Three big ways drones are impacting commercial operations

For a number of different industries, including construction, agriculture, engineering and mining, everything changed when drones started to replace traditional methods used to survey, map and assess infrastructure and stretches of land. The biggest changes? Relevant business operations became cheaper and safer to carry out, and the accuracy of the data collected improved.

THREE WAYS DRONES ARE RESHAPING THE COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE

1. IMPROVED SAFETY

   Commercial activities like pipeline surveys, building inspections and stockpile assessments traditionally required humans to work at dizzying heights, navigate dangerous scaffolding and travel over hazardous, uneven terrain, often on foot. This exposes employees to major risks that are sometimes life-threatening. But drones can be operated from the safety of the ground and are equipped to gather even more detailed information than a human ever could – in this way, they completely remove the need for businesses to put staff in perilous situations. What’s more, as UAVs don’t use fuel or release toxic fumes, they are also safer for the environment. 

2. REDUCED COSTS

   There are a number of different ways in which drones help to lower and streamline big project costs. For one, they don’t require a high staff complement, and they’re also significantly cheaper to operate than conventional equipment and transport options, like overland vehicles and manned aircrafts. Plus, they’re quick to deploy and guarantee fast turnaround times, so they can save a company significant amounts by boosting productivity and simplifying traditionally complex, labour-intensive processes. It’s also worth noting that because inspections can be carried out much more regularly with UAVs, it’s easier to pick up minor issues early on before they become costly problems.

3. IMPROVED ACCURACY

   Human inspectors and surveyors are prone to human error. They’re also not physically capable of accessing every crevice in a geographic area or viewing infrastructure from every single angle. Drones, on the other hand, can get into hard-to-reach areas and are equipped to capture ultra-high-resolution stills, videos and infrared images using state-of-the-art technology. As UAVs can also fly much lower than manned aircraft, they can collect very precise, detailed data that can be shared in real time with key stakeholders, thereby significantly enhancing important decision-making processes.

Of course, to save costs and time and improve safety and accuracy in commercial endeavours, it’s critical that drones are operated by experienced, licensed pilots. If you’d like to learn more about how UAVs can streamline your commercial operations, contact a professional, like us at DC Geomatics. Not only are we insured and approved by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), but we’re also committed to providing a high-quality, cost-effective service to a wide range of different industries.