On the Jobsite: Construction Drones (Infographic)

With their unique aerial perspective and data capture abilities, drones are seeing increased usage in the public sector. Their vast capabilities enable them to do things from delivering packages to saving lives for firefighters. In the past few years, drones have also become one of the most compelling trends in another industry — construction.

In construction, drones have experienced a 239% increase year over year, as companies are adopting as a faster rate than ever before. Construction managers use them to cut costs, improve efficiency, and streamline the entire project lifecycle. Drone offer benefits from project scoping and project tracking to on-site safety and remote monitoring, making them indispensable on the job site.

Here are the six areas where drones are revolutionizing construction:

Topographic Maps and Land Surveys — By mapping vast quantities of land in a few minutes, drones exponentially cut down on the time and costs to visualize a site’s topography. Drone software users can then transform the maps into 3D models, which aid in planning and managing complex construction projects.

Equipment Tracking and Automation — Instead of using lengthy spreadsheets, construction managers can use drones to do a fly over and keep track of all equipment locations. In the future, drones will also be used to automate construction equipment.

Progress Reports — With their high-resolution cameras, drones produce detailed aerial photos which could be used to progress reports to keep clients updated on projects and improve customer service. Drones can also send the information to design teams, engineers, laborers, and owners to keep everything in the loop.

Equipment Surveillance — Equipment theft is costly. Drone operators can quickly locate the storage of their equipment and detect unauthorized individuals using drone surveillance cameras.

Personnel Safety — Drones can make measurements in hard-to-reach areas, eliminating the need for workers to put their safety at risk. Construction managers also use drones to increase worker safety by monitoring their balancing and detecting any unstable equipment or situations.

Building Inspiration — Replacing scaffolding, drones can inspect the stability of buildings and detect any heat leaks or electrical issues using cameras and thermal sensors. In addition to final inspect, drones are often used for the maintenance of large-scale structures like towers and bridges.

To learn more about how companies and contractors are using construction drones, check out the infographic below from BigRentz.