Technology is always rapidly evolving, and to remain competitive, Calgary construction companies must keep up with new tools such as drones. Drones have reached the point where they are safe, efficient, and easy to integrate into a construction project lifecycle. With a multitude of applications, drones can bring numerous benefits to your construction company. In this article, we will cover the top ten ways that you can integrate drones into your construction workflow.
1. Progress Monitoring
In any construction project, one of the most important targets to hit is the schedule. Most projects start with a baseline schedule, outlining the milestones and targets that must be hit. In some cases, failure to meet these deadlines can lead to penalties such as liquidated damages. To effectively control the schedule and avoid delays, progress must be closely monitored. Drones can be used to monitor progress by capturing weekly images of an entire site, allowing your managers and supervisors to identify schedule slip earlier and to change course to correct the schedule without the need for a site visit.
2. Communication and Stakeholder Updates
Successful construction companies pride themselves in clear, transparent communication with all stakeholders. Clients appreciate drone imagery as it provides an accurate and easy to understand view of a construction site. Drone images can be shared to all stakeholders, giving them an update without ever needing to set foot on site. These images build trust by showing that your company is being transparent, and not hiding anything.
3. Construction Quality Control with Drones
A strong construction quality program instills confidence in clients; a client that sees a well-implemented quality program trusts that the work meets the specifications. Often, when a quality issue takes place, a construction company needs proof that their work was done right. The most effective way to prove that the project is high quality is through weekly site inspection drone photos. Regularly capturing drone images is a way to create a permanent and irrefutable record of work that you can refer to in the future. Drones can also access hard-to-reach or hazardous areas, providing a safe method of visual inspection.
4. Site Surveying and Monitoring
Drones simplify construction survey by rapidly mapping large areas. Capturing georeferenced photos will provide an accurate 3D map of a site. This map can replace many of the functions of a construction surveyor, including stockpile volume calculation and progress volume calculations.
5. Safety Audits
In construction, safety is the number one priority. Often, when a safety advisor arrives on site, the workers will change unsafe behaviours to avoid negative consequences, but resume unsafe work when left unsupervised. A few drone photos of a construction site can give a look at what is going on in site, allowing multiple levels of management to review conditions and identify hazards and unsafe work. Drone safety audits help improve safety and eliminate hazards.
6. Inventory Management
On a large site, it can be difficult to keep track of all the equipment, materials, and resources. Drones can provide a map that indicates the location and quantity of assets, helping plan procurement, storage, and rental returns. Drone images can also help prevent theft and ensure sufficient resource allocation.
7. 3D Modelling
Using specialized cameras and sensors, drones can generate an accurate 3D model of a worksite. Imagine visiting all of your sites through VR without needing to leave the office. A well-produced 3D model can make this happen, providing an opportunity for stakeholders to virtually walk through a site. These 3D models are very useful for clash detection, visualization, and design validation.
8. Environmental Compliance
Environmental regulations must be considered while executing a construction project. While environmental monitors occasionally visit a site, oftentimes environmental issues don’t come to light until well after the project ends. When accused of causing an environmental incident, a construction company can avoid costly lawsuits and remediation work by providing drone images that show that they did their due diligence. Drone imagery can show erosion control, water runoff, and vegetation management.
9. Resource Optimization
Drones can fly a construction site to map resource locations and work progress. Having this map allows the decision makers to plan where equipment, people, and materials need to go, when they should go there, and what route is best. A great tool for any project manager is a laminated overhead drone image of the site, allowing plans to be put onto paper with a dry-erase marker. These drone images can lead to more efficient operations and significant cost savings.
10. Marketing and Project Promotion
To be successful, a construction company must generate business. In a competitive market like Calgary, drones can provide media that really sets a construction company apart. Drones capture photos from angles that would otherwise be impossible, and create the smoothest video footage possible. Simply using drone media in your marketing materials gives the impression that your company embraces the latest technology, and is willing to go above and beyond expectations. Drone media showcases your work in a compelling and attractive light.
Summary: How Drones can Benefit your Calgary Construction Company
By incorporating drones into their operations, Calgary construction companies can streamline processes, reduce costs, enhance safety, and ultimately improve the overall efficiency and success of their projects. To begin introducing drones to your construction company, contact us today! We offer a complimentary demo to new clients, which will show you some of the ways drones can enhance your processes and workflows.
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