Last Updated on March 11, 2019 by Admin
Regardless of sector, drones are big business. Countries across the globe are pouring investment into this relatively nascent technology. The hope is that it can bring revolutionary change across industries. Find out who is leading the way with our map of global drone investment.
It contributes significantly to the country’s economic development by generating output, creating jobs and facilitating income generation.
Across the globe, Drones have emerged as an extremely viable commercial tool with applications in numerous sectors, most notably, construction. This isn’t surprising, as their benefits range from on-site safety to a level of project monitoring which wasn’t previously possible.
A market set to be worth billions over the coming years, there’s no doubting the unstoppable rise of commercial drones. Read on to find out how these flying cameras are revolutionizing everything from workflow to safety in construction sectors across the globe.
Drones in the Construction Industry:
Industries covering from agriculture to entertainment and media are taking full advantage of the benefits drones offer. However, it’s clear that one of the most rapidly advancing sectors is infrastructure development which includes construction.
How drones are used on a construction site?
In the construction, Infrastructure & Real estate industry, drones provide easy admittance to large or heavy sites as well as complex or tall constructions. They can gather aerial data, mapping information, and images used for:
- Land survey
- Building inspections
- Providing visual MATERIAL FOR CLIENTS AND STAFFS
- Monitoring on-site activities
- Security surveillance
- Mapping Data
- Prevent Costly Mistakes
- Provide Better Project Updates
- Improve Safety
- Improve Collaboration
- Mitigate Risk
The future of the Construction Industry:
Find out what the future of construction looks like due to the rise of smart solutions, automation, and drone usage.
Building Information Modelling (BIM):
BIM is the process of creating and managing information on a construction project across its lifecycle. It creates a shareable digital description of every aspect of the structure which all necessary stakeholders can update. The UK is at the forefront of this methodology which is being hailed as a ‘digital revolution’ for the construction industry. Drones contribute to this approach in various ways including:
Automated construction sites:
In 2018, leading Chinese manufacturer DJI announced the largest ever order of commercial drones. Partnering with US tech firm Skycatch, this is an unprecedented shipment that sets a benchmark for construction firms around the world to take note of. Japanese construction giant Komatsu will receive 1,000 aircraft to help survey and monitor their projects.
There are also plans in place for these drones, known as the ‘Skycatch Explore1’ to control robotic construction vehicles. If successful, this could pave the way to a fully automated construction site.
Drones in the Indian construction industry:
Construction is one of the most dynamic, responsive and unique sectors in the Indian economy. The Indian construction industry is undergoing a seismic transformation, with technology playing a pivotal role in shaping the industry.
The drones technology that is gaining interest in the construction industry. It is poised to serve as an effective medium towards building smart cities in a the cost-effective, faster and safer manner with optimum utilization of skills and efforts. It is expected that in the next 10 years, the use of drones in construction will register a manifold growth and will play a leading role in futuristic buildings. According to a recent industry report, India is one of the fastest growing markets for UAVs and by 2021, the Indian UAV market is expected to reach USD 885.7 million.
The usage of drones in the construction industry has seen a 239% growth year-over-year globally, higher than any other commercial sector. In India too, the growth is set to increase manifold.
In the present scenario, it is very crucial for India to realize the aerial revolution that can be brought about by the proper utilization of drones which have emerged as a highly viable commercial tool globally. As a matter of fact, the most notable sector of an economy being benefitted by drones is construction. There’s no denying on the fact that there is an unstoppable rise of commercial drones; a market set to be worth billions over the coming years.
Drones are tools that will play a fundamental role in ensuring that the construction industry can deliver huge and complex projects with a better finishing and on-time results.
There are numerous safety and legal implications that one should be aware of, as well as the differences between the commercial and personal use of drones. Despite increasing adoption and regulation, there is still tremendous growth in the use of drones in construction.
Regulations & Laws in India to fly Drones:
Before you start flying drones as a hobby, for fun or to get aerial photographs, you need to understand the set of new regulations which will be in place from December 1, 2018. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has released a lengthy 37-page-long set of rules for flying drones in India. Indian Air Force will monitor all drone movements in the country in coordination with Airports Authority of India while the DGCA will have the power to suspend any permit given to you to fly drones in case of violation of regulations. Violators can also attract police action in case any applicable IPC section is violated.
Here is a list of all do’s and don’ts which you need to keep in mind before flying drones:
Do’s
1. Ensure your drone (except Nano in uncontrolled airspace upto 50 feet) is Digital Sky “No Permission- No Take off” (NPNT) compliant.
2. Obtain Unique Identification Number (UIN) from DGCA for operating in controlled airspace (where the ATC services are active) and affix it on your drone.
3. Obtain Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit (UAOP), if applicable from DGCA for commercial operations and keep it handy.
4. Obtain permission before each flight through Digital Sky Platform which will be available on DGCA website from December 1.
5. Keep an eye on interference which can be from mobile devices or blockage of signals.
6. Fly only during daylight (after sunrise to before sunset).
7. Fly in good weather: Good weather lets you not only fly your drone better but also keep track of it in the air.
8. Fly in visual line of sight (VLOS): Always be within visual range of your drone.
9. Be aware of airspace restrictions/ no drone zones and respect privacy of people.
10. Keep local police informed about your drone flying activity. If you are ever approached by police provide all requisite information.
11. Do log your flights and intimate concerned authorities (like DGCA, local police etc.) of any incidents/ accidents
Don’ts
1. Don’t fly a Nano drone above 50 feet from the ground level.
2. Don’t fly a Micro drone above 200 feet from the ground level.
3. Don’t fly drones more than 400 feet from the ground level.
4. Don’t fly drone near other aircraft (manned or unmanned).
5. Don’t fly drone near airports and heliports.
6. Don’t fly drone over groups of people, public events, or stadiums full of people without permission.
7. Don’t fly drone over government facilities/military bases or over/ near any no-drone zones.
8. Don’t fly drone over private property unless permission is given.
9. Don’t fly drone in controlled airspace near airports without filing flight plan or AAI/ADC permission (at least 24 hours before actual operation).
10. Don’t drop or carry hazardous material.
11. Don’t fly drone under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
12. Don’t fly drone from a moving vehicle, ship or aircraft.
