When Paul Hedgepath walks a construction site, he doesn’t just see steel beams, scaffolding and concrete. He sees the invisible data streams that help keep multimillion-dollar projects on schedule and under budget—much of it captured by drones buzzing silently overhead.
“Drones are on every jobsite we have,” says Hedgepath, director of innovation at MJ Harris Construction. “We use them for progress tracking, reporting to owners, safety and photogrammetry. They’ve become a daily part of how we build.”
That reliance, however, could soon face its biggest test yet. Nearly 90% of drones used in the U.S. construction industry are made by DJI, a Chinese company that dominates the global market. Policymakers in Washington, citing security concerns and data privacy issues, are weighing bans and restrictions on Chinese-made drones across federal projects—with ripple effects likely for private-sector contractors too.
“The biggest problem in construction technology that nobody’s talking about is drones,” says Matt Abeles, vice president of construction technology and innovation for Associated Builders and Contractors. “If DJI drones were banned tomorrow, nine out of 10 drone users in our industry would not have a solution.”
For an industry already battling labor shortages, supply-chain delays and tight margins, grounding DJI drones could be a shock with profound cost and productivity implications.
LEARNING TO FLY
It wasn’t long ago that drones were considered a novelty in construction. Early adopters used them mainly for dramatic aerial shots of projects, useful for marketing brochures or project showcases. But in less than a decade, drones have become workhorses of the jobsite.
Contractors now deploy drones to:
- Map and model sites: Thousands of images stitched into orthomosaics and 3D photogrammetry allow contractors to measure, plan and track with centimeter-level accuracy.
- Monitor safety: Drones fly where people can’t, reducing risks for crews and spotting hazards before accidents happen.
- Track progress: Owners and architects off-site can view near-real-time visual updates.
- Improve productivity: Drone data feeds directly into BIM models, helping teams detect clashes, avoid costly rework and keep projects on schedule.
“Drone technology helps us prevent costs by keeping better tabs on our projects,” Hedgepath explains. “It’s about catching problems early—before they become change orders or delays.”
Even insurers have taken notice. Matt Daly, chief marketing officer of DroneDeploy, notes that accurate drone data can lower premiums by giving insurers confidence in site safety and risk management. “We’ve seen survey costs reduced by 60% and millions saved per project by quantifying earthworks with drones,” Daly says.
WHY DJI RULES THE SKIES
The ubiquity of DJI drones is no accident. Founded in Shenzhen in 2006, DJI has benefited from years of heavy state support in China, allowing it to scale production and beat competitors on price across the board.
“DJI has a monopoly,” Abeles says. “They can produce drones at a fraction of the cost, and the technology is far superior. Competitors have tried—3D Robotics, Airware, even Skydio—but most have failed to make traction because it’s impossible to compete on cost and quality at the same time.”
For contractors, the economics are stark. One of DJI’s most popular drone models, used for construction mapping, costs around $3,000. Comparable American-made drones can cost two to five times more, often retailing for more than $12,000.
“It’s just not in the budget to replace our fleet with $12,000 drones,” Hedgepath says. “And if you’re talking about drones-as-a-service, you’re paying $600–$700 a flight. Multiply that over a year, and it becomes a serious burden.”
Joshua Leonard, senior manager of legislative affairs for ABC, puts it more bluntly: “China has essentially subsidized DJI drones. That’s why U.S. companies can’t compete. Unless we invest heavily here at home, construction firms will always be stuck paying a premium.”
WASHINGTON’S TIGHTROPE
The push to restrict DJI drones isn’t coming from construction—it’s coming from Washington. National security officials have raised alarms that DJI drones, much like TikTok, could funnel sensitive data back to China. The Department of Defense already prohibits DJI drones on military projects.
This summer, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to accelerate domestic drone manufacturing and direct agencies to identify foreign-made drones that pose supply-chain risks. The move signals an intent to phase out Chinese drones, though the timeline remains murky.
“It’s not a matter of if, but when,” Abeles says. “We’re already seeing the snowball effect. The executive orders, the hearings on the Hill—everything points toward Chinese drones heading out.”
Leonard expects a gradual rollout. “I don’t think it will be one day they’re here and the next day they’re gone. It will be phased—federal first, then critical infrastructure and eventually private-sector pressure,” he says.
That uncertainty is perhaps most destabilizing for contractors, who depend on years-long project planning.
COUNTING THE COST
What would it mean if DJI drones disappeared tomorrow?
First, costs would rise—dramatically. Contractors estimate a 200%–500% increase in drone hardware costs if forced to switch to U.S.-made alternatives. For mid-sized firms with drones on every project, that could mean millions in unplanned capital expenses.
Second, productivity would fall. DroneDeploy’s Daly warns that eliminating drones could erase hard-won efficiency gains in surveying, modeling and progress tracking. “You’re basically shutting down aerial robotics,” Daly said. “We’re at a point where drones are helping bridge the labor gap. Take that away, and projects become slower, less safe and more expensive.”
Third, risk would increase. Without drones, contractors lose one of their best tools for documentation. “Every day a project is late costs money,” Daly says. “Drones help keep jobs on schedule and provide the visual record to resolve disputes. Take that away, and you expose the industry to more change orders, more litigation and more cost.”
Hedgepath agrees: “It wouldn’t be that we can’t do our work—it’s that we’d be doing it blind, without the visibility that prevents costly mistakes.”
MORE THAN A TOOL
The construction industry faces an ongoing labor crunch. ABC estimates more than 440,000 additional workers are needed over the next year to meet demand. In that environment, drones aren’t just gadgets—they’re productivity multipliers.
“Reality capture lets you do more with fewer people,” Daly says. “If a job used to take eight project managers to oversee, with drones and 360-degree cameras you might run it with six. That’s how companies see growth without one-to-one increases in staff.”
For firms struggling to hire, the technology isn’t replacing workers—it’s allowing them to keep building despite shortages.
“It’s not about eliminating people,” Hedgepath emphasizes. “It’s about mitigating risk and making the team you have more effective. That’s how we stay competitive.”
SEEKING ALTERNATIVES
So what can contractors do?
Some are exploring drones-as-a-service—hiring specialized firms that own the expensive equipment. While costly per flight, it avoids the upfront burden of buying fleets. “If DJI disappeared, we’d probably have to look at drones-as-a-service,” Hedgepath admits.
Others are pinning hopes on emerging U.S. manufacturers. Red Cat Holdings, based in Utah, is investing in drones tailored for construction. But scaling production fast enough to meet demand remains a question mark.
Software firms like DroneDeploy are also developing security firewalls to retrofit existing DJI fleets, preventing data from leaving the U.S. “If the concern is data leakage, we can solve that with technology,” Daly says. “That would be far less disruptive than shutting down every drone in America.”
Meanwhile, industry groups like ABC are lobbying for tax credits or subsidies to help offset the higher costs of domestic drones. “We’ve seen similar models in the auto industry,” Leonard says. “The construction industry is ready to be part of the solution, but we need help to make it viable.”
PREPARING FOR IMPACT
Contractors can’t control geopolitics, but they can prepare. Experts suggest:
- Audit your fleet: Know what drones you have, their origin and whether alternatives exist.
- Evaluate service providers: Build relationships with drone service firms as a contingency.
- Engage legislators: Follow Part 108 developments and submit comments during rulemaking.
- Invest in software: Explore firewall and data-security tools that may keep fleets compliant.
- Diversify capture methods: Pair drones with 360 cameras, ground robots and jobsite cameras to maintain visibility if access is restricted.
“This conversation is far from over,” Daly says. “Our call to action is simple: Contractors need to talk to their legislators and make sure their voices are heard. We need a balanced solution that protects security without crippling productivity.”
THE HUMAN SIDE
Lost in the policy debates are the people on the ground who rely on drones every day. Hedgepath lectures at Auburn University on construction technology, showing students how drones transform project management.
“These students are entering a world where drones are part of their toolkit from day one,” he says. “To suddenly take that away would be like telling a young architect they can’t use AutoCAD anymore.”
Contractors also worry about fairness. “It’s one thing for the government to restrict federal projects—it’s their money, their rules,” Hedgepath says. “But to tell private companies they can’t use equipment they’ve already purchased? That’s overreach.”
The analogy, he adds, is like banning digital cameras because some were made overseas. “At the end of the day, a drone is just a camera in the air.”
BUILDING UNDER UNCERTAINTY
Construction has always been about managing risk—from weather delays to material shortages. But rarely has the industry faced the prospect of losing a tool as transformative as drones.
For Hedgepath, the stakes are clear. “No time in history has the government restricted a technology that impacts construction in this way,” he says. “It would be disruptive, costly and, frankly, unnecessary if there are better ways to address the security concerns.”
Whether the hammer falls in three months or three years, contractors are bracing for impact. The skies above America’s jobsites may look the same for now—but uncertainty is in the air.
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