DRONES

Drones have changed the way we capture information. Before drones became a part of the industry, engineers and surveyors often resorted to placing or attaching cameras and other types of sensors to low flying aircraft or helicopters, and in some cases, on cranes to capture data. The arrival of drones has provided engineers with an innovative and flexible platform which can hold several different types of sensors such as high-resolution cameras, video cameras, laser scanners, thermal cameras and electromagnetic energy (EME) sensors.

The advantages of using drones for data capture

Piloting a civilian drone, with regulatory procedures and declarations of theft, with particularities for flights in built-up areas, in so-called sensitive, prohibited, dangerous or regulated areas in the equivalent European scenarios.


IMPROVING SAFETY



LEGALITY


IMPROVED ACCESSIBILITY


REAL-TIME PROGRESS MONITORING


INVESTING IN TECHNOLOGY

1.  Improving safety – One of the most important advantages of using drones is the removal of people from unsafe and dangerous environments. Instead of requiring people to enter high risk environments, such as towers, cliffs and other tall structures, a drone can be used to inspect and survey these environments remotely in a far safer and lowered risk capacity.

2.  Improved accessibility – The size and weight of drones allow them to access places where you can’t easily fly an aircraft or use a crane. The flight envelope of most aircraft (planes and helicopters) is restricted on how low to the ground you can fly, while drones are generally allowed between 0 to 120 metres above the ground, enabling them to capture information and imagery closer and with higher resolution.

3.  Real-time progress monitoring – Typically, throughout the life of a project, sites will be inspected once or twice during the duration of the project, most commonly due to the logistic requirements of using traditional aircraft. Using drones, project teams can now conduct more frequent data capture and progress monitoring of construction and installations for a greater portion of the project.

4.  Investing in technology – Professional and high-end drones, like any other piece of smart technology, can be expensive, but they are a smart investment for engineering teams. When integrated correctly, these tools enhance progress and inform better design solutions, adding deep value to the project. Mobilising a team to gather aerial imagery and information can now be conducted more safely, accurately and shared more widely.

5.  Legality – Flying drones legally and safely requires operators have the necessary experience, training, licenses, certifications and insurance, just as is the case with the operation of other aircraft.

Drone Flight Training & Data Analysis