Drones are renowned for their agility, speed, impressive acceleration, and manoeuvrability. Making them ideal for tasks such as aerial surveying and photography. In the field of engineering, drones are gaining popularity due to their ability to enhance efficiency while reducing the risks and costs associated with specific tasks. These tasks include:
Project planning and surveillance
Construction engineers are now using drones to gather real-time data on projects, eliminating the need to be physically present on-site. Aerial insights facilitate progress tracking, and early problem detection, and can add valuable weeks to a project’s timeline. Drones also play a crucial role in the planning phase of construction projects by providing a comprehensive overview of the land. Surveying techniques, including photogrammetry and LiDAR surveys, generate 3D models of the terrain, aiding civil engineers in site selection and serving as a foundation for volume and distance calculations. Accurate 3D models are also essential for building information modelling (BIM), a vital tool in construction planning.
Hazardous or inaccessible sites and non-destructive testing
Drones are utilized to oversee work locations that pose hazards or present difficulties for human access. They can navigate within equipment structures to conduct visual inspections or non-destructive testing, negating the requirement for confined space entry. This proves especially beneficial when assessment is needed in hazardous environments.
Inspection of infrastructure
Drones simplify the inspection of large and complex infrastructures such as skyscrapers, bridges, and tunnels. They can access these areas safely and provide reliable and well-documented footage. Engineers in the renewable energy sector are already using drones to monitor solar PV farms and wind farms spanning vast acres of land. Electrical engineers use drones to inspect pylons and grid stations located at heights that are difficult for humans to reach. This enables the detection and repair of power outages on towers or faults in high-tension power lines.
Drones with cloud-based features and predictive AI
The future of drones lies in their integration with cloud-based features and predictive artificial intelligence (AI). Inspection photos taken by drones can be synchronized with cloud servers and analyzed using sophisticated algorithms powered by advanced processing capabilities. This analysis enables the development of predictive functions for identifying potential defects and necessary repairs.
