Construction Drones
Construction drones are revolutionizing the way construction projects are planned, executed, and monitored. From capturing stunning aerial photography for site planning to conducting detailed drone surveying for accurate measurements, these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are indispensable tools for enhancing construction site safety, accelerating project timelines, and improving overall efficiency.
The use of drones and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) has been adopted by the construction industry to enhance a variety of aspects of the project lifecycle.
Drone-based surveying operations are highly efficient, and can be completed faster than traditional methods while utilizing less manpower and requiring relatively minimal training. Operators can also complete surveys safely without needing to expose themselves to the inherent risks of working on a construction site, and with minimal downtime.
Construction Site Drone Types
Multirotor, fixed-wing and hybrid VTOL drones are all utilized for construction applications.
- Multirotor UAS are the simplest to operate and are highly maneuverable, and are ideal for smaller projects.
- Pure fixed-wing drones typically have greater endurance and can cover larger areas in a short amount of time, but require more space both for takeoff and landing and for turning in the air, and are thus more suitable for larger and more open sites.
- Hybrid VTOL drones combine the advantages of the other two types of drone platform.
Construction drones are typically equipped with cameras for aerial photography, and LiDAR scanners for capturing point cloud data. The 2D and 3D data they gather can be used to create a wide range of deliverables. Drones may also be equipped with video cameras for the purposes of construction site safety, monitoring and security.
IF1200 Heavy-lift Hexacopter by Inspired Flight with YellowScan LiDAR
What are drones used for in construction?
Specific use cases for drones in the construction industry include:
Site Planning & Analysis
Surveying the site to ensure that the terrain is suitable before work begins, and providing regular updates as the project continues to ensure that progress is being made as expected.
Photogrammetry & 3D modeling
Once post-processed, aerial LiDAR and camera data can be used for a variety of applications, including orthomosaics and mapping, 3D modeling and digital twins, asset inventory and stockpile volume calculation. Data can also be exported to BIM (building information modeling) software and used in reporting.
Security & Monitoring
Drones can be used to monitor construction sites in order to prevent theft and trespassing. Thermal cameras can also be used to identify fires and hazardous substance leaks.
Products (19)
Related Articles
Compact, American-Made, All-Weather Drones Designed To Fly When Others Can’t, No Matter The Mission
Drone Technology Supplier & Drone Service Provider for Public Safety, Transportation & Training
Innoflight Technology Innovative UAV Platforms for Commercial & Industrial Applications
Unmanned Helicopter UAVs: Single Rotor VTOL Drones for LiDAR Surveys, Cargo & Medical Deliveries
Long-Endurance Fixed-Wing & Hybrid VTOL UAVs | UAV Payload Camera Systems | Power Systems
Autonomous Drone Design, Manufacturing and Operations For Wide Area Actionable UAS Intelligence
Long-Range Fixed Wing Drones, VTOL Airframes, Tandem-Wing UAV & Sprayers | Ground Stations, Drone Generators & Drone Motor Kits
Heavy-Duty, Heavy Payload Drones for Industrial Inspections, Public Safety and Search & Rescue
Fixed-Wing Hybrid Drones for Long-Range Medical Package Delivery & Infrastructure Inspections
Hydrogen-Powered Drones, Fuel Cell Propulsion Systems & Drone-in-a-Box Stations | Hydrogen Engineering Services
Commercial Drones for Delivery, Surveying, Agriculture, Security & Mapping - Target Drones - UAS GCS
Industrial Multirotor Drones, Long-Endurance Fixed Wing VTOL UAVs, & High-Energy-Density Li-ion Batteries
Hybrid VTOL Fixed Wing UAV for Autonomous Mapping, Surveillance, Inspection and VTOL Cargo Applications
Long-Range Autonomous Helicopter Drone for Inspections, Surveillance, Search & Rescue, and Monitoring
GNSS Positioning & Navigation Systems, Mobile Mapping UAV LiDAR & Unmanned Surface Vehicles
Autonomous UAS, Research & Inspection UAVs for Industrial Inspection, Survey & Mapping
Professional Drones, Quadcopters, Multirotors & Hexacopters for Cinematography, Survey & Inspection
Join Thousands of Unmanned Systems Professionals
Sign up free to UST Pro to get full website access, the weekly eBrief and exclusive event discounts.
