Top general contractors utilize aerial photography as a best practice on all ground up construction. The benefits in cost savings and safety easily out weigh the cost of aerial photography. However, should your construction company perform in house aerial photography or contract it to professionals? Before buying a drone, read the following to learn some of the regulations surrounding drone usage for commercial purposes.

Rivertree Academy, Fort Worth. Aerial photography of new construction.
Rivertree Academy, Fort Worth. Aerial photography of new construction.

Challenges and Limitations of Drones in Construction

Using drones in construction brings a lot of benefits, but it’s not without its challenges. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key issues that companies might face.

One of the most significant hurdles in using drones for construction projects is navigating the regulatory landscape. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has specific guidelines for drone usage.

Licensing Requirements

Any commercial usage of drones requires the pilot to hold a Remote Pilot Certificate to fly legally. This means you can’t just hand over a drone to any worker on the site. The operator, at minimum, needs to pass the 2 1/2 hour FAA Part 107 exam, which covers airspace rules, airspace classifications, and other important topics. This is usually done after taking a course to learn the material. The certificate expires every two years, so you will need to keep track of every pilot’s certification to make sure they take the renewal course in time.

Flight Restrictions

There are airspace restrictions on flying drones near airports, over populated areas, or during certain weather conditions. In addition, there are regulations on how high you can fly (400’ if there is no other restriction). The height restrictions are common in large metroplexes where there are multiple airports, and include many areas that you cannot fly. These rules limit when and where you can use drones on a construction site. In larger cities, FAA approval may be needed every time you fly your drone. For example, in Dallas, Texas, there are numerous airports (virtually every suburb has one or more) requiring Texas Aerial Photographers pilots to plan their missions ahead of time in order to gain FAA approval.

Privacy Concerns

Using drones for surveillance can raise privacy issues. Drones frequently fly outside the property limits of the construction site in order to capture images. Companies need to ensure they are not infringing on the privacy of people nearby. Failure to do so could result in legal action.

Dealing with these regulatory issues means companies have to stay up-to-date on current laws and often seek legal advice to ensure compliance. It’s a complex and sometimes costly process.

Technical Limitations

Beyond Part 107 and other legal challenges, there are also technical limitations to consider.

  • Range and Battery Life: One major issue is the range and battery life of drones. Most drones can only fly for about 20-30 minutes before needing a battery change. This can be limiting on large construction sites where covering a lot of ground quickly is necessary.
  • Need for Skilled Operators: Flying a drone might look easy, but it actually requires a skilled operator. Incorrect usage can lead to crashes, which not only damages the drone but can also be dangerous.
  • Environmental Factors: Weather conditions frequently affect drones. High winds, rain, or extreme temperatures can disrupt flights and even cause drones to fail. Less than ideal weather prevents often prevents low end drones from functioning reliably.

In essence, while drones offer many advantages, such as real-time data collection and aerial imagery, these benefits must be weighed against the limitations before committing to in-house aerial photography. Companies need to plan carefully to address these challenges effectively.

Aerial photograph of new medical center, Dallas, Texas
Aerial photograph of new medical center, Dallas, Texas

Imaging Expertise

A third hurdle is handling images. Drones can take incredible photographers and videos, but what do you do with them?

  • Image Processing: Images and videos frequently need to be processed in photo and/or video editing software to look professional. The cost of the software, the skill to use the software, and the time commitment involved to render images presents a hurdle to most construction companies.
  • Metadata Management: Specifications for new construction often contains specific requirements for data to be included in the metadata, e.g. names of architect/owner and other stakeholders.
  • Computer Hardware: Editing software requires high end computers and screens, not the type of hardware usually found on construction sites. In addition, installing a live feed while flying a drone requires expertise in appropriate hardware to set up.

These difficulties are why most construction companies prefer to contract out work to Texas Aerial Photographers rather than set up in-house aerial photography. The cost is usually much cheaper for our professionals to take care of the regulation hassles and provide the technical and imaging expertise. Give us a call to find out how we can help you excel at what you do best.