How Drones Are Changing Construction

How Drones Are Changing Construction

What’s keeping you up at night?

If you’re like most construction company owners, the following are probably somewhere on your list: labor shortage, financial environment, procurement and the supply chain, project progress, worker safety, managing cash flow and costs, and more. Have you ever considered that drones – yes, drones – may help address your biggest concerns?

Drones can do a lot for your construction business.

The growth of their use is skyrocketing. They save time and money; keep projects on track; get certain jobs done faster; increase productivity; decrease on-the-job injuries; promote security of work sites, supplies and equipment; identify issues and course correct opportunities quickly; free up talent to focus on other tasks; possibly provide a competitive and service advantage; and more.

How?

Drone photos, videos and other images help scope out projects, track progress and provide real-time updates that can be viewed remotely. More specifically, drones are used to:

  • Map, survey and project plan According to com, “Drones survey vast acres of land in just 15 to 30 minutes, saving up to 20x the cost of creating topographic maps” and “Teams can use drone software to stitch maps into 3D models for analysis and project planning.” Ultimately, they can help with feasibility, design, course corrections, and project timelines, and budgets.
  • Manage projects and clients Is the project progressing according to plan? Have you identified issues that can be rectified to stay on track? Are designers, engineers, and construction staff able to access data in real-time to collaborate and problem-solve? Will providing images of progress offer additional peace of mind to clients, especially if they’re at a remote location?
  • Monitor supplies How much gravel is left? What about lumber? A drone can help you get images to keep track and order accordingly.
  • Manage equipment Where is the equipment? Is it operating effectively and, if not, what’s going wrong? Is it secure and protected from potential theft? Are you done with it/should it be returned to avoid additional charges? Drones can get you the answers in real-time.
  • Promote safety Drones help capture measurements and images in high and hard to reach places in lieu of risking worker falls and other injuries. They can also help identify and fix potential risks – like loose or unstable equipment.
  • Conduct inspections View and analyze images without the safety risks. Heat leaks, cold spots, and electrical images can be identified with thermal sensors.

As noted on ForConstructionPros.com, “Think of a modern drone as a flying rack onto which you can attach or swap the latest technologies — multispectral sensors, high-definition cameras, and machine learning software capable of creating 3D maps from topographical data, able to be captured from virtually anywhere…By using drones and sophisticated software, planners can combine, match, and overlay their own data vis-a-vis terrain and property lines. Third-party software can then do much of the grunt work, taking advantage of existing data and resources, utilizing these most efficiently while avoiding pitfalls.”

Interested in learning more about how drones can help your construction business, not to mention help you get a better night’s sleep? Check out these resources:

If you’re interested in learning how to account for drone training, licensing, and equipment, give RBT CPAs a call. We’re a leading accounting, tax, and audit firm in the Hudson Valley and beyond, and believe we succeed when we help you succeed. Give us a call today.

If you’re interested in learning how to get a drone program off the ground in 2023, watch for our next thought leadership article coming in January.