Despite the advancement of technology in the construction industry in recent times, many everyday processes are still considered inefficient and expensive. This is why the use of drones in the market is heavily welcomed by engineers and builders who understand exactly how useful drones can be in the building and construction industry.
What type of drones are used in construction?
There are currently two types of drones being used by builders. There’s the autonomous type and the remote-control type. Remote types are quite common with some companies adopting drone technology as soon as it became available in the market.
Autonomous types however are fairly new and while there’s still some skepticism, the autonomous drones are definitely making a mark in the construction industry.
Currently, drone technology has an application in practically every part of the construction industry. They can be used for estimating areas with near perfect accuracy. In connecting with this, they can also be used for surveying or even as part of site monitoring. The top-quality cameras can instantly zoom-in and pinpoint any problem spots for a quick response by the on-site engineers. Some companies also use them for quality assurance and ensuring the safety of new constructions. In many cases, these drones can also be used to communicate with teams.
Use Cases of Drones in the Construction Industry
So what exactly can drones do for builders?
After years of use in the construction industry, drones have proven to give the following benefits:
1. Saving Time for Data Collection
The most attractive benefit of drones would be shortening the time period for evaluation and completion of necessary data. It’s not just about the time period for scanning areas; it also contributes to staff training.
Typically, scanning an area with a remote-controlled drone requires hours of training on the part of the pilot. You also have to ask for permission from government authorities and this could take hours if not days to get. With AI drones however, the training process is reduced to half the typical time – from six hours to just three hours.
Setup and calibration also becomes quicker – allowing AI drones to fly off the ground in just a few seconds while manual drones need a few minutes before flight.
2. Reduce Business Costs
Of course, this speeding up of tasks quickly translate to cutting business costs. With AI, drones quickly launch and gather necessary data; tasks are completed in a fraction of the time with little or no input from the team. This lets companies implement programs quickly and gain the results of their planning with very little downtime in between.
Even the delays that come with flight approval are almost completely eliminated as pilots get their airspace authorization. Job sites are constantly changing, and being able to capture moments quickly and accurately contributes to the completion of a project. The fact is, drones today come equipped with high quality and crystal clear cameras.
Drones by themselves can be quite expensive – but simple cost analysis will show the savings justify the cost of acquisition. With minimal downtime and less training time needed, contractors find that autonomous drones pay for themselves in savings after just a few projects.
3. Improve HSE Outcomes: Safety of the team
Drones can take the place people and expensive equipment reducing chances of injury on site. This is an advantage that you also get using manual drones but the added efficiency of an autonomous one helps expand the efficiency of its use. With autonomous drones, the safety extends to the project itself.
Imagine having to pilot a drone through a maze of materials with moving parts – any sort of collision will damage not just the drone but also equipment work worth thousands of dollars. The introduction of an autonomous drone greatly minimizes this from happening. In fact, drones are typically used by the military instead of sending pilots into war zones – therefore improving the safety of our troops.
4. Automate Tasks Using Drones & Reduce Workload
The inclusion of drones in a construction company’s process helps reduce a large chunk of the workload. Engineers and builders can skip the routine parts and have them automated through the drone.
From there, it’s just a matter of double checking and then focusing on the meat of the project. All in all, it helps reduce the workload and the stress that comes with an unfinished project. This is because with drones – once the program is set up, it’s just a matter of making small adjustments in order to get the data you need.
4. Drone Attachments for the Construction Industry
Drones can now be used to carry all types of materials – from high-end cameras to seeds, water, and medicine. It’s not surprising that the military has been using drones for years in order to send items across hostile territory. The construction industry is quickly catching up with this as they realize all the possibilities that come with a drone. You need to take a close-up picture of a malfunctioning device? A drone can easily get up close, take a clear shot, and send you back the data you need in a matter of minutes.
The function of drones can go beyond simply taking pictures however. Some drones can help with surveying and can connect easily with third party software for rendering. Beyond simple pictures, these drones can now help estimate depths and sizes in near perfect accuracy for surveying purposes.
Final Word on Drones for Construction Inspection
To wrap it up, drones just made it possible for industry workers to enjoy a huge leap forward in how they handle projects. Used correctly, these drones – whether autonomous or operated – can speed up processes, improve safety, and guarantee quality in builds while still keeping costs relatively low.
Construction companies that want to improve their services should definitely add this tool in their arsenal and discover the many benefits associated with its use. Understand though that the development of drone technology goes hand in hand with software changes used to interpret information obtained by drones.
