How Drone Technology is Driving Innovation in Construction.(5 min read)

At iTalent we advise, follow and recruit for the construction industry here within the Middle East, not only in Dubai and Abu Dhabi but in Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. So if you are looking for exceptional talent to join your construction form, please reach out to us at the end of this article and we will be happy to help.

Drone technology has evolved exponentially in recent years and has been acquired by many industries within the Middle East. These tiny, unmanned aerial vehicles are now reaching places on large scale construction sites too dangerous or difficult for human construction workers to access, gathering data and even delivering materials.

Where construction teams are working on mega-scale sites, drones are there improving surveillance, site monitoring, quality, safety, and a lot more. Drones in construction environments are already changing the way we report data and make critical business decisions.

Where drone usage really makes an impact in Construction

• Marketing: For marketing teams, drones used in construction provide an invaluable tool. They can capture video from a unique viewpoint; nothing quite beats the sweeping vista seen from the air and the level of detail achieved by drone footage. Site images and construction progression can be captured and feedback to clients.

• Site surveys: Site surveys are critical for monitoring the progression and quality of construction projects. Walking the site to take laser measurements produces accurate results but it is time-consuming, and it can be difficult to reach certain areas during some construction phases. On busy sites, additional personnel can increase safety risks, especially if they are accessing scaffolding and areas where heavy equipment is in use. Users can operate drone technology remotely, automatically recording data and images while flying under roofs and accessing hard-to-reach areas.

• Virtual reality tracking: Middle Eastconstruction projects are complex and include multiple stakeholders, many of which sit outside of construction in connected industries. Architects, designers, facilities management, investors and building owners need to understand the real-time progression of the construction project but this isn’t easy. Often these stakeholders will work from offices many miles from the site, perhaps even in another country. Regular site visits simply aren’t feasible for busy professionals in congested construction areas.  Virtual walk-throughs provide the next best thing to being on-site. Stakeholders can receive pre-recorded footage and view the project’s progression. Alternatively, footage can be broadcast in real-time for immediate discussion and action. With the latest development in virtual reality technology, stakeholders can now enjoy a real-time, 3D tour of the site, providing an additional depth of understanding of the building progression.

• Safety checks: Construction businesses in the Middle East are starting to use drones to complete safety checks remotely. Viewed from the air, you can spot safety issues and take remedial action quickly. You can also see and record security issues or vandalism in real-time. Unlike static cameras, drones can be manipulated to survey a site from all angles and move within building to gather additional data.

With the emergence of advanced artificial intelligence (AI), data can be collected and used to create alerts to prompt immediate action. In time, drones may be able to sense gas leaks, spot breaches of health and safety rules or detect damage, through optical and infrared cameras or air quality sensors.

• Construction inspections: Drones can be used to carry out maintenance inspections remotely. They can cover large areas in a short space of time, capturing images in several locations and automatically recording data. This is particularly relevant for areas that might be unsafe for human workers to enter, perhaps at the source of a health and safety incident or in areas that are not easily accessible, such as roof spaces. Additionally, users can view high-quality images in real-time and capture them for documentation. They can then allocate the repair to a maintenance engineer. Advanced thermal imaging cameras are becoming more commonplace on drones used in construction. Cold or heat spots in the building can indicate issues with insulation or abnormal activity on the site. Used with optical images and other sensor layers, a complete site picture can be built.

Using drones in construction settings carries many benefits in terms of surveying a construction site and reporting on the site status. However, this information isn’t valuable unless it drives action.

We hope you enjoyed this article and we are currently looking for drone operators with a construction background. If you have experience please get in-touch with us.

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