A drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can be remotely controlled or fly autonomously using software-controlled flight plans in its embedded systems. Whether flying around a room or capturing unique aerial footage, they offer vast possibilities and applications.
In the past few years, drones have become one of the most compelling construction trends. Construction projects are often huge operations. While building, visual information is the only way to know what’s happening on-site. Project managers for construction companies will tell you that real-time control of the project is one of the most difficult things to maintain. Real-time control requires real-time data. For that reason, drones have become a vital tool used for capturing data.
Here are some of the ways that AEC industry is using drones right now:
- Pre-planning
- Reporting to customers
- Identifying safety concerns
- Tracking progress and identifying potential problems / delays
- Creating 3D and orthomosaic maps, which can be used for all of the above purposes, as well as to measure stockpiles of various materials on the construction site.
The use of drone technology has revolutionized the entire project life cycle, from inception through project closeout. Drone photos, videos and imagery are used to scope out projects, track building progress and provide real-time updates. In fact, using drones for surveying and mapping is only the start when it comes to the range of services drone technology can provide in the construction industry.
Using drone data collection with ArcGIS
Used correctly, drones enable faster, more economical, and higher-resolution surveying without sacrificing on accuracy. A successful construction site drone program can provide your business with accurate, up-to-date information on your site’s progress and productivity, and information you can use to ensure high-quality work and minimize operational risks and costs. But collecting and processing your data is only half the story. The industry needs to draw on detailed software and specialized tools that translates raw data into something readable and actionable.
We at MicroCAD highlight ArcGIS as one of the most powerful mapping and spatial analytics software. ArcGIS software and apps combine mapping and data analytics to deliver location intelligence and meet digital transformation needs for AEC industry. ArcGIS software offers unique capabilities for applying location-based analytics to building practices.
Plan drone flights.
With ArcGis you can increase efficiency by creating and sharing advanced 3D flight plans with your pilots. Overlay 2D and 3D data from ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise for enhanced flight safety and data quality.
3D GIS
Location is at the heart of field activities. 3D GIS brings real-world context to your maps and data. With ArcGis you can instantly transform your data into smart 3D models and visualizations that help you analyze, solve problems and share ideas and concepts with your team and customer.
Mapping
Maps help you spot spatial patterns in your data so you can make better decisions and take action. ArcGIS gives you the ability to create, use, and share maps on any device.
Drone analytics
You can perform drone analytics by measuring distances, surface areas, and volumetrics; conducting temporal analysis; generating cut/fill maps; and measuring change over time. It allows you to maintain quality control by comparing your drone data to design overlays—including those in your Autodesk cloud environment or compare it to drone data captured earlier in the project.
Process in the cloud
Unlimited amounts of drone flight data are processed into 2D and 3D outputs through a scalable cloud environment. High accuracy is ensured through automatic ground control point detection. ArcGis allows you to visualize and analyze results directly in a web browser.
Data Management
You can easily collect, crowdsource, store, access, and share your data efficiently and securely. You can integrate data stored in your business systems and geo-enable any data from any source.
In a nutshell, ArcGIS products are specifically tailored for drone projects. The pre-packaged configuration includes ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Drone2Map, and Site Scan for ArcGIS which offers capabilities to collect, process, analyze, manage, and share intelligence for informed business decisions. Thus, AEC professionals can achieve greater operational efficiencies to meet project requirements, collect and analyze drone data for authoritative intelligence, and improve communication with stakeholders.
