MONITORING SITE PROGRESS
TECHNOLOGY
40
Research conducted by Dodge Data & Analytics and McKinsey & Company recently identified keeping a project on schedule and cost control as the two most highly valued performance metrics for owners in construction . However , the same data reveals 53 % of typical construction projects are completed behind schedule and 66 % are completed over budget .
With dismal numbers like that , it ' s no surprise to see drones becoming a day-today tool on construction sites of all sizes . Before drones , documenting site progress was a challenge , requiring paper-based tracking , or by manned aircraft photography – both inaccurate and expensive . This made it difficult for construction companies to detect issues early , communicate them to stakeholders and implement necessary adjustments to keep on schedule .
While drones are new to construction , they have come a long way in a short time . Just four years ago , companies had to dish out thousands of dollars and endure a multi-month process to get a surveyor the authorisation to fly a drone . Today , certifying a surveyor simply requires passing a 20-minute written test , which can be completed at any of the approx . 200 test centres around the United States . In the same timeframe , the price of drones have
Mike Winn , CEO and co-founder of DroneDeploy
decreased by nearly 90 % making them a cost-effective solutions . Today ’ s average drone used on the job site costs around $ 1,500 .
By easily documenting the progress of a project , producing dynamic visuals , and streamlining communication and collaboration , drones are able to improve the overall efficiency of construction projects .
MONITORING SITE PROGRESS
Daily site documentation allows managers to determine if contractors are hitting their targets and , if they aren ' t , to make whatever modifications are needed to get
SEPTEMBER 2018