Sky's the Limit: How Drones Are Revolutionizing Construction Project Management

Most construction companies handle large projects that require constant surveys and inspections to ensure accuracy and avoid delays. This is because construction projects often involve several subcontractors working on interconnected tasks, and any single detail being amiss can bring the entire project to a halt.

On a construction site, for example, you might see a crane hoisting large objects hundreds of feet into the air. Or you are craning your neck to see workers on scaffolding stories above an incomplete high-rise. Massive engineering achievements and tons of material are lifted to incredible heights. 

Hence, aerial inspections are becoming increasingly crucial for businesses to ensure compliance with maintenance protocols and procedures. As a result, drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have emerged as a new way to monitor and keep up with construction sites. 

These compact, flying robots provide construction managers with an aerial view, giving them greater oversight and control than ever before. Read about how drones transform project management and improve efficiency, safety, and communication in modern construction projects.

‍Factors Influencing Drone Market Growth

Previously associated with military operations and recreational activities, drones play a significant role in the construction industry. Instead of surveyors walking around a job site with tripods and levels, drones can quickly scan the area from above using high-resolution cameras, allowing project managers to better understand site conditions before breaking ground. 

Compared to traditional methods, drone aerial inspection can reduce surveying time by up to 70%. According to Quadintel, the global drone inspection and monitoring market is predicted to significantly surge in valuation, reaching $35.15 billion by 2030. This is a significant rise from the current market value of $7.47 billion.

The primary driving force behind this expected growth is the increasing usage of drones for remote visual inspections of critical infrastructure. With the advancements in drone technology and the availability of better sensors and cameras, drones are now being used to inspect various types of infrastructure, such as bridges, wind turbines, power lines, and more. This trend is expected to continue, substantially expanding the drone inspection and monitoring market.

Affordable Drones: Shaping the Future of Aerial View

Project and construction owners understand the importance of digitizing and standardizing project management. Still, in many cases, project owners (or managers) rely heavily on manual methods and on-site inspections to monitor progress and ensure adherence to schedules.

However, making meaningful improvements in construction project management would be relatively expensive and time-consuming. A new mapping solution bridges the market gap for small and medium-sized drone businesses.

‍Tom Caska, co-founder of AerologixMaps, says, “We recognized a huge gap in the market for affordable photogrammetry and mapping. Many other products in the marketplace offer amazing features and functionality but come with a chunky price tag. We wanted to create an affordable and reliable platform that produces quality maps but doesn’t break the bank.” 

This type of technology is built on a scalable cloud infrastructure to adapt to user needs regardless of site volume or capture frequency. As a result, many businesses are looking for a way to get started with a drone mapping program that will grow organically without requiring a significant capital investment. 

Here are some of the many benefits this provides:

Improved Safety

In 2021, nearly 1 in 5 workplace deaths occurred in the construction industry. Falls, slips, and trips accounted for slightly over one-third of all construction deaths. The construction industry accounted for 46.2 percent of all fatal falls, slips, and trips. 

‍

Drones eliminate the need for workers to access high, confined, or unstable areas to inspect equipment or structures. They can also monitor hazardous zones without putting personnel at risk. Some drones even have thermal imaging cameras to detect hot spots, indicating fire risks or other potential dangers.

Automated Progress Monitoring

Drones can be programmed to fly over the worksite and automatically capture high-resolution photos and video. Project managers can then review the footage to check on the progress of various construction phases and ensure everything is on schedule without having to do time-consuming site visits themselves.

‍3D Modeling

By capturing images from multiple angles, drones allow companies to create detailed 3D models of the building site. These models make it easy to visualize the project's progress and spot any potential issues early on. They are also helpful for conducting virtual inspections when physical inspections aren't possible.

‍Infrared Cameras

Some drones come equipped with infrared cameras that can detect heat signatures. The most popular are the DJI Zenmuse H20T and Flir Vue TZ20. This allows project managers to see what’s happening in low-light conditions or at night. Infrared drones are handy for monitoring curing concrete to ensure it’s setting properly or detecting any “hot spots” that could indicate structural issues.

‍Automated reporting

AI-based systems can analyze all the data from drones, sensors, and other sources to generate automated progress reports, alerts, and dashboards. They track key performance indicators like costs, schedule variance, rework, and quality issues, so project managers know immediately if the project is on budget and on time.

‍Streamlined payroll, budget, and scheduling

Managing and tracking employee hours is undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges in construction project management. However, with the latest technological advancements, the process has become much easier and more automated. 

Since drones provide visuals to help stakeholders understand the scope and progress of projects, project managers or contractors can share this content to set expectations, address concerns, and keep everyone on the same page.

Employees can now check-in and out of these projects, logging the hours required to complete specific tasks. This has increased the efficiency of the process, saving construction companies time and money by eliminating the need to chase down timesheets or reconcile hours with the schedule. 

FAQs: Leveraging Drones for Better Project Management in Construction

What are the main benefits of using drones for construction project management?

Drones provide an aerial vantage point to oversee the progress of construction projects. They enhance safety by conducting inspections in dangerous or hard-to-reach areas. Drones also reduce worker risks by automating hazardous manual tasks like site surveying. The real-time data and images drones capture – give project managers insights to make better decisions and spot issues early on.

‍How do drones track the progress of construction projects?

Time-lapse videos created from drone footage make monitoring progress easier over time. Project managers can see what’s been completed and what’s left to do. Drones survey sites to create 3D maps and models that provide precise measurements of critical metrics like the volume of materials moved. Analysis of this data helps ensure projects stay on schedule and within budget.

‍How can drones improve site surveying and safety inspections?

Drones can survey sites faster, more frequently, and more accurately than traditional manual methods. They can scan entire sites in high resolution to create detailed 3D maps. These maps make measuring distances, angles, and volumes easy to ensure specifications are met. Drones also conduct autonomous safety inspections in areas that are dangerous or difficult for humans to access. They spot hazards like buckling, corrosion, or damage that requires repair.

‍How do drones enhance communication with stakeholders?

Time-lapse videos and 3D models created with drone data provide visuals to help stakeholders understand the scope and progress of projects. Project managers can share this content to set expectations, address concerns, and keep everyone on the same page. After completion, drones document the finished work for final inspections, approvals, and records.

Conclusion: The best is yet to come

Construction management software eliminates the need for sporadic site visits and static progress reports to monitor the status of construction projects. They already have a live data feed that displays precisely what is happening on the site. 

Drones provide aerial footage and photos to track progress throughout the project. Sensors and IoT devices update materials, equipment usage, and labor hours. All this data is analyzed in real time to provide insights into productivity, costs, and timelines.

While drones will never replace human judgment or expertise, they can help project managers manage complex construction projects more effectively.

Finding the drone and software solutions best suited to your business needs only requires a little research and trial and error. The construction industry's future can be looked forward to with optimism. While we may have experienced some great moments in the past, we can rest assured that the best is yet to come.