When you think about drone mapping, what usually comes to mind? A lot of construction professionals we've talked to initially focus on the drone itself. And sure, the drone is crucial, but drone mapping involves more than just the hardware. That's why we sat down with Dan Veres, our very own drone mapping expert here at Identified. Dan has deep insights into what drone mapping can offer and its advantages for the construction industry.
Here's what you'll learn:
Below, Dan discusses several aspects of how drones impact job sites in ways that many construction and earthwork companies may not have considered yet.
Keep reading to discover what Dan has to say about workforce management, data accuracy, safety, and more!
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**Q: Finding skilled workers is tough. How does drone mapping affect the number of projects a company can handle without increasing staffing levels?**
A: The labor shortage in construction is becoming a serious issue. Many businesses are asking themselves, "How can I grow my business with my current team?"
It doesn't take long for them to realize that drones are the answer. For companies that handle their own surveying and mapping, drones enable maximum productivity. Traditional methods often limit crews based on how much ground they can cover on foot in a single day.
Maximizing the output of in-house survey teams is one of the key benefits of using drones in construction. If you have 10-15 job sites, it usually takes one or two weeks—or even longer—to map each location manually. With drone mapping, you could map all those sites in a single day with your existing team.
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**Q: Is it worth taking drone maps before submitting bids? What's the purpose here?**
A: For nearly every project, it's worth conducting a drone flight either before bidding or afterward to verify quantities.
The goal is to understand exactly how much earth needs to be moved to confirm whether your bid was accurate. It's not about sending surveyors to walk the entire site or measure points every 20-25 feet.
Instead, the drone captures points every few inches if needed. We've seen immense value in this approach for construction firms already using drones.
By gathering precise insights from drone data and comparing it to your final grade model or initial surface, you gain clarity about the project's status. This helps ensure that your bid aligns with reality.
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**Q: What common challenges do construction companies face during various stages of a project when using drones?**
A: Capturing high-quality drone data early in a project helps immensely with planning.
How often do we start a project only to realize halfway through that we need additional manpower? Usually, we recognize this need after the fact, and by then, the damage is done.
That’s not the case with drone mapping solutions. By flying the drone at the very beginning and creating an accurate map of the earth that needs moving, you can better plan the project and set realistic timelines. Ideally, there won’t be surprises later requiring extra resources, but if there are, you’ll be prepared.
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**Q: How does drone mapping influence cash flow?**
A: The aim is always to collect payments as quickly as possible while billing accurately for the work completed. Drone mapping immediately benefits construction companies by eliminating guesswork around earthwork quantities.
All you need to do is have the drone capture data on Friday (or Saturday), send it to the billing team over the weekend, and they’ll know the exact amounts moved during the week, month, or day.
With a drone mapping solution, there’s no risk of overbilling or underbilling, which could cause issues months down the line. Now, you can confidently inform clients of the completed work and the amount due for each billing cycle. This improves both project progress and cash flow management.
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**Q: What factors significantly impact drone mapping accuracy?**
A: Every job site has some elevation or obstacles. When it comes to flight planning, the placement of ground control points matters far more than their quantity.
If you're unsure or new to this, your customer success representative from the drone mapping provider can help determine the optimal placement for the most accurate results.
Ultimately, your final results depend on the quality of the data collected. Proper flight setup is just as critical as post-processing and analytics.
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**Q: How does wind affect accuracy? What weather conditions should be considered?**
A: My general advice is, if you'd send a person out in it, you can likely send a drone out as well.
Flying on a perfect 70-degree day is easy, but what about -13 degrees? Or -20 degrees with 30 mph winds? These are the real tests.
My first drone flight was in Wisconsin in mid-December, and conditions weren’t ideal. We had to adapt to ensure a safe flight. In less-than-ideal conditions, my best tip is to create smaller flight plans when temperatures are between 20-30 degrees. Battery life won’t last as long in cold conditions, so bring battery heaters and keep them warm until it’s time to fly. Most drone mapping providers can supply heaters upon request.
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**Q: How do the needs of executive leadership differ from those of operational specialists when discussing drone mapping?**
A: Every executive likely has different use cases in mind, but it’s vital for them to understand the speed, safety, and cost savings that drone mapping brings compared to older methods.
Construction is a field where embracing innovation and staying ahead with technology is crucial for survival. If you’re not adopting these technologies, your competitors are.
For operational specialists, a significant benefit I highlight is improving safety culture. Many have suffered injuries attempting to climb piles. Drone mapping pays for itself by preventing such scenarios and keeping everyone safe.
If it prevents even one accident or injury, the technology has more than paid for itself. No one wants to see the number of days since the last injury reset on the chalkboard.
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