How drones can help streamline big project costs.
When it comes to commercial industries, most people associate the word ‘drone’ with aerial photography and filming. But their scope is so much bigger than that. When it comes to industries like construction, gas and oil, and mining, drones can help cut costs and increase productivity.
While working with drones might require an initial investment (in hardware and training), the long-term benefits include cost-saving and streamlined project completion.
BENEFITS OF USING DRONES IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT
1. EFFICIENT OPERATING COSTS
Unlike manned aerial vehicles, drones are simple to launch and do not require a high staff complement or complicated setup and launch procedures. They can be ready to go in a short amount of time and, as long as proper training has been completed, are relatively easy to run. This makes them much cheaper and easier to operate than other types of survey and surveillance equipment.
2. A FULL BIRD’S EYE VIEW
Whatever the industry, drones have an aerial advantage – light, agile, and flexible in their approach, they are able to cover large areas or navigate awkward spaces and infrastructures quickly and completely. This means they can gather and relay hard-to-access survey information and surveillance data to a large group of stakeholders quickly and efficiently. This lowers project costs as the data is available in a much shorter amount of time than would be the case with a manned survey.
3. DATA DISTRIBUTION MADE SIMPLE
As above, drone technology allows for the distribution of data (in a variety of formats) to a large group of stakeholders who do not even have to be on the project site to work together. Project teams can review footage in real time, interpret data, and discuss the project as the drone flies, allowing them to address any project concerns in the moment, saving valuable decision-making time and unnecessary costs in the long run.
4. SAFETY FIRST
Not only do drones remove the need for human-driven inspections (thereby protecting a human workforce from unnecessary exposure to risk), they can conduct regular and thorough inspections of job sites, conduct regular site monitoring, and help ensure safety compliance.
When it comes to gaining the cutting-edge in your project work, drones can go a long way in helping to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and ensure the job gets done right. Want to bring drones into your business operations? Contact us – DCG offers a variety of drone-driven commercial services and turnkey solutions across a wide range of industries and for application in different types of projects. Talk to us about your drone needs – when it comes to commercial applications, we’re the experts.
FPV flying – what you need to know.
FPV stands for First Person Viewing and involves using a portable monitor so that you can see what your drone sees in real-time rather than trying to control it by sight. While it’s quite easy to lose sight of your drone mid-flight under normal flying circumstances, FPV allows you to fly further and faster by minimising confusion over the drone’s orientation, giving you more control overall. Plus, it’s a much more immersive experience than flying remotely.
You can buy a drone with built-in FPV technology or you can build in the tech yourself, using a video receiver, video transmitter, camera, and display (either as a remote display or goggles). FYI - if you build it yourself, you might want to consider a stronger antenna as well to give you more range without using additional power.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? TOP POINTERS FOR FPV FLYING
1. STAY LEGAL
Commercial drone flight is regulated by law. And, even with FPV, you need to be sure you can still see your drone without the use of the display unit, at all times. Also, it’s always a good idea to bring a spotter with you – someone to watch the surrounds while you watch your flight. They can be very helpful in preventing or reducing the risk of a costly crash.
2. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
As amazing as FPV is, you will need to practice flying in this mode to get it just right. You will be required to alter your depth perception and get used to looking at the world from the drone’s point of view. Practice as often as you can in safe surrounds.
3. PUT YOUR DRONE THROUGH ITS PACES
If you really want to get the best out of your drone you need to explore its capabilities in a safe and legal environment. Find yourself a wide open space, take along some drone-ready obstacles (flags and hoops work well), and practice flying through them and around them. This will help you get used to FPV flight in more challenging conditions but also allow you to make adjustments to the camera position, antenna sensitivity etc as per your unique flying needs.
Flying drones (especially for commercial purposes such as land surveying and aerial surveillance) can be effective, fun, and lucrative but you have to do it right, and always within the bounds of the law. Want to learn how to fly your commercial drone or need help implementing the use of drone technology in your organisation or industry? Have a look at our commercial services and turnkey solutions or join our managed ROC. When it comes to commercial drone flight, we’re the experts and we can help you be one too!
The role of drones in disaster management.
Over the decade, drones have taken up roles in areas and industries that were unexpected when they first started being used outside of a military space. The role of drones in disaster management is one such example.
In a world filled with man-made and natural disasters of various levels of intensity and impact, drones with their speed, efficiency, and flight capabilities, are making their mark in emergency response. A few examples include their use during the recent hurricanes in Haiti, folding in the Balkans, and earthquakes in China.
WHAT DRONES CAN DO WHEN IT COMES TO DISASTER MANAGEMENT
1. CONDUCT WIDE-RANGING ASSESSMENTS AND INSPECTIONS
With their flight and aerial photography and videography capabilities, drones are the perfect tool for surveying large areas of land such as extensive disaster zones and determining their condition and the extent of the disaster. The same goes for infrastructure – drones are able to survey potentially dangerous and unstable structures in such a way that human surveyors cannot, as well as detect hazardous chemical and gas leaks, perhaps preventing further disasters from taking place.
2. OFFER A TIMELY, EFFICIENT, AND COST-EFFECTIVE RESPONSE
Drones can be ready to fly within a very short turn-around time, are hard-wearing and durable, are able to access many hazardous or difficult spaces, and swiftly gather and report back on real-time data. And all at a much lower cost and resource allocation than manned flight operations.
3. A SAFE SURVEILLANCE OPTION
Human rescue operations, especially in areas where a disaster has just occurred, can be treacherous for first responders. Often, these teams are forced to go into a situation ‘blind’, unable to know what awaits them. Drones offer a chance to survey a site before human entry for data-gathering purposes as well as providing aerial footage and 3D maps of potential routes and target areas, saving precious time and energy in helping get emergency services to where they need to be.
4. ADVANCED SENSOR CAPABILITIES
Beyond photography and filming, drones can do so much more than just take pictures or generate maps. With their visual, thermal, LiDAR, hyperspectral and multispectral scanning capabilities, drones can be used in search and rescue missions in disaster situations such as earthquakes or landslides. Thermal sensors, for example, can be used for ‘terrain truthing’ exercises, detecting the human heat signatures vital in leading responders to trapped survivors.
When used as commercial tools in the hands of accredited and experienced professionals, drones can be an excellent aide in disaster relief operations, helping operators to execute and conduct emergency relief tasks in easier and more efficient ways, saving more time, money, resources, and, ultimately lives.
Want to know how drones can be used to assist in emergencies in your industry or learn how aerial mapping and surveying services can enhance your day-to-day operations? Talk to us. We offer a wide range of drone-driven commercial services and turnkey solutions, and have the experience and accreditation to offer you the best options without compromising on delivery or quality.