DronesinConstruction

4-8: DRONES ARE GREAT TO REVIEW PROJECTS AND CLIENTS SEEM TO LIKE BEING ABLE TO DO SO WITHOUT BEING ON SITE, ACCORDING TO COMPANY CIVIL ENGINEER BRENT MUSCHA. THESE PHOTOS DEPICT THE PROGRESS OF A PROJECT ALONG MAIN AVENUE AND 2ND STREET IN FARGO. IMAGES: APEX ENGINEERING GROUP

9: BRENT MUSCHA, A CIVIL ENGINEER WITH APEX, SAID DRONES HAVE INCREASINGLY BECOME A MORE IMPORTANT TOOL FOR THE COMPANY. IMAGE: APEX ENGINEERING GROUP

10: FRANK REGAS, OWNER OF ASCENDING INNOVATIONS IN SIOUX FALLS, S.D., SAID HE KEEPS BUSY WITH CONTRACT DRONE WORK BUT NOTICES THAT MORE ENGINEERING FIRMS AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES ARE GETTING THEIR OWN PILOTS. THAT MAY BE GOOD NEWS FOR THEM, HE SAYS, BUT NOT SO MUCH FOR GUYS LIKE HIM. IMAGE: ASCENDING INNOVATIONS

As more companies become better at drone usage and develop their own pilots, the more they help shape the growing trend: forget contract work and fly yourself.

Frank Regas, owner of Ascending Innovations in Sioux Falls, S.D., said he has an engineering background and contracts out to construction and engineering firms all of the time. But he does notice how more companies are getting their own pilots. That’s good for them, he said, but maybe not as good for him.

“They can get it done pretty efficiently, especially engineering firms and construction companies.” he said. “That seems to be the trend. On the flip side, it means less work for guys like me.”

In-house Pilots and the Future of Drones

Construction and engineering companies, which typically use drones for photogrammetry and video, are the main players that use drones for business, according to Edmonson. Besides companies developing their own pilots, they should also invest in equipment that can grow with drone technology. And if they haven’t yet invested, he said, they should consider doing so in the foreseeable future.

A likely scenario is that construction leaders will likely “fly systems that can carry multiple sensors, whether it’s LiDAR to cut through vegetation or thermal to complete building inspections,” reads an article on Inside Unmanned Systems. “Sensors will become more accurate, and drones will become even more common.”

Drone usage among construction and engineering firms will only trend upward. As it does, and as companies invest in their own pilots instead of contracting them, Edmonson said it opens another door for UAS businesses, such as Drone Genuity and its training programs.

“Flying a drone isn’t an easy task in and of itself and combining that with capturing images makes the task trickier,” he said, noting Drone Genuity is beginning to consult with companies who have their own fleets and pilots. “In the future it will be interesting to see if companies continue to contract this type of work, take it in-house, do both, or even grow and try to provide services to other companies.”

Edmonson said over the next five years or so more food and beverage and hospitality and tourism industries will likely integrate drones in a variety of ways.

“Health care, emergency and disaster response have also seen drone integration,” he said. “We are seeing increases in agriculture and insurance with the return of warm weather and expect those trends to continue.”

Regas said drones’ potential hasn’t yet been fully realized. He expects that as technology becomes smarter and more efficient, there will be more autonomous drones. Despite companies developing their own pilots, something that may hinder the number of contracts he and other UAS businesses may receive, Regas is excited to be part of a forward-thinking industry. He looks forward to its future.

“I think (things will happen) that a lot of us can’t really think of right now,” he said.