How to use drones for advanced construction site monitoring?

Drones have proved to be invaluable in modern construction projects. From site monitoring to assisting engineers in physically building a structure from scratch, drones are the mind and muscle for modern civil engineering projects. Additionally, with the reinforcement of acoustic sensors and thermal detectors, drones are single-handedly replacing several sophisticated equipment traditionally used in construction. The end result is efficient, stable, and safe buildings we call homes, offices, and commercial spaces. With so much ease brought about by UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), let's focus on the most popular use of drones in this blog i.e. monitoring. Construction site monitoring has been simplified a great deal with drone technology.

However, one could easily jeopardize the progressive construction work if:

An inexperienced drone operator is handling the UAVs.
Necessary aerial permissions are not sought before recording crucial constructions.
Drone malfunctions due to quality issues or not being timely serviced.
Inefficiencies in battery, camera, or machine occur, leading to interruption.
UAVs are missing obstacle detection and avoidance systems that could damage the device or harm those in the vicinity.
Miscellaneous inadequacies like low camera storage, unintegrated project management software, lack of live footage transmission, etc., that defeat the purpose of monitoring, recording, and data storage pop up.

To resolve these common problems , drone site monitoring generally encounters, the following steps offer a sound resolution for improving advanced construction site monitoring:

Installing high-resolution cameras and sensors:`

This is the growing demand of modern constructions i.e, to have high-definition cameras that capture the entire site's progress. No longer does the vintage look of construction progress documents appeal to the stakeholders. The visual records, such as photos or videos, need to be as gripping as the final look of modern architecture. Moreover, high-resolution offers an in-depth snapshot of the progress, allowing flaws and inefficiencies to be easily and timely tracked. Additionally, capturing drone time-lapse videos with such high-precision cameras will be rewarding for the project documentation, too. Drones will not only monitor and record progress but also, with the embedded sensors (acoustic and thermal) in drones these days, malfunctions, such as moisture intrusion or structural defects, are easily detected, and further damage is curbed. In unison with sensors, HD cameras also help capture detailed aerial images, facilitating accurate site surveys, progress tracking, and 3D mapping.

Equipping drones with LiDAR technology:

The Light Detection and Ranging Techniques in modern drones rely on laser pulses to create highly accurate 3D models of construction sites. Topographical mapping, terrain analysis, and as-built documentation are also possible with LiDAR.

Automating analysis and processing in drones:

AI and machine learning are integrated with the machinery to reduce human error in using drones for data capture and processing. This integration aids in pattern detection and risk identification and provides predictive analytics for better decision-making.

Fusion of Drone Technology with AR, VR, and BIM technologies:

Drone Technology has been merged with the wonders of Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Building Information Modelling(BIM) in construction. This has widened the view on visualizing construction progress, simulating designs, and conducting virtual site inspections.

Integration with Project Management Tools:

Finally, drone technology merged with project management tools has brought a lot of ease to engineers, project managers, and relevant stakeholders. Changes can be conveyed and implemented, errors spotted and resolved, updates shared, and projects managed better with this integration.

With fully furnished drones, it's only a matter of acquiring requisite permits and abiding by the local restrictions to set the project wheels in motion. You could operate a drone during the day or night, knowing it has the necessary tools to capture relevant footage. With a suitable battery backup, properly functioning mechanical equipment, and seamless connectivity to the data collection center, you can rest assured that data is being recorded and processed.
At TimelapseMe, We take care of all these aspects and more. Our services cover everything from pre-recording activities like acquiring permits to testing cameras and drones to capturing vibrant photos and drone time-lapse videos. We have a fleet of drones, ranging from the Phantom 1 to the quadcopter, and still counting. With more than 1000 hours of flying time, we are ready to take on any work in any part of the world.