The Use of Drones for Commercial Construction

Aerial drones are in use across the world for a variety of reasons. People play with them for amusement, and many nations employ them for military purposes. In the commercial sector, companies realized that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have numerous practical applications for Houston office building construction. Currently, drones have not been pushed to their limits, but that will change as visionaries devise new ways to make drones work for them. UAVs are on the job presently for the following tasks and more.

1. Surveying land
2. Monitoring work progress
3. Creating marketing materials
4. Measuring stockpiles
5. Performing safety inspections
6. Sampling the air and ground
7. Providing real-time aerial mapping or modeling

Practical Uses for UAVs

Drones already have a tremendous impact on the day-to-day operation of Houston commercial construction projects. They save time and money by performing tasks that are dangerous and require miles of legwork. Eyes in the sky offer numerous advantages whether you are beginning or completing a project. Here is a short list of the benefits of putting a drone to work on a job site.

  • Since drones are unmanned, they eliminate the need to put workers at risk when visual access to hard-to-reach places is required.
  • Investors see the progress of a project in the comfort of their office instead of slogging through a muddy building site.
  • Drones were made for aerial photography. They outperform helicopters because they take detailed photos by getting very close to a building to highlight areas of concern to the project.
  • Using UAVs reduces the need for excessive surveying. Drones provide three-dimensional models faster and cheaper.
  • Arguments over a job’s progress will be rare because a drone delivers real-time updates via photos or live video. In these instances, a picture really is worth a thousand words.
  • Your Houston design build project can gain extra exposure if you post videos of the endeavor on social media. A multimedia presentation catches more eyes and excites the imagination. The videos of your company’s works in progress will actually double as effective marketing clips.

Considerations When Using UAVs

Because drones have only recently burst onto the scene, they are strictly regulated. Consider these factors before you decide to use drones on a project.

  • You must get an FAA waiver to fly a drone. Flying without the FAA’s permission will earn you a fine and possible legal fees.
  • Nobody is allowed to fly a drone near an airport.
  • Your drone must remain in your sight range. You cannot use binoculars to watch it.
  • You must obtain permission from everybody who will be viewed in the photos or videos taken by the UAV.
  • Drones must weigh less than 55 pounds, including cameras and other hardware.
  • Check to be certain that your insurance covers drone crashes due to equipment failure or electronic malfunctions. You may have to get a separate policy to cover your use of UAVs.
  • You must register your drone with the FAA. Those who operate it must be certified every two years. All of your employees should be properly trained to fly your drones.

While the FAA has plenty of guidelines covering drone use, your team should draw up a safety list to get the most from your UAVs. You must keep accurate records of your drone flight plans as well.

Your company can reap huge benefits by using drones. Because they are so new to the construction industry, you need to consult with your attorney and your insurance agent. They can help you evaluate technical, regulatory, business and legal issues so that you lower your risks while enjoying all the advantages of putting drones to work for you.

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