B.Sc. (Hons.

) in Quantity Surveying

BE1014

Introduction to Computing

Academic Year 2020/2021

Project work 1

Drones in Construction

Level I Semester I

Student Names Reg. No.

Amaradiwakara A.W.G.S.B. 212608B

Date of Assignment: 20th June 2022

Date of Submission: 20th June 2022

Department of Building Economics

University of Moratuwa

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Acknowledgement for the report

We have taken efforts in this project. However, it would not have been possible without the kind support and
help of many individuals. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all of them. We would like to express
our gratitude towards our parents for their kind co-operation and encouragement which help us in completion
of this project. Our thanks and appreciations also go to our colleagues in developing the project and people
who have willingly helped us out with their abilities.

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Table of Contents

1 Introduction ___________________________________________________________ 5

1.1. Classification of drones _____________________________________________________________ 6

1.2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Drones _______________________________________________ 7

1.3. Drones in construction ______________________________________________________________ 8

1.3.1. Surveying Land ________________________________________________________________ 9

1.3.2. Improvements to Infrastructure ___________________________________________________ 10

1.3.3. Communication and Management _________________________________________________ 10

1.3.4. Improved Overall Security ______________________________________________________ 11

1.3.5. Accurate Surveillance __________________________________________________________ 11

1.3.6. Transportation and Inspection ____________________________________________________ 12

2 Conclusion ___________________________________________________________ 12

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List of Figures

Figure 1 Hybrid VTOL ........................................................................................................................................... 6

Figure 2 Fixed wing Drone..................................................................................................................................... 6
Figure 3 Multi rotor Drone Figure 4 Single rotor Drone..................................................... 6
Figure 5 Drone aerial survey .................................................................................................................................. 9
Figure 6 Improvement to Infrastructure ............................................................................................................... 10
Figure 7 Communication and Management ......................................................................................................... 10
Figure 8 Improved overall Security Drone ........................................................................................................... 11
Figure 9 Accurate surveillance Drones ................................................................................................................ 11
Figure 10 Transportation and Inspection .............................................................................................................. 12

List of tables

Table 1 Drone market size ...................................................................................................................................... 7

Table 2 Advantages of Drones ............................................................................................................................... 8
Table 3 Disadvantages of Drones ........................................................................................................................... 8

List of Abbreviations

BOQ:Bill of Quantity
QS:Quantity Surveyors
UAV:Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

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1 Introduction
Drone is an aircraft without a human pilot aboard, earning their alternate name as unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAV). (Beard & McLain, 2012) Where we are seeing them already in real use is businesses such as:

• Defence
• Emergency response
• Humanitarian aid & disaster relief
• Disease control

Li and Liu (2019) drones are made with smartphone parts, investments over the last 10 years in these parts have
driven drone prices down, increasing accessibility to consumers and businesses.

Drones were originally created as safer, cheaper alternatives to manned military aircraft. Today they are still
used for military purposes but are now also consumer toys and purveyors of commercial operational efficiency.
Since drones are made with smartphone parts, investments over the last 10 years in these parts have driven
drone prices down, increasing accessibility to consumers and businesses. (Li & Liu, 2019)

Drones are seeing real use in industries that need to gather large amounts of visual data or access hard to reach
places. Where we are seeing them already in real use is businesses such as:

❖ Defence
❖ Emergency response
❖ Humanitarian aid & disaster relief
❖ Conservation
❖ Disease control
❖ Healthcare
❖ Agriculture

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 1.1.Classification of drones
Different UAV classification schemes have been proposed to help differentiate existing systems based on their
operational characteristics and their capabilities. Several of these schemes are also of regulatory importance
since the metrics used directly correlate with risk from ground impact or mid-air collision accidents. This chapter
provides characteristic UAV classifications from a variety of sources, both civilian and military.

UAV

o Size

Figure 1 Hybrid VTOL

o Range

Figure 2 Fixed wing Drone

o Altitude
o No. of rotors

Figure 3 Multi rotor Drone Figure 4 Single rotor Drone

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Drone Market Size

The drone market will grow steadily in the consumer, commercial, and military sectors. In a 2016 report,
estimated that drone technologies will reach a total market size of $100 billion between 2016 and 2020.

Drone market size

4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
2016 2017

Consumer $B Commercial $B

Table 1 Drone market size

Year Consumer ($ B) Commercial ($ B)

2016 1.7 2.8
2017 2.3 3.7

1.2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Drones

In the near future we may be receiving products and services delivered to us via drone. With this new
technology, drones have their own advantages and disadvantages. By definition, drones are unmanned aerial
vehicles that are operated and navigated by a computer or a remote control. A few years ago, still overpriced
and barely circulating, the mini drones are now available in almost every shop at low price. Anyone who has
ever played around with a drone knows how much fun it is. So, let’s see what characteristics these drones have.
Here we will present to you a full list of the Pros and Cons of Drones.

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Advantages

Table 2 Advantages of Drones

Drones are Cheap

Drones Are Fun to Use
To Enforce Security and Surveillance
Drones Can Save Lives
Faster Delivery System Using Drone

Disadvantages

Table 3 Disadvantages of Drones

They Have Short Flight Times

Weather Can Easily Affect Drones
Precise Operation is Difficult
Drones Will Take Away Future Jobs
Drones Can be Easily Abused

1.3. Drones in construction

In recent years, construction companies have started to use drones as mapping and surveying tools, replacing
traditional week-long ground surveys with just a few hours in the air. Aerial mapping of construction sites makes
it easier to continually monitor construction, which in turn makes it easier to spot mistakes before they become
expensive or difficult-to-fix. The presence of drones in construction means significant changes within the
industry. Drones have already begun changing the way the construction industry operates, and those changes
will have continued and lasting effects.

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Drones can be used for following purposes in construction

1.3.1. Surveying Land

1.3.2. Improvements to Infrastructure
1.3.3. Communication and Management
1.3.4. Improved Overall Security
1.3.5. Accurate Surveillance
1.3.6. Transportation and Inspection

1.3.1. Surveying Land

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) are rapidly replacing traditional land-surveillance methods. They are growing
in popularity so rapidly that some have even abandoned the classic “bird's-eye view” expression with “drones
eye view.” Drones greatly reduce the labour and time involved in producing accurate surveys. Drones eliminate
much of the human error involved in the process and have the ability to capture necessary data in much less
time than traditional methods would take. Such data would be useful when preparing contracts and Bill of
Quantity (BOQ)

Figure 5 Drone aerial survey

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 1.3.2. Improvements to Infrastructure
Drones provide superior endurance and intelligence on job sites. They ability to collect and report data allows
them to complete work faster. The need for manual labour is all but removed from the equation. In the future,
drones’ wills take on even more integral tasks involved in large projects. They is poised to cut the time it takes
to build a skyscraper by a broad margin, thereby cutting costs. Contractors who rely on drones will be able to
make much more ambitious bids and complete work on time. Quantity Surveyors (QS) including other
professionals can use these features to support their work.

Figure 6 Improvement to Infrastructure

1.3.3. Communication and Management

Drone technology has evolved to the point where instant connectivity and communication on the job site are
at a surplus. Drones are being used more and more as a means of maintaining constant contact at worksites.
Drones that feature mounted cameras can provide video footage to facilitate communication and surveillance.
They allow companies to keep tabs on employees and workers and are considered an increasingly invaluable
tool for superintendents and investors.

Figure 7 Communication and Management

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 1.3.4. Improved Overall Security
The advent of drones is causing a sharp increase in security efficiency. Whether the drones are used to maintain
the safety of employees or to protect the job site from theft or vandalism, they are steadily seeing greater
implementation in the construction industry.

Figure 8 Improved overall Security Drone

1.3.5. Accurate Surveillance

Drones have the ability to be practically everywhere at the same time. They don't just reduce theft and keep
workers safer; they create an around-the-clock, real-time monitoring system that has already been adopted by
a number of construction companies. They elevate onsite security and safety by a tremendous margin.

Figure 9 Accurate surveillance Drones

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 1.3.6. Transportation and Inspection
The use of drones in job site inspection also means a drastic increase in worksite safety by eliminating numerous
dangers and safety hazards. Using drones to transport goods aerially allows companies to execute difficult
inspections and keep track of everything that enters and leaves the job site. It saves money and time and keeps
the site secure.

Figure 10 Transportation and Inspection

2 Conclusion
Insights from drones can help executives improve safety, project efficiency and data accuracy. On the marketing
side, aerial photography and video for marketing residential and commercial real estate is one of the best-
known applications for drones. Rather than hiring a crane or helicopter, many firms are choosing to spend far
less money to hire a drone with a high-quality camera and a capable pilot to capture photos showing the
potential view of a given office, even before the office tower has been built.

With a drone, companies can achieve unusual angles, capture the aerial perspective, and get results that would
otherwise be impractical or impossible. This creates a competitive advantage when it comes to promoting a
firm’s projects and services.

Drones only provide value when they’re up in the air, so once a company has made the initial investment, it’s
worth it to explore as many drone applications as possible to maximize the investment — and inspire teams to
innovate processes and services along the way.

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