place. When you need to inspect or monitor an entire worksite while carrying out real-time diagnostics, drones can help keep your team safe and prevent any safety breaches. By using drones to manage sites from a distance, project managers can ensure the site is running safely and smoothly.
5. Report progress and promote your construction projects to current and future clients
Drone technology is a great way to report the progress of construction projects to current clients or investors by using aerial photography; images of construction progress can also be used to promote the company’s brand. While this is a valuable application for any construction contractor, you should also consider consulting an expert to explore other possibilities and make the best out of your drone program.
Launch Your Drone Program Today
Drone Nerds is a team of UAV experts dedicated to providing guidance on the best drone technology, programs, and software solutions for organizations across a variety of industries, including construction, energy, public safety, and more. We partner with local, state, federal, and independent organizations to help them implement the best drone operation for their needs — and their budget.
Interested in learning more about drone solutions for your construction missions? Contact a drone expert today.
