Commercial drones are no longer a futuristic vision – they are already becoming a reality across multiple industries including construction, which is set to reap numerous benefits from their integration. The deployment of drones in construction will transform how quickly information is gathered from sites and the days of relying on an inspector or foreman walking around a construction site with a clipboard trying to document every aspect of a construction job are long gone. A recent report from McKinsey highlighted that the deployment of drones and integrated software solutions are set to transform the speed and accuracy of construction projects.
One way this will be realized will be the impact on capturing and tracking the progress of construction projects. This ability to efficiently and consistently capture progress means that drones will play an increasingly important role in solving construction disputes and mitigating the risk of litigation. Construction disputes can be time-consuming and negatively impact the reputations of all involved. In the past, it has taken many people hours to keep track of construction projects, and often documentation has been sparse with missing information and outdated photos.
Currently, the vast majority of projects over $10 million will go into a dispute at some point, making this a matter of when, rather than if, an incident will occur. The fundamental issue with disputes is collecting and reviewing information after the fact. Rather than burdening teams with having to gather more documentation during the course of each construction job, drones can be deployed to partner with construction workers. With man and machine collaborating, construction companies get the benefit of an expert’s eye coupled with a more efficient and reliable way to capture progress.
So how exactly will drones deliver these efficiencies in construction disputes?
Drones are the perfect way to get a camera anywhere on a jobsite with minimal risk, cost or training. The benefits are repeatable photos and video that can be used to generate a timeline of progress. This enables consistent, periodic documentation and creates a clear set of documents that can help provide evidence to quickly resolve disputes. Deploying drones can lead to a reduction in time spent documenting job site progress every week, and full site analysis is now becoming a reality. Instead of 10 random photos, there can be an entire 3D model in high detail of the whole site. This data capture creates a time machine that allows easy access to project documentation and provides updates months after jobs have been completed to resolve disputes, or merely offer examples of prior projects to prospective clients.
Scheduling a drone to do a regular site inspection is easy and inexpensive, and provides data to share with all parties. This data can also help identify problems before they arise, thereby mitigating many of these risks associated with construction disputes.
Drones are set to drive significant change in the construction industry including reducing and quickly resolving the number of disputes. Drones will ultimately become the perfect mediator providing accurate data regarding disputes and documenting the process against legal challenges with minimal associated cost. Drones are no longer seen as a fad but a key partner to the construction industry and they will continue to impact construction operations both today and in the future.
