Publisher's Commentary: Industry Insights–The Use of Drones in Home Building
The use of drones within the U.S. is no longer a new concept. However, drone use during the construction phases of homebuilding is becoming one of the most compelling trends in the industry.1 In fact, the home building industry has experienced a 239% growth in the use of drones in the last several years.2
There are nearly 2 million registered drone devices within the U.S., and a third of them are registered for commercial use.3 Because the biggest liabilities in construction have always been personal safety and equipment loss, drones are being adapted to take on specific tasks to help prevent injury, reduce labor costs and potentially minimize on-site theft.? According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), 84% of companies reported that they use drones for aerial photographs, while 30% reported that they use drones for surveillance or tracking development progress.?
Construction site drone use is multifaceted, and many home builders are utilizing drones for:
1.????Topographic mapping and land surveys;
2.????Equipment tracking;
3.????Remote monitoring and progress reports;
4.????Security surveillance;
5.????Personnel safety; and
6.????Structure inspection and photography.6
As we embrace the technological advancements of the future, drones will be invaluable as they take on more construction tasks and keep construction sites safer.7
Sources: