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Drones used in the construction industry 04/22/2021
This program was designed to get the attendees familiar with the how drones are being used within construction projects. Some of the most important tasks being performed with drones are the following: project planning, permanent record documentation, progress report monitoring, linear calculations, OSHA compliance, stockpile management, volumetric calculations, cut and fill volume measurements, and pre-design inspections.
Dave and Jon Schwalm from Northeast Dronez discussed their experiences with drones used in the construction industry. Northeast Dronez have FAA remote pilot license holders, fully insured, 15 years RC experience, ‘Drone U’ Flight Mastery Certified and ‘Drone U’ Pix4D Mapping Certified. This course was a Zoom meeting format w/ slides and video. Kevin Phillips from Syracuse Chapter of CSI was the moderator. Participants were encouraged to ask questions and participate in the discussion. This was a one hour AIA Cont. Education Program (1 LU credits). The program was free for CSI Syracuse Chapter members, free for SACNY Members, and $20 for non-members. Both the zoom recording and slides were made available below. Michael Kulik, CSI, CDT, CCCA provided a recap of this program by providing his supplimental notes shown below.
Learning Objectives:
1. What are drones? How can they be used in the construction industry? Learn how this new technology called drones can replace or supplement old technology on the construction site. Learn about basic drone technology such as aerial drone photography and videography.
2. Learn about the drone equipment & software that is used in facility, roof, and bridge inspections. Learn about the different cameras that are used such as infrared cameras and 30X zoom cameras.
3. Learn about drone mapping/modeling – Creating 2D maps and 3D models from aerial pictures via a process called photogrammetry. Learn how this can be used in:
- Drone Surveying: ALTA Surveys to Basic Elevations
- Simulation: 3D Remote Reconstruction
- Site Planning & Safety Compliance
- Construction Marketing & Hyper-lapses
- Project Coordination
- Facility Management
4. Learn about drone volumetrics, and cut-fill analysis reports.
Presentation Slides: Restricted to Members Only
CSI Syracuse Chapter Presentation Supplemental Notes:
Prepared By Michael Kuilik
- Michael Kulik CSI, CDT, CCCA is an active member and he is currently serving as Vice-President of the Syracuse Chapter of CSI
Drones have many uses within the construction industry as an unmanned aircraft or flying mini robots. Drones are controlled by a certified FAA Drone Pilot and remote ground control systems. Software and camera equipment technology such as infrared and HD cameras on drones, provide a unique advantage to those who implement this technology.
Photogrammetry software is used to extract 3D information from photographs. With survey benchmarks or reference points on a property, this software takes overlapping photographs of a site or structure in order to convert them in 3D digital models. As far as all surveying information collected by a drone mission, the final design documents must still be performed by a certified surveyor.
Drones can also be used for thermal inspections to identify heat leaks, moisture damage areas, and electrical equipment to identify areas with excessive heat. Drones have been safely used for confined space inspections, building inspections, watershed and flood plain mapping.
Visual inspections performed by a drone:
- Reduce health & safety risks
- Reduce costs associated with access by the use of temporary structures (scaffolding) and equipment (crane with man-baskets, etc.)
- Reduce downtime
- Reduce liability insurance
Future drone applications on construction sites include quick deliveries, workflow efficiency, and resolving safety issues on a greater scale.
MasterFormat No:
Division 01 – General Requirements (Engineering Services, Construction Documentation, Security Services, Construction Aids
Additional Resources: Restricted to Members Only
