Sites That Evolve On A Daily Basis Can Be Riskier For Workers
Construction sites are full of heavy equipment and risky working conditions, so safety is always a concern. Thanks to technology, it is now possible to create safer working conditions for construction workers and introduce efficiency in monitoring construction sites. Even though drones entered the scene as a novelty, the technology has now found widespread applications in many industries. One such important application of drone technology is on construction sites.
The large-scale aerial vantage point and ability to survey sites while collecting real-time data help construction supervisors to keep an eye on everything taking place on the site. It also prevents serious on-site injuries by discovering issues in construction beforehand. Contractors can also collect survey data faster and create high-quality 3D models. The use of drones can benefit you in a number of ways:
- Site Survey & Inspections: regular site surveys are essential for every construction project. Before, during, and after completing every construction phase, site surveys reveal vital insights that help ensure that the building can smoothly move to the next stage. Drone asset inspection helps identify potential hazards, complete surveys faster, and reduce survey costs. Drones can also provide accurate measurements and real-time information without repeat inspections.
2. Monitor Site Progress: construction projects are increasing in complexity, and so are the sizes of construction sites. Drones in construction are an excellent way of monitoring progress, security surveillance, and writing detailed project progress reports. Drones can conduct construction surveys to help contractors monitor site progress in real-time.
3. Inspections & Repairs: inspections of concrete structures and roads are much more efficient with drones than with manual inspections. Drones can survey a structure or a stretch of road to find cracks, deterioration, and other information within a few hours. The images collected by drones can help construction teams determine the size and extent of damage accurately and estimate the cost of repairs. Manual inspection requires a group of four or five people who survey the location for days before providing the report. Drone building inspections only need a pilot and a spotter, and the information is ready within a day.
4. Structural Maintenance: tall and elaborate structures such as skyscrapers and bridges need constant maintenance to ensure safety and identify areas that need an upgrade. Drones in construction safety can replace human inspectors to carry out planned or reactive maintenance inspections of these structures. Through thermal imaging, drones can detect leaks and areas at a high risk of leakage and enable owners to repair and renovate proactively.
5. Deterring Theft: construction sites are susceptible to theft of materials and equipment. Drones can help improve security surveillance in a construction site and prevent theft. Many construction sites deploy CCTV cameras, but some areas are always dark. Drones can be programmed to fly in a pattern and send alerts if an unauthorized person is found on the construction site after hours.
6. Measuring Stockpiles: drones are also an excellent medium for monitoring materials and measuring stockpiles. Draw borders around an area for automatic volume calculations and analysis; the drone will capture 3D images of these areas to track volumes and quantities to determine usage rate. It can detect any unusual reduction in the volume in case of theft and also give you an alert to re-order in time.
Any device or technology that enables better surveillance and monitoring at construction sites can help improve safety on construction sites. The ability to monitor and maintain a construction site from a distance and in real-time is a giant leap forward to a safer and more efficient building process.
Guest blog submitted by James Rennie of Australian UAV (AUAV). Prior to starting the business James had a long career in natural resource management. In 2012 he identified a convergence of a previous hobby, radio controlled planes, and his passion for mapping data. Recognising this opportunity he established AUAV in early 2013, one of the first drone companies in Australia.