The demand for renewable energy continues to grow at a rapid pace. With more than 486GW of installed capacity worldwide, solar energy has become the third biggest renewable power source in the world, with photovoltaic (PV) technology the most dominant form of solar energy. Solar farms use PV technology extensively and new facilities are coming online across the globe. However, the construction of these solar farms can be a complex process that requires careful planning, monitoring, and execution. Fortunately, drones have emerged as an indispensable tool for monitoring the construction progress of a solar farm. Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras can capture images and videos of the construction site, providing detailed documentation of the project’s development.
"The annual growth rate of cumulative solar energy capacity has averaged 25% during the last five years, which makes solar the fastest growing renewable power source."
In this article, we will explore five major benefits of using drones for monitoring solar farm construction progress, including photographic documentation for record keeping, identifying as-designed vs as-built conflicts, verification of completed contractor tasks, accessing traffic management plans, and locating on-site safety risks. By using drones for monitoring solar farm construction progress, project managers can ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, and with the highest standards of safety and quality.
Table of Contents
1. Photographic Documentation for Record Keeping
Photographic documentation for record keeping purposes is one of the major benefits of using drones for monitoring solar farm construction progress. Drones can now be equipped with very high-resolution cameras capturing images and videos of the construction site from different angles and heights, providing a comprehensive view of the project’s development. This documentation can be used for record-keeping items, and project managers can use it to track the progress of the construction, assess any delays or setbacks, and make informed decisions about the project’s future direction.
"Documentation should be available in a central location. This may include hard copy or electronically with on-site access to the documentation during all stages of the solar farm (i.e. construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance, and de-commissioning)."
Source: Construction and operation of solar farms. Code of Practice 2019
The use of photographic documentation can also offer a comprehensive record of the solar farm construction progress, starting from the initial ground preparation to the final phase of commissioning. Such documentation can be highly beneficial in cases of conflicts or disagreements between contractors, subcontractors, and other stakeholders involved in the project. By providing a detailed and accurate record of the entire construction process, photographic documentation can assist in resolving disputes and prevent costly litigation, including any potential future legal issues.
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2. Identifying As-Designed vs As-Built Conflicts
Drones can also be used for identifying As-Designed vs As-Built conflicts during the construction of solar farms. As-Designed refers to the plans and designs of the solar farm created by the engineering team. As-Built, on the other hand, refers to the actual construction work completed on-site.
"Softbank Energy uses drone data to count holes, stockpiles, and solar panels, and to detect differences between designs and as-built reality. By spotting problems early with drone surveys, it keeps their large construction projects on track."
One of the challenges that arise during the construction process is ensuring the As-Built project matches the As-Designed plans. This is where drones can be particularly useful. They can provide an accurate, high-resolution aerial view of the construction site that can be used to compare the As-Designed plans with the As-Built construction progress and identify any conflicts.
Drones do this by using an overlay of the site’s Computer-Aided Design (CAD) drawings projected onto Orthomosaic maps, providing a detailed view of the construction site. This information can be used to identify discrepancies and to make sure that the solar farm is being built according to the As-Designed plans.
Using drones in this way can identify conflicts in the design and build process. If a conflict is identified, project managers can take immediate corrective actions to ensure that the project stays on schedule and within budget. This can save time and money by avoiding costly rework or delays in the construction process.
3. Verification of Completed Contractor Work
The construction industry has seen a significant shift in responsibilities from clients to contractors with the introduction of new types of contracts such as the Design, Build, Finance, & Maintain (DBFM) contract. These, and other contract types, have changed the way verification of completed work is carried out. This shift has made it crucial to manage these new contracts well along with their corresponding changes in responsibilities. One relevant instrument that has been increasingly applied in this industry for this purpose is called systems engineering (SE).
When contractors are responsible for verification, it becomes challenging to allocate verification tasks to suppliers. Although the main contractor still bears the final responsibility with the client, the supplier is often expected to verify its own work. This requires verifications to be carried out further down the supply chain, which can lead to many problems.
"For companies that provide oversight and verification, drones can help confirm that the work was done in the right place, at the right time, and by the right people."
In this context, the use of drones for monitoring a solar farm construction site provides a very useful tool for verifying completed contract work. By providing real-time data on the status of the construction work and assessing the quality of completed work, drones can help contractors ensure that the completed work meets the required specifications. Drones can also assist in monitoring critical construction activities and detecting potential issues early on, making it easier to manage these new types of contracts and corresponding shifts in responsibilities.
4. Accessing Traffic Management Plans
Managing traffic is a crucial aspect of ensuring safety at the workplace, especially in solar farm construction sites, where powered mobile plants and vehicles move around the area, loading and unloading materials. To eliminate traffic hazards and minimize risks, a traffic management plan should be in place. The primary purpose of this plan is to document and explain how risks associated with traffic will be managed during the construction phase of the project.
The traffic management plan should include details such as designated travel paths for vehicles, pedestrian and traffic routes, designated delivery and loading areas, and travel paths on routes remote from the workplace. The plan should also specify the responsibilities of people managing traffic and those expected to interact with traffic at the workplace. Traffic control measures for each expected interaction, including drawings of the layout of barriers, walkways, signs, and general arrangements to guide traffic around, past, or through the workplace or temporary hazard, should be included.
"The most effective way to protect workers and other people in the workplace is to eliminate traffic hazards. This can be done by designing the layout of the workplace so that interactions between pedestrians and vehicles is eliminated."
Source: Construction and operation of solar farms, Code of Practice 2019.
Using drone technology is one of the most effective ways to access a site’s traffic management plan. By capturing high-quality photos and videos, overlaying CAD drawings onto Orthomosaic maps, and conducting follow-up missions, a comprehensive view of the construction site can be obtained. These maps can show the movement of vehicles and pedestrians, which can help operators identify potential hazards, such as workers in the swing radius or articulation points of vehicles. Drones are well-equipped to quickly identify these hazards and changes that need to be made to the traffic management plan. They can also provide necessary reports and deliverables to help workers and stakeholders understand and comply with the plan.
5. Locating On-Site Safety Risks
Identifying and managing on-site safety risks is crucial to preventing accidents and injuries in the workplace. Drones can be used to locate these potential hazards quickly and easily, allowing for swift corrective action to be taken.
"Employers working in the solar energy business need to protect their workers from workplace hazards. Workers in the solar energy industry are potentially exposed to a variety of serious hazards, such as arc flashes (which include arc flash burn and blast hazards), electric shock, falls, and thermal burn hazards."
Temporary fencing is a common safety measure on construction sites, but it is often difficult and time-consuming to manually inspect and verify its proper installation and condition. Drones can quickly and efficiently capture images and videos of the fencing, allowing for easy verification of its current condition.
Ground conditions can also pose a significant safety risk, particularly in areas prone to flooding or erosion. Drones can be used to conduct aerial surveys of the site, to identify potential risks, such as unstable or eroded ground. This information can be used to develop and implement appropriate control measures to mitigate the risks and ensure the safety of workers and other site personnel.
In addition, drones can be used to inspect high-risk areas quickly and easily, such as rooftops, scaffolding, and other elevated structures used in solar farm installations. This allows for rapid identification of potential hazards, such as loose or damaged materials, and allows for timely corrective action to be taken before accidents can occur.
Getting Started: Using Drones for Solar Site Construction
The use of drones for monitoring solar farm construction projects has proven to be an efficient and effective solution for documenting and project tracking, risk mitigation through identifying design and build conflicts, and verifying completed work. Drones can capture high-quality aerial imagery and generate 3D models to help identify potential hazards, as well as provide accurate and up-to-date data on traffic patterns. By leveraging drone technology, solar farm construction companies can increase project visibility, reduce costs, and improve safety.
At The Drone Life, we offer a comprehensive and tailored aerial solution for monitoring solar farm construction projects. Our team of experts has extensive experience in drone technology to ensure you stay ahead of the competition in an ever-evolving construction industry. With our cutting-edge drone technology and highly skilled pilots, we can help manage your project more efficiently. Don’t hesitate to schedule a free consultation with one of our drone experts today and discover how our services can benefit your solar farm construction project.
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