TL:DRDrones are cost-effective tools for monitoring job sites before, during, and after construction. They provide precision mapping, faster data collection, smarter decision-making, visual documentation and enhance worker safety. State DOTs are utilizing drones for various applications, saving time and costs.Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, are more commonplace tools on the job site as they are growing more sophisticated in technology and application.
UAVs have proven to be a critical tool over the past couple of years in assessing site conditions before and during construction. After the project is completed, these devices are valued for monitoring pavement and structural conditions. Savings, safety, mobility and reliability are incentives for their growing use.An analysis of available information was undertaken to identify drone applications, classify benefits, address challenges and suggest potential solutions.
The authors sought to understand the current body of knowledge
covering the usage of drones for roadway condition monitoring (D-RCM).[….]
According to an ASCE abstract, the trio explored the implications for new theories, management and impacts to society that arise from D-RCM.
Cost and time savings, safety enhancements, improved mobility and reliability are the primary drivers behind D-RCM adoption, said ASCE.
Applications categories included condition monitoring, situation assessment, network mapping, asset monitoring and construction inspection. Challenges, such as visual line-of-sight maintenance, limited flight time, payload capacity and engineering errors were found.
Emerging potential solutions included terrain-following features, optimizing battery capacity-weight balance and employing trained personnel.
"Importantly, the study reveals considerable cost benefits and impressive return on investment of up to 980 percent," said the abstract.[….]
"Real-time insights from UAVs not only enhance productivity but also improve safety and reduce project costs," he said, offering a top five benefits list
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Precision Mapping and High-Resolution Data
Drones are transforming how engineers assess terrain before road construction even begins, said Allred. -
Smarter, Faster Decision-Making Drones provide real-time aerial insights that significantly enhance on-the-ground decision-making
By hovering above a construction site, UAVs can monitor supply levels, track equipment status and identify inefficiencies.The devices offer project managers the information to reallocate materials, report damages and adjust schedules before small issues escalate into costly delays. -
Faster Data Collection One of the main benefits of using drone technology in road construction in general is speed.
To send an engineer on foot to collect the same data with a handheld camera can be an incredibly slow process,Allred said. -
Visual Documentation UAVs also provide better visual documentation of each layer of the road as it is laid.
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Enhanced Worker and Site Safety "Drones play a crucial role in improving worker safety and site security," he said. By capturing aerial data, UAVs eliminate the need for personnel to inspect hazardous areas, reducing the chance of accidents.
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That turnaround time includes defining a flight plan, flying and post processing the data.
A standard bridge inspection uses costly inspection vehicles, ranging from $250,000 to $500,000 and requires a multi-day effort.
Minnesota DOT has calculated a 40 percent cost savings using drones, said Grazioso."The average cost to inspect a bridge using traditional methods was $40,800. A comparable sUAS assisted inspection costs a mere $19,900."[…]
Once a lengthy and dangerous process, bridge inspections are
done in one-eighth the amount of time with drones compared with humans or bucket trucks.My Thoughts 💭
This is a no brainer post. Using drones during construction is a no brainer. This article does a really good job highlighting the benefits of using a drone on a construction site. Then you can take this data put into a GIS database and really put your job site analysis on steroids!