The building industry has traditionally been reticent to adopt change. Construction professionals have 
been building homes in the same way for decades and, while they are quick to upgrade tools, they don’t usually go for every technological fad that hits the market. Drones, however, are no fad and their usefulness coupled with relatively inexpensive upfront costs make them a no-brainer.
Drones are, according to a recent Gartner survey, already being used by many construction firms and have the potential to replace $127.3 billion in labor and services. Here are just a few of the ways in which drones can seriously improve your construction capabilities:
- Drones are able to inspect buildings at height that are difficult to reach. This saves you time and makes your site a safer place for workers.
- Drones can be used to scout confined spaces and crawl spaces that would otherwise take a permit and several crew members to do safely.
- You can use drones to monitor progress on site in real time so you can coordinate with your managers efficiently.
- Use a drone to see that you have the right materials and equipment at the work site.
- Utilizing drones to map the site beforehand can help you to see issues and find ways around them before you start.
- Drones check to see if you have a clear path for moving large building components down narrow streets.
- Recording videos and photos with the drone can help you document the build, and any issues, should any problems arise. You can keep the client abreast of progress by providing these assets for review.
- Increase safety and reduce falls risks by sending the drone in to inspect difficult areas of the build.
The best thing about drones is that they are relatively inexpensive. You probably already have a decent camera for recording progress and taking pictures, so you need an inexpensive drone to attach it too and you’re in business! There is a learning curve to drone operation, but it doesn’t take any special skills and you are likely to get the hang of it fairly quickly.
If your construction site is within five miles of an airport, you must alert authorities to ensure that you do not interfere with any aircraft.