DroneDeploy: Construction firms can hail drones to monitor project progress from the sky

A San Francisco-based drone network developer has launched a new solution for construction companies which allows them to hire drones to take aerial photos and 3D maps of project sites.

DroneDeploy, home to the largest drone data network in the world, launched its construction solution, part of which is called Progress Photos, to meet the industry’s growing demand for aerial site intelligence.

Mike Winn, CEO of DroneDeploy, commented: “Regular site progress reports offer context and add new dimensions to construction projects. However, it’s difficult to create consistent site imagery over the course of a project.

“Progress Photos solves this by creating a visual timeline of a project from start to finish. In doing so, it saves costs, keeps stakeholders informed, and addresses safety risks."

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Thanks to a partnership with Uplift Data Partners, a drone pilot provider, construction firms can schedule drone flights on demand over their construction sites.   

Suzanne El-Moursi, President of Uplift Data Partners, added: “Uplift Data Partners is a turn-key solution for construction companies to adopt drone data into their business operations. Customers simply tell us where they want us to fly; we fly and they get engineering grade data.”

Many leading industry voices have forecast the increasing influence of drones in construction. For example, PwC says drone technology will reshape entire business models thanks to the way it can gather data and provide crucial insight on projects, especially within building information modelling.

Balfour Beatty is another company which on record has said that drones will play a key part in the digital transformation of the sector.

According to ProDroneWorx, 70% of construction firms, surveyors, architects and engineers plan to use drones in the near future.