Real-Time Construction Progression

With Central Florida Aerial Imaging you don’t have to be on the job site to know what’s happening with your construction Site. With the latest drone technology, you can keep up to date with your job site through still images, video, and 2-dimensional (2D) modeling.

With today’s drone technology we generate unique flight paths for still images, video, and image models that can be saved after an initial drone flight of your build location.

Those flight paths can be reused time and again. Whether you want to show week-to-week progression or month-to-month, the saved flight plans can be used to follow the same video path, take photos from the same locations, and generate site models that match our previous flights.

Orthomosaic Progression

Put simply, an orthomosaic map is a detailed, accurate photo representation of an area, created out of many photos that have been stitched together and geometrically corrected (“orthorectified”) so that it is as accurate as a map.

Orthomosaic maps can help provide detailed updates on the progress of a construction project since they allow you to zoom in and see different parts of the building(s) under construction, as well as related resources.

The Drone data Central Florida Aerial Imaging can collect over the life of your project is a beneficial tool for your project managers to monitor the current progress and plan accordingly. Regular progress updates we provide through aerial drone imagery will help the project stay on schedule and in turn keep the project from going over budget. Central Florida Aerial Imaging imagery can be shared with project managers as well as stakeholders and investors who’re interested in keeping tabs on the project as well. Progress reports compiled with drone images are easy to share thanks to cloud-based drone software and digital sharing platforms that keep communication secure, easy, and fast.

Central Florida Aerial Imaging can use the visual data they collect to produce multiple types of maps including 3D models, 2D orthomosaic, and thermal. Each of these types of maps can reveal something about a construction site that would be otherwise invisible to the human eye or unperceivable from the ground. Orthomosaic maps offer images that are uniform in scale, these maps are ideal for gathering measurements. Thermal maps capture infrared light, which detects heat. The ability to view heat sources on a construction site can be used in so many ways, but one common use is to detect rooftop cracks or leaks.

Central Florida Aerial Imaging drones can measure stockpiles and assist with inventory counts for greater accuracy than measurements obtained by traditional methods. Software that stitches drone images together into maps also has the capability to take measurements from those images. Stockpile measurements such as volume can be precisely calculated using drone mapping software. This information can be used to keep up-to-date inventory counts and to keep worksites stocked with enough materials. Since drones move quickly and process data in real-time, stockpiles can be assessed more frequently without raising costs. Assessing stockpiles more frequently can reduce unnecessary and overestimated material and supply orders, cutting back on waste and saving money.

When we use our drones to inspect construction sites it greatly improves speed and assurance between workers. With the ability to take pictures and video, multiple workers can review the worksite status and easily discuss possible issues. Additionally, drone inspections are safer and more cost-effective than traditional inspection methods. You can avoid sending workers into dangerous or hazardous areas by using Central Florida Aerial imaging to send a drone instead. Your inspection reports will be less prone to human error. Another relief is the reduction in costs associated with the hourly or per-day fees of renting expensive equipment like cranes and manned planes otherwise needed to capture a full picture of the worksite.

Let us keep tabs on the condition of important structures and assets onsite using drone images. We’ve already mentioned that drones can monitor the progress of a project, but they can also monitor all the equipment and assets on-site too. Central Florida Aerial Imaging drones may be used to inspect expensive equipment and tools to ensure all are accounted for without visible damages. After progress has been made, they can inspect completed buildings for cracks, leaks, or other flaws. They can also inspect delivery drop-off points to ensure materials are being delivered on time and in the right locations. This brings us to our next and final example of data drones provide: material reporting and logistics.

Ensure that the company has flown drone operations on a construction site before. You’ll also want to make sure they can provide you with the final data set in the form and file type you are looking for. For example, a company that specializes in the thermal mapping of a construction site may not be able to provide LiDAR mapping, so make sure to communicate clearly what deliverables you’re looking for.

The company should have all its pilots licensed through the Federal Aviation Administration, the only organization with the authority to issue a legally sound drone license. Drones flown for commercial purposes (i.e. anything done for a professional, business-related, or income-producing objective) must be operated by FAA Part 107 certified drone pilots. Operating a drone without a Part 107 certification on a construction site can result in significant fines in excess of $30,000 from the federal agency.

Drone operators must take into consideration the federal, local, and regional drone regulations in your area. Ask them if they are
familiar with the FAA’s Part 107 rules and if they are aware of any local ordinances that could affect drone flight onsite. For construction projects located in densely populated areas, there may be flight restrictions and limitations because of nearby airports or events. The writing and submission of an FAA waiver may be required in order to safely and legally perform the drone operation.