Construction Drones

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.