Drones are the wave of the future for the construction industry, and that wave is coming in fast. It was not that long ago that drones were considered a novelty from which only a few larger construction companies could benefit. Today, drones are used on almost every construction project regardless of the size and many companies are wrestling with the notion of buying their own drones.
Drones are becoming indispensable as construction equipment.
Drone Sizes
In simplest terms, drones come in small, medium, and large sizes. The most noticeable difference between each level is the size and picture quality of the cameras. The more expensive packages also come with customized software that can perform a wide variety of important and cost-saving tasks.
What Can A Company Do With Drones?
Drone technology allows a construction company to render a completely accurate 3D print of a job site, which makes initial surveying and job planning easier. Drones can also be used to monitor worker health, create 3D progress models for clients, keep an eye on project safety issues, and help maintain job site safety.
Buy Or Rent?
The big question that companies are asking themselves is whether they should buy a drone or use a drone service. Operating a drone division within a construction company requires the purchase of one or more drones (costing anywhere from $1,200 to $100,000 each) and having licensed pilots on staff. Drones also require software updates and it is probably a good idea to have a drone software expert on staff as well.
Since drones have become such a part of the construction industry, it is tempting to say that every construction company of every size should at least own one drone. But the truth is that a standard drone service to survey a small construction project costs around $200.00. Small companies, even if they use drones for every project, could probably benefit from using a service. But with drone costs dropping while functionality is increasing, it is a smart investment for a medium to large sized construction company to invest in a drone department.
Your growing construction company should consider investing in its own drone department.
Finding The Perfect Drone
When you are ready to buy a drone for your construction company, there are several buying points to consider before making your purchase.
Weather
It is important to have the right drone for certain weather conditions. Drones that will be working in areas that experience wind, rain, and snow throughout the year will need a higher quality camera and need to be rated to work in those types of conditions. It is important to understand that a drone is not a one-size-fits-all piece of equipment.
Purpose
Are you looking for theater quality images or are standard images going to work for you? A drone’s camera image quality should not be enhanced by software. If you want crisp high-definition images, then you should buy a drone with the highest quality camera.
Portability
If you will be placing your drones at job sites and keeping them there for long periods of time, then portability is not a significant concern. But if you plan on moving your drones around a lot, then it is important to get drones that are designed to fold up and be moved around often. There are many different types of drones out there and not all of them are easily portable.
Software
The two most important features of your drone are camera quality and software. Both features must match your needs perfectly, and software can come in many different types. You can also contact a drone manufacturing company to get customized software to meet your needs.
Investing in a drone department for your construction company could save you a lot of money over time. You can learn more about drones or start a course to renew your contractor’s license by visiting PDH Contractors. You can also use the instructional services from PDH Contractors if you are planning on expanding your construction business into new geographic areas, or if you are planning on adding new services. Browse our courses by state and find the right classes for you!