Drones are becoming more commonplace in the construction industry because they cut down on labor costs, make a job site safer, and allow project managers to do more to make a project more productive. With the use of the right technology, your construction company can have just about any worker safely and properly operate a drone.
Before you get into using drones for the first time, it is important to understand some basic tips for safe and effective drone operation. The kind of drones used in construction are larger than toy drones, and it is important that a construction company know exactly how to operate a drone to prevent damaging the drone or causing an accident on the work site.
Drones are becoming more commonplace in the construction industry.
Consider Navigational Software
There is navigational software available for construction drones that can be programmed to take a drone on the same path each and every day. A drone expert would program the drone for the work site, and then a responsible worker can launch the drone each day and let the drone do its rounds.
Investing in this type of software means you will always get the information you need, and you won’t have to hire a drone expert for every job site. Some of these programs come in the form of easy to use smartphone apps that can be quickly downloaded to a supervisor’s phone for use with any drone in your fleet.
Use Drones For Site Safety
One of the primary uses for drones is to give clients accurate images of a work in progress to help clients feel that the company has the project under control. But drones can also be used to keep a job site safer, and prevent accidents before they even happen. By having a drone do regular passes over your job site, you can see areas that are unsafe and alert field personnel to the dangers before anyone gets hurt.
Drones can also be used to keep an eye on the perimeter of the work site to prevent any unauthorized personnel from getting into the site, and stopping any employees from leaving the site when they are supposed to be working. Drones can also see elevated hazards as they are developing and alert field project managers to the issues so they can be safely dealt with.
Don’t Forget To Register Your Drones
The Federal Aviation Administration has made it mandatory for all commercial drones to be registered before they can be used. The registration process also includes information on where a drone can and cannot fly while it is being used on your project.
The FAA gives out fines to companies that do not register their drones, and there could be stiffer penalties if you operate your drones outside of the legal guidelines set by the FAA. It is important to understand your obligation for registering your drone, and to understand the laws that dictate how you can safely use your drone on a work site.
Insurance Is Important
Your commercial drones do not necessarily fall under the same liability insurance you have for the other equipment on your job site. Before you start using drones, you should spend some time with your insurance agent to make sure that you have the proper insurance on your drones.
Drones are not only a danger to the employees on your job site, but they pose a risk to pedestrians and aircraft flying near your job site. It is important to take every possible scenario into consideration and get the proper amount of insurance before you launch your drones for the first time.
Have A Plan
You will get a much greater return on your drone if you have specific ways in which you want to use it. Instead of flying a drone around to aimlessly view the progress on a job site, you should set up specific tasks such as monitoring incoming deliveries, checking the structural integrity of each portion of the project, and enhancing security by monitoring places the security cameras cannot see.
The strategic use of drones can allow you to create 3D models of the project to send to clients, count materials as they are unloaded from the trucks, and find safety issues before they become problems. Before you send your drones airborne, have a structured plan on how you will use each drone to get the results you need to maximize profits on your project.
Never Take Drone Safety For Granted
It can be easy to have in-house and field drone experts looking after your drone programs and state-of-the-art software that allows your field personnel to operate your drones, but it is important to keep track of drone safety on a regular basis. Regular drone maintenance will help to identify any issues that could affect a safe flight, and updating your drone software will make sure that you can take advantage of the latest features.
Prior to utilizing drones on a job site, it is important to do a full survey of the site and make sure that you plan drone usage properly. Create flight paths that stay away from airports and power lines, and have emergency plans in place in case something were to cause a drone to malfunction during flight.
The more planning you put into your drone activity, the more value you will get out of it.
Understand That Drones Are Expensive
Reliable commercial drones are expensive and delicate pieces of equipment that require the proper care and professional operation. If you intend to get involved in the use of drones, you should also be prepared to invest the kind of money required to buy good drones that have the latest safety features and can deliver the results you are looking for.
The construction world is evolving rapidly as new technology is becoming a way of life. For decades, the construction industry avoided adopting new technology and stayed faithful to the old ways of doing business. But times are changing and PDH Contractors can help you to stay up to date with the latest technology and learn how drones can help your business. Start a course with PDH Contractors today and stay informed on the latest developments, while maintaining all of your necessary certifications and licenses.