Only a few years ago, drones were all the rage for their novelty. Given as gifts throughout the country, people took cool pictures or video or just flew around. But now in 2018, they’re more than toys or even flashy new work site tools. They have become profit generators in the heavy civil and resources industries.

Fast, accurate surveys

Drones enable fast and affordable surveying without sacrificing accuracy. They’re unmanned and easy to fly, which means getting an eye on dangerous or hard-to-reach places is simple and doesn’t endanger personnel. Using browser-based photogrammetry software, their high-quality imagery produces measurable 3D site surveys. 

This new wave of innovation has raised the bar on workflows for construction, mining, aggregates and waste management. When it comes to excavation and earthworks, too often initial topos are outdated and inaccurate. In those cases, a quick flyover can expose large discrepancies between the ground topography and the initial information you got for a job, allowing you to submit a change order before site work begins.

Monitor work progress

Drone technology and visualization software not only allow you to identify mistakes before they become expensive, but also monitor contractor work. Because surveys now take hours instead of days, you can fly as often as you want. Multiple site surveys over time produce a visual timeline showing changes on site. Coupling that with reliable volumetrics, you don’t have to worry about subcontractors charging for incomplete work.

Propeller Aero’s founders combined their experience in hands-on drone operations and enterprise information technology to launch the company in 2014. To learn how your next earthwork project could benefit from drone data analytics, visit www.propelleraero.com/digdifferent.