Construction companies are historically slow to adopt new technologies. Cost constraints and high proof of concept can get in the way. But one innovation is quickly gaining interest by many in the industry--they're utilizing drones, thanks to their ability to gather aerial insights at record speed.
Recent research from PricewaterhouseCoopers reveals that the commercial real estate industry has become increasingly dependent on drones, with the construction and infrastructure sectors accounting for more than $45 billion of drone usage.
The technology is often used to assist with tasks on construction sites and to survey large structures for maintenance issues, spanning the buildings while gathering photos and videos of the property to determine if any maintenance is required.
“... a drone with the right software can compile instant insights about aggregate stockpile volumes before it even lands—and it can do it all without any human intervention.”
— MIKE WINN, CEO, DroneDeploy
“Drones have been used to speed up construction timelines,” says Mike Winn, CEO of DroneDeploy. “A few scenarios include a client pushing for more control over a project and then being dissatisfied when they slow the construction timeline down, a company having to wait for safety checks to complete before starting construction, or painstakingly collecting data when the project is in progress.”
Drones are able to capture aerial data in a fraction of the time. Construction professionals all rely on building information modeling (BIM) insights to design and manage the construction process more efficiently. Integrating with drone software makes creation of 3D models even easier, leading to clearer insights around progress tracking to design plans. This includes everything from how to reduce project execution inefficiencies to recommendations on what needs to happen for a project to stay on track.
Integrating with drone software makes creation of 3D models even easier, leading to clearer insights around progress tracking to design plans.
“Drone mapping software helps drones identify objects and ground control points on site, adding an invaluable capability—making on-site measurements with centimeter-level precision,” Winn says. “For example, a drone with the right software can compile instant insights about aggregate stockpile volumes before it even lands—and it can do it all without any human intervention.”
As drone technology advances, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) will help drones identify objects and ground control points on site, automatically assess aggregate stockpile volumes, and make on-site measurements with centimeter-level precision—all without human intervention.
Drones and churches
Austin Brown, co-founder of Global Air Media LLC, an aerial cinematography, mapping, and survey services company in Baltimore, recently helped a construction company with its development of the Huber Memorial Church in its home city.
“Churches are architectural marvels and beautiful buildings and a lot of them have tall spirals or domes, so to be able to get high-angle shots and capture the condition of those high points with the drones is very valuable,” Brown says. “A lot of construction companies are already doing this because of the safety, innovative factor and cost efficiency.”
“Churches are architectural marvels and beautiful buildings and a lot of them have tall spirals or domes, so to be able to get high-angle shots and capture the condition of those high points with the drones is very valuable." Austin Brown, Co-Founder, Global Air Media LLC
When Global Air Media sends its drones to a site, it takes still images and shows how a project is progressing. The drones also do mapping of the site, providing 3D and contour images, helping the architects better design a building or monitor its position with progress throughout a project.
Other construction companies that have relied on drone technology to help in church building recently include The Assembly West Monroe church in Louisiana; Piedmont Church in Marietta, Ga.; and The Bridge Community Church in Warrenton, Va.
“The footage we are getting is HD quality—just stellar. It definitely gives us a perspective we couldn’t get on our own,” says Greg Hackett, pastor of the Bridge Community Church. “The footage helps people to see it from a perspective that if they just drove down there, they wouldn’t know the degree of the work being done.”
Brown says another way that drones can benefit churches—as well as other buildings—is to provide information about the state of a roof or hard-to-get-to parts of the exterior. For instance, if a church has a leak, a drone can fly right to the root of the problem, even if it’s in one of the high parts of the dome, and find out exactly what’s wrong.
Brown says another way that drones can benefit churches—as well as other buildings—is to provide information about the state of a roof or hard-to-get-to parts of the exterior.
“Drones can also provide thermal imaging readings, helping a church ascertain where in the building it may be losing heat,” he says. “That can help a church save money.”
Looking ahead
Currently, pilots are required to monitor and operate a drone every time it flies, but soon, all drone operators will have to do is schedule flights and review the data.
“Drones will navigate flights around structures and adjust their course automatically to create the most accurate map or 3D model possible—making site safety checks and progress monitoring easy and accurate,” Winn says. “Drone use is rapidly increasing throughout the construction industry. If a drone isn’t buzzing around your job site today, they may be taking flight tomorrow.”
The next big thing for drones in construction is expected to be 3D printer drones, where the drone either has a small reservoir of printer material or is connected to a supply of it, and they use the ejectors on the tips of their “fingers” to print the material. This technology can help architects and designers create a lifelike model of a church someday soon.
