Drones have quickly become an effective tool for businesses of all sizes, moving from a niche technology to an everyday staple for a lot of companies. The benefits of using drones are obvious for many industries, ranging from real estate to agriculture. One industry stands out as an early adopter and innovator of this technology, though. Drones in the construction industry have become commonplace, and the benefits of drones in construction are innumerable.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Using a Drone for Construction
Many industries in the U.S are regular users of drone tech, but the construction industry has both the largest market share and the fastest-growing market share for drone usage over the past few years. Below, we’ll explain why this industry has adapted so quickly and enthusiastically to this new technology, and how drones for construction use are changing the industry for the better.
While new technology is typically thought to be a young person’s game, adults ages 35-54 comprise the largest percentage of drone users. That population represents the age group of people likely to be owners, managers, and forepersons in the construction business.
Let’s see how drones in construction are innovating and growing the industry.
Worker Safety
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of construction worker fatalities in 2019 was 1,102. That’s over 20% of all on-the-job deaths. That’s a significant portion, making construction one of America’s most dangerous industries.
Fortunately, drones have the potential to eliminate some of this danger, and widespread drone use can play an important role in making this industry safer down the road.
Roof inspections benefit immensely from using drones. Construction drone photography can eliminate the need for manual roof inspections, which can involve roofs that are wet, slippery, or in dangerously unstable conditions.
It’s also easier for supervisors to monitor workers’ progress and well-being, notice obstacles or potential problems, and anticipate any needs they might have when there is a drone overseeing the site. Drones in construction safety can make a big difference in protecting workers.
Construction Progress Monitoring
Many construction companies have the difficult dual task of doing their work and documenting it through photography simultaneously. Doing this can pose safety risks due to the lack of focus that comes from multitasking. It can also lead to lower quality work all around as workers are distracted with an additional component to their job.
Periodic pictures are a must though, because they provide project managers with key information on the progress of the site, allowing them to make next-step decisions and ensure that the timeline is on track. They also provide vital information to clients and investors, so they can remain up-to-date on the building process.
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT droneS? START HERE.
For many construction companies, drones have taken over this responsibility—and they usually do a much better job of it, especially with an experienced and capable construction drone photographer. These days, knowing how to use a drone is a talent that provides businesses with extreme value.
Drones can get to construction spots, like parts of rooftops that otherwise would be hard and potentially risky to reach. Even more, they eliminate the need for supervisors to be on-site, allowing them to focus on bigger picture work.
The amount of time and money that drones in construction save is extremely substantial.
Security Benefits
Along with monitoring construction project progress, drones can do around-the-clock, real-time job site monitoring. In other words, they can protect the site from intruders like unaccompanied visitors or even thieves or vandals.
In short, a lot of drones for construction use “can be flown practically anywhere for any reason,” giving them a great deal of latitude in their surveillance function. Of course, like any other tool, there are uses of construction drone photography that are best avoided.
What's included in YOUR GUIDE...
A Proven Roadmap of Success for Implementing Drones in Construction.
A List of Red Flags to Avoid When Hiring Drone Service Providers.
How to Persuade Your Leadership Team to Leverage Drones on Every Jobsite.
Marketing Benefits
Websites are a vital aspect of advertising and branding in modern business, but many construction company websites lack photos to show potential customers examples of their work. With construction drone videography and photography, this should be less and less the case.
Compare stock photography to construction drone photography, and you can see a very clear difference in quality and marketability. Drones in the construction industry are programmed to take clear, precise photos. Drone photography also captures aerial shots of the entire site, something ground photography simply can’t do.
As mentioned, drones for construction use can reach places and find views that would be all but impossible for humans to do on their own. This leads to extremely high-quality images that capture angles in a way that looks unique and advanced.
Moreover, you can reuse drone images across a range of media outlets. Social media, websites, and print media are a few examples, and this can all help your construction company build a modern brand, and stand out from the pack.
Less Costly and More Accurate Customer Estimates
In the interest of acquiring new customers, it’s a common practice for construction businesses to offer “free” estimates to those who express interest. This is a good way to attract new leads.
Still, no labor is ever truly free as it costs the construction company time, money, and effort to develop a customer quote. However, drones can be a tremendous asset when developing these estimates. Here’s why:
- Drones expedite the work of doing estimates, freeing employees’ time for other projects.
- They provide more detailed information than human workers can gather on their own.
- They measure more accurately and, thus, can predict final costs better, thereby avoiding cost overruns.
Overall, the use of construction drone technology sends potential customers a positive message about what to expect from the construction firm. They ask themselves, “What other innovations might this business have in store?”
Overall ROI
A construction company’s investment in construction drone services is a practical and future-forward decision. The return on investment (ROI) speaks for itself through business benefits such as the following:
- Increased profit margins
- More effective customer acquisition
- Staying on schedule
Check out our ROI calculations from past drone construction projects. You can see how using aerial photography saves money, time, and improves worker safety.
The View's Great From Up Here!
Implementing drones in your construction workflow can completely change your companies’ operations throughout the entire bidding, planning, and building process. The Drone Life specializes in partnering with construction and engineering companies to minimize pain points, increase profit margins, and ensure that projects are completed within deadline. Learn more about our solutions, completed projects, and pricing here.
For even more information about using drones in the construction industry download our completely free and value-packed PDF – Drones in Construction: The Ultimate Guide.
What's included in YOUR GUIDE...
A Proven Roadmap of Success for Implementing Drones in Construction.
A List of Red Flags to Avoid When Hiring Drone Service Providers.
How to Persuade Your Leadership Team to Leverage Drones on Every Jobsite.
