How Drones Can Improve Construction Industry Performance

What is a Drone or UAV ?

Drone or UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) is a flying object equipped with various tools and technologies to provide us with the required information. Particularly in the Construction Industry drones are used for Surveying and inspection purposes. So drones in construction industry comes with various technologies as named below:

1. RGB sensors.
2. Multispectral Sensors
3. Thermal sensors
4. LIDAR

 

Why do we use Drones in Construction?

Generally, construction projects of large scale take 20% longer to complete than expected and in this process they  become over budget by 80%. According to this data, we can conclude that the construction industry is struggling with higher inefficiency. However, technology is all over the place continuously increasing efficiency and reducing the costs.

Therefore, drones are penetrating into the construction industry and are majorly used for inspection and surveying of the construction site. Drones can provide us with precise and accurate spatial data. Drones capture images of the site from different angles then the photogrammetry softwares creates a 3D map of the site. Drones can also be used to monitor the work as it can provide us with a real-time view of the construction site. It can also inspect inaccessible areas where a worker can not go. Drones are providing real-time information of the site and this information can be used at any place on earth and thus, it saves the time and money during travel to the site.

And this makes a huge difference from traditional ways of collecting spatial data and inspecting the site. Collecting data from drones is efficient and cost effective thus it saves a lot of time and money. Also the data collected by drones is accurate and precise. So, using Drones in construction is a great deal of benefit and it is expected that the use of drones in the construction industry is set to see an exponential growth in upcoming years.

Advantages of Drones in Construction

1. Drones increase efficiency and accuracy of the project and data.
2. Drones provide us with real-time information.
3. Drone’s data can be easily accessible by different departments.
4. Drones are time saving and can complete surveying or inspection 80% faster.
5. Drones are money saving as it is very cost effective.
6. Drones can fly in hazardous and inaccessible areas of the site.
7. Insurance cost is low as compared to on-site workers.
8. Drones will open up new jobs in the construction field in the areas of operation, management and maintenance of Drones.

Disadvantages of Drones in Construction

1. Operation, maintenance and management of drones require a trained staff.
2. Drones are susceptible in causing injury to people and damage to property.
3. There are different rules and regulations to fly Drones in different countries.
4. Choosing an appropriate drone according to the requirement is hectic.
5. Initial cost of buying a drone is high.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the use of drones in construction has proven to be a game-changer for the industry. Drones offer a wide range of benefits, including improved safety, increased efficiency, and enhanced accuracy. They have made it possible for construction companies to complete projects faster, with less waste and better quality. While there are still some challenges associated with their use, such as regulatory and privacy concerns, the benefits far outweigh the risks. It is clear that drones are here to stay, and we can expect to see even more innovative uses for them in the construction industry in the future. As technology continues to advance, we can only imagine the possibilities that lie ahead for this exciting field.