Drones Or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Construction Engineering— A merging trend

“An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is an aircraft that carries no human pilot or passengers.”~Rand Corporation

How are they implemented?

Before drones were implemented, there were many limitations in viewing job sites, particularly preconstruction phases. Places that are dangerous or difficult for human inspectors to reach, or very costly to obtain aerial surveying and mapping, along with the projects implemented on site, are now being assisted in numerous ways with the use of Drones. Listed below are just to name a few.

Monitoring Progress

Through imagery such as photos, recording, and even streaming to the internet, there is more transparency and trust, as the project owner and other members of the project are able to see the progress of works. This allows for better decisions, as critical as even whether the site is fit to begin construction.

Cost Saving

Time is money. Companies can now obtain precise visual data of a site faster and cheaper than with terrestrial techniques or manned aircrafts, and survey locations on the construction site as to whether they need more assets and materials, confirming if equipment and resources are where they are supposed to be. Besides increasing efficiency in implementations of works, observations can be more easily made for the less frequently discussed issues such as theft or time wasted, with live monitoring.

Health and Safety

As stated earlier, places that are dangerous or difficult for human inspectors to reach, can now be surveyed with ease without risking harm to crew members, along with another features such as Thermal Imaging, that play a critical role in saving lives.

Data Collection

Drones take images from multiple angles. From these images, photogrammetry software creates 2D and 3D maps with geolocation information, which can then generated into geo-referenced 2D maps, elevations and 3D models. This allows for the extraction of precise measurements and surface information of accurate and comprehensive data.

“Maps created from drone images contain millions of points. They allow extremely efficient measurement of asphalt edges, curbs, centerlines and all relevant road features.” ~ Wintra

“Traditionally it would take me about five days in the field with a scanner to get the data we get in an hour with a WingtraOne drone, and then I’d have to edit it inside afterward.” ~ Gry C.S. Kjellsmoen (Chief Engineer at Norwegian Public Roads Administration)

Thermal Imaging

From helping to examine pipelines, solar panels, power grids and roofs for leaks, overheating, failure and proper insulation, to assisting in critical situations such as a worker trapped in heavy smoke or fog who needs assistance, and spotting living beings through almost any non-physical visibility barrier, thermal imaging is a priority in drone development.

The use of drones are relatively new in the Caribbean, but with the guidance of organizations such as BUAVA and ACG Drones, this merging will continue to add value to our region with great benifits to the construction industry.