PM Network - December 2016

For instance, temperature-sensing infrared cameras can detect weak spots in a building’s insulation or leaks in plumbing or gas lines. Software tools can help project managers crunch that data into real-time project intelligence they’ve never had before.

“The benefit of drones on construction sites is
that they are cost-effective compared to alternative
methods,” Mr. Falk says. “You can collect data in
the morning and submit the result at the end of the
day; hence, the project manager has within a few
hours an overview of the construction site in order
to make the right decisions.”
What used to take human surveyors hours to
complete can now be done in minutes with drones
using algorithmic tools to measure volumes—
of earth moved, of sand stockpiled, of concrete
poured—and more efficiently allocate resources.
Mr. Falk says COWI has found that time for survey-
ing and processing has been cut to approximately
20 percent of the time the organization spent for
these activities before it began to use drones.

These same programs also can stitch together
multiple images to create a comprehensive view of
an entire build site, overlaying technical drawings,
hydrological maps or other imagery to help mitigate
environmental, engineering and design risks. They
can also generate precise 3-D models of the build
site, allowing stakeholders across town—or around
the world—to follow a project’s progress and weigh
in on potential risks or solutions.

“When you have a drawing or a map, there
will always be some room for interpretation,” says
Francois Gervaix, product manager for surveying
at drone maker SenseFly, Lausanne, Switzerland.
“With drones there is no interpretation—it’s a real
picture of the real landscape: It’s reality. Sitting in
an office with the right information in front of the
right people is much more effective than standing
in the middle of the construction site.”
Data from drones also can provide additional
value through re-use and redistribution, Mr.
Hoffstadt says. For instance, sponsors and busi-
ness teams can repurpose photo and video foot-
age from drones for use in marketing materials,

he says. It also can be used for future training content and quality control processes. “Project managers who incorporate drones can provide more value to the organization, beyond the execution of an individual project.”