Construction companies increasingly use any relevant technology at their disposal, including drones. Also known as unmanned autonomous aerial vehicles or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones have become a commonly used tool at construction sites. 

Like so many industries, including agriculture, real estate, and infrastructure, construction leaders understand and embrace the new and unique perspectives drone technology offers them. Thanks to the dynamic views possible with drones, construction companies can enhance and expedite processes while ensuring premier quality. 

How Construction Companies Use Drones At and Around Sites 

According to Metal Construction News, construction leaders across the country have found a broad range of uses for drones, including:

• Conducting close-up thermal inspections
• Speeding up data collection
• Reducing dependence on helicopters and small planes for aerial views
• Performing site surveys
• Hosting live-streamed walkthroughs
• Identifying structural defects and cracks without physical risks to personnel
• Executing photogrammetry for faster and more frequent modeling with lower costs than traditional mapping methods
• Providing guideposts for manufacturing processes, such as insulated panel installations 

A great example of one of these uses is Autodesk, a leader in software geared toward architecture and construction. The software company has formed a powerful association with the drone company 3D Robotics. Using Autodesk's Forge Platform, Autodesk and 3D Robotics are working together to develop and provide a UAV-to-cloud solution with the ultimate goal of capturing construction site data to feed into Autodesk software for analysis. 

The Benefits of Relying on Drones Extend as Far as the Drone Can Fly 

As you might expect, the benefits your construction company stands to enjoy when adopting drone technology are extensive. To start, you'll experience better coordination, project progress tracking, sequencing, safety, and so much more. 

Here are some commonly cited advantages to investing in drones and using them for construction projects. 

Reduces Physical Risks to Workers 

Anytime you can reduce the risk to your workers, it is worth it. Drones offer you that opportunity daily, especially if you need to send workers to hazardous areas, such as portions of the building that are incomplete or at great heights. You can send out the UAV to identify difficult-to-navigate areas and encourage individual team members to avoid them until you can tackle the issue head-on and get everything secure and ready for manned inspections. 

More Affordable and Accessible Aerial Photography Options 

There are times when you want to capture an aerial view of the construction project to provide for the architects and investors or for marketing purposes. Instead of hiring a helicopter and a professional photographer who isn't afraid of heights, you can either rent a  drone or use your company-owned drone to capture the images you need on your timeline. 

Ability to Conduct Quick Surveys for Project Updates and General Data Collection  

With the aerial capabilities of drones, you can get a clear view of the entire project in minutes, picking up small details and data points and a broad sweep of the whole project. You can decide which function you need and set your drone off to gather the information you need right away without any outside assistance. With the data you collect, you can ensure that the project is on track for success and there is no waste of time or resources. 

More Construction Companies Use Drones All the Time 

Construction leaders increasingly rely on drone technology to get the job done better, safer, and faster. With new software programs continually developing to enhance UAV's potential, it is becoming an essential tool for architects, builders, and on-site construction teams.