Drones are quickly becoming the go-to tool for construction photo documentation, and for good reason. Drone photo documentation is fast, reliable, cost-efficient, and always improving.
In this article, we’ll go over why photo documentation is important in construction, the top reasons for adopting drones, and some factors to consider before implementing drones on a construction site.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Why Is Construction Photo Documentation Important?
Documenting construction progress via photographs is a best practice for every jobsite. Here is a list of common benefits that engineering, architecture, and general contractors are realizing when effectively documenting their ongoing projects using photographs:
- Ensure work is up to code. Every construction project needs to follow local building codes. Having photo documentation provides visual evidence that can speed up the inspection process when regulators come. This way, you can closeout the project sooner.
- Update timelines and schedules. Since construction projects have a lot of moving parts, it’s essential to coordinate timelines and schedules across different contractors. And the best way to do this is through photo updates. Frequent photo documentation helps you detect changes and communicate schedule adjustments as you go.
- Avoid disputes and litigation. In 2021, the cost of construction disputes in North America was $30.1 million, and the top cause was poorly drafted or incomplete and unsubstantiated claims. To avoid costly disputes, you want photo evidence on your side. Timestamped and geotagged photos can show who worked on what and when. So take photos before, after, and during the project. It may protect you in a lawsuit and save a lot of money and time from delays.
- Reduce mistakes and rework. Photo documentation increases visibility throughout construction. This makes it easier to catch mistakes and address them before they turn into bigger issues that require costly change orders or rework. A clear visual record helps you make informed decisions and ultimately deliver quality work that meets your client’s expectations.
- Fulfill contract obligations. Photo documentation is commonly required in contracts because it provides proof of completed work. It’s much easier to show that a job is complete with photos than with words, and it makes for a lot less paperwork. Other documents that benefit from photo documentation include invoices, inspection checklists, punch lists, inspector reports, memos, and more.
The Best Method for Documenting Construction Sites: Drones
If you need to get a bird’s eye view of a construction site, drones are the solution. Sure, you can get aerial imagery with helicopters, planes, and even satellites. But drones offer many unique advantages that you simply don’t get anywhere else:
- Capture photos faster. Drones can deploy and fly quickly. With a few fully charged batteries, a responsible pilot at the controls, and good weather, you can launch a drone within a matter of minutes. They can then fly over the entire construction site in a short period of time, rapidly capturing photos along the way.
- Access unique perspectives. Due to their small size, drones are more maneuverable. This means they are better able to reach inaccessible areas, provide unique perspectives, and do it all while transmitting video in real time or uploading it to the cloud for later reference. Construction project managers have never had so much visual data available at their fingertips.
- Build superior jobsite archives. Drones let you keep detailed records of all construction phases, site conditions, and completed work. Build a jobsite archive in the cloud. Then use it for review, educational purposes, and as a reference for similar projects in the future. That way, you can learn from your past mistakes (and successes) and mitigate risks. For example, you may face financial, legal, or safety threats that can be avoided through proper photo documentation.
- Program routine missions. Have the drone fly itself by programming detailed flight routes. That way, you can capture the exact same angles and perspectives as previous flights for a side-by-side comparison. This helps you detect any changes throughout the site.
- Scale your business. Drone photography offers higher resolution images and is much more affordable than helicopter, plane, or satellite photography. This (and the fact that you can easily repurpose drone photos for your website, social media, and other marketing channels) makes drones the best choice for photo documentation at scale. Use one drone service for all your construction projects to get the most bang for your buck.
“The drone is an extremely cost efficient way for us to capture these photographs, whereas traditionally, we would have needed to get a professional photographer in a helicopter.”
- Jeffrey Hadley, Engineer at Robbins|Reed
Without a doubt, drones are the future of construction photo documentation. No other method offers as much value in such a small package.
Construction Jobsite Photo Documentation: Factors to Consider
That said, there are many factors you must consider before implementing drones on a construction site. Here are some questions to ask yourself before you launch one:
Who will take the photos?
Before you do anything else, determine who will take the drone photos. The project manager? The superintendent? Various subcontractors?
Construction photo documentation can often become a mess if objectives and roles are not clearly defined. This is why it’s best to hire a reputable drone service provider. They have the proper training, licensing, and protocols to get the job done in an efficient manner so there is minimal confusion.
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.
What should be photographed?
Drone photos of a construction project should include the following:
- Aerial photos—shots of the construction site from above
- In progress photos—shots captured while construction is in progress
- Exterior photos—shots from the outside of the building
- Interior photos—shots from the inside of the building (if applicable)
- Detail photos—shots focused on the smaller details of the building, inside and outside
- Interactive photos—shots with workers onsite during construction
For a regular photographer, some areas may be risky or even impossible to reach. This is where drones are especially useful. Their small size and maneuverability make it easy for them to capture shots you wouldn’t get otherwise.
How often should photos be taken?
Photos should be taken during all phases of construction: preconstruction, construction, and final completion (from vantage points determined by the architect).
During preconstruction, take photos before excavation, demolition, and the start of the actual construction. You may also want to get additional photos of any settlement or cracking of adjacent structures, pavements, or improvements.
During construction, take regular photos that show changes over time. The frequency of photos will vary based on how quickly a project is progressing. A common practice is aligning photoshoots with the building schedule.
Once the project is complete, take photos of the finished product. The architect may also have specific shots they want you to capture.
How will the photos be organized and stored?
Images are commonly taken in JPG or RAW format. And with so many captured photos, having enough available space on SD cards and hard drives is often overlooked. So you’ll need to have a good plan for effectively storing all the data before takeoff.
It’s also best to name each photo after the date and time they were taken followed by a sequential numbering suffix.
We recommend that each photo includes the following metadata:
- Name of project
- Name and contact information of drone photographer
- Name of architect
- Name of contractor
- Date and time photo was taken
- Description of location, vantage point, and direction
- Unique sequential identifier keyed to accompanying key plan
Eventually, you may want to upload the unedited files directly to a drone software like DroneDeploy or Propeller so they can be processed.
Who will have access to view the photos?
If the project is confidential, you’ll want to control who has access to the drone photos. First, determine which individuals involved in the project will need consistent access (e.g. specific contractors, managers, clients, and other stakeholders) and then share the photos with them online via a restricted access link, password-protected file, or physical thumb drive.
Implementing Drone Flights for Construction Photo Documentation
Ultimately, having a good photo documentation process is key to making a construction project run smoothly from start to finish. And these days, there’s no better way to get quality construction photos than with drones.
If you’re interested in implementing drone flights on your next construction project, you’ve come to the right place. The Drone Life has helped document numerous construction projects to help companies stay on schedule, avoid disputes, and increase profit margins. We’d love to help you on your next project as well. Schedule a free consultation with one of our drone experts today.
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.
