International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 11 Issue: 06 | Jun 2024 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
Applications of Drone’s and Software’s in Construction Industry
Omkar Gundgal1 , Prof. Tushar Bhamare2
1MIT-ADT UNIVERSITY, PUNE, INDIA
2Professor, MIT-ADT UNIVERSITY, PUNE, INDIA
Abstract - This research paper provides a comprehensive overview of the applications of drones and software in the construction industry. The integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and advanced software solutions has revolutionized various aspects of construction processes, leading to increased efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness. The paper explores the diverse applications of drones and software in construction, including surveying, mapping, monitoring, and project management. It also discusses the challenges and opportunities associated with the adoption of these technologies in the construction sector. The world is continuously developing and deploying new technologies in the Construction Industry for achieving speed, accuracy and safety in the construction projects. Advanced modern technologies are entering CI for faster execution of projects. At the same time to cope-up with execution speed, monitoring methods are also getting modernized. Hence the drones have come into picture; they do not contribute for the actual execution but make a huge contribution in faster monitoring of the projects which help in faster decision- making leading and to lower the time lag in the projects too. Drones can be used right from the stage of land purchase till the post construction stage of the project They are used from pre-construction; construction to post-construction stage in construction industry. The engagement of conventional methods for site surveying, contour mapping, site-progress monitoring, construction quality management, etc. can be questionable, whereas drones can perform the same jobs with almost no risk and more accuracy and with lesser manpower too. Drones have become one of the compelling construction trends. In the next ten years, it is projected that the usage of drones in construction will rise, and they will play a key role in futuristic structures.
Key Words: Unmanned aerial vehicles, construction, drones, surveying, mapping, monitoring, project management
1.INTRODUCTION
1.11 BACKGROUND
Drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and advanced software solutions have found widespread applicationsintheconstructionindustry.Theuseofthesetechnologieshasevolvedovertime,drivenbytheneedforincreased efficiency, improved safety, and cost-effectiveness in construction processes. The integration of drones and software has transformed traditional construction practices and opened up new possibilities for project management, surveying, and monitoring.
1.2 Objectives
Theprimaryobjectivesofthisresearchpaperaretoprovideacomprehensiveunderstandingofthediverseapplicationsof dronesandsoftwareintheconstructionindustry.Itaimstoexplorehowthesetechnologiesimpactefficiency,safety,andcosteffectiveness.Bydelvingintothevarioususecases,challenges,andopportunities,thispaperseekstooffervaluableinsightsfor constructionprofessionals,policymakers,andresearchers.
2.
APPLICATIONS OF DRONES IN CONSTRUCTION
2.1 Surveying and Mapping:
Dronesareutilizedforhigh-precisionaerialsurveystogathertopographicaldataandcreatedetailedmapsofconstruction sites.Thissectionwillexplorehow3Dmodelingandterrainanalysisusingdronedatacontributetoaccurateandefficient surveyingintheconstructionindustry.
2.2 Monitoring and Inspections
Real-time monitoring of construction sites is crucial for tracking progress. Drones provide a dynamic view of the constructionsite,aidingprojectmanagersindecision-making.Additionally,thesectionwilldiscusshowdronesareemployedfor structuralinspections,ensuringqualitycontrolandfacilitatingtimelymaintenance.
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 11 Issue: 06 | Jun 2024 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
2.3 Safety and Security
Dronesplayavitalroleinenhancingon-sitesafetythroughaerialsurveillance.Thissectionwillexplorehowdronesare usedtoidentifypotentialhazards,monitorcompliancewithsafetyregulations,andcontributetooverallsitesecurity.
3. SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS IN CONSTRUCTION
3.1 Building Information Modeling (BIM):
TheintegrationofBIMwithdronedataenablescomprehensiveprojectvisualization.ThissectionwillexplorehowBIM facilitatescollaborationamongstakeholdersandensuresefficientdatasharing,contributingtoimprovedprojectoutcomes.
3.2 Project Management Software:
Projectmanagementsoftwaretoolsplayacrucialroleinstreamliningworkflows,communication,scheduling,budgeting,and resourcemanagement.Thissectionwilldelveintothewaysinwhichadvancedsoftwaresolutionsenhanceprojectmanagement inconstruction.
3.3 Data Analytics and Machine Learning:
Theuseofdataanalyticsandmachinelearninginconjunctionwithdrone-collecteddataoffersvaluableinsights.Thissection willexplorehowthesetechnologiescontributetopredictiveanalytics,aidinginprojectplanningandriskmanagement.
4. CASE STUDIES:
4.1
Successful Implementations
This section will showcase real-world case studies where the integration of drones and software has led to successful outcomesinconstructionprojects.Byexaminingthesecases,readerswillgainapracticalunderstandingofthebenefitsand challengesassociatedwiththeimplementationofthesetechnologies.
Project:KohinoorCoral
HerewewilldiscussthesuccessfulimplementationofDroneinproject.Wehaveusedthedronealongwithsoftware’swhich providea predefinedpathtothedronetocapturetherequireddataalongwithitscoordinatesandotherdata feedthatis requiredforthesoftwaretoprocessthesame.Thesoftware’sProcessvisualinputsfromdronesand360°cameras.
Fig -1:RawDroneCaptureoftheProjectincluding5Towers
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 11 Issue: 06 | Jun 2024 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
Hereapredefinedpathissetbythesoftwareforthedrone.WhilethedroneisconnectedtotheDevice/Mobileand applicationisopened.Thespecificprojectstartpointisshownanddroneislaunchedfromthelaunchpadanditcapturesthe dataautomatically.HenceforwardthedatacapturedisthenprocessedbythesoftwareandAutoCaddrawingsareoverlayed ontothesamewhichshowsatwhichstageweareanddelaysandallotherdataisshowninabarchartformat.Alsodrawing overlaysareshownwiththespecificerrrorsinworkhighlightedinthereport.Thishelpsinmaintainingthedataandforproper evaluationandrectification.
Fig -2:FigureShowsTower1OverlayedwithAutocadDrawingsoveritandtransparencyat95%(Sectionlinescanbe seeninthisImage)
Fig -3:ImageshowsTower1SlabShutteringandReinforcementworkinProgress.
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 11 Issue: 06 | Jun 2024 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
-4:InthisimagetheSoftwarehasoverlaidthereinforcementandshutteringworkvisualstohaveaclear understandingofthescenario.
5. CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
5.1 Regulatory and Legal Issues:
Theuseofdronesinconstructionissubjecttoregulatoryandlegalconsiderations.Thissectionwilldiscusscompliance with aviation regulations, privacy concerns, and the need to navigate legal frameworks for drone use in construction. Overlookingtheopportunitieswhichhavebeenprovidedbythewideapplicationofdronesincivilengineeringprojects,there arestillchallengesthatneedtobeaddressedtofullyleveragethepotentialofdronetechnologyinthisfield.
5.2 Technological Challenges:
Integratingvarioussoftwaresolutionsposeschallengessuchasinteroperabilityandcybersecurityrisks.Thissection willexplorethetechnologicalchallengesassociatedwiththeadoptionofdronesandsoftwareinconstruction.Forthethree phasesofdesign,construction,andmaintenance,oneof themostcrucial challenges isitslimitedflighttimeand rangeas battery life remains a significant constraint for drones. While most of the commercial drones have relatively short flight durations,limitingtheirabilitytocoverlargeconstructionsitesorinspectextensiveinfrastructure.Thislimitationhampers their overall operational efficiency, requiring frequent battery replacements & recharging. Currently, the research and developmenteffortsinthisfield iscontinuouslyimprovingbatteryenergydensityandrechargerates,allowingdronesto operateforlongerperiodsandcovergreaterdistances.Theadoptionofrenewablealternativepowersources,suchasfuelcells, solar panels, or wireless charging, could also potentially eliminate the need for frequent battery replacements and also enhancingoperationalefficiency.Environmentalconditionssuchasstrongwinds,rainorfogcan impededroneoperations affectingprojecttimewhichisanotherchallengefordrones.Dronesarealsosusceptibletoturbulencecausedbyhighwinds, andprecipitationcandamagesensitiveelectroniccomponentsalsoleadingtopotentialdowntimeandincreasedmaintenance
Fig
Fig -5:ImageofDroneusedforSurvey’s.
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 11 Issue: 06 | Jun 2024 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
costs.Designingdroneswithrobuststructures,waterproofing,andadvancednavigationsystemscanenablethemtowithstand harshweatherelementsandcontinueoperationsinchallengingenvironmentssafely.Withtheopportunitiesthatlieaheadwith drone technologies can improve safety at construction sites, monitoring processes, surveys, 3D modeling and more, civil engineerscanharnessthecapabilitiesofdronestodriveinnovation,andalsooptimizeprojectmanagement,whilepromoting saferandmoresustainableinfrastructuredevelopment.
5.3 Future Trends and Opportunities:
Anticipatingfuturetrendsandopportunitiesisessentialforstakeholdersintheconstructionindustry.Thissectionwill discuss emerging technologies shaping the future of drones and software in construction and potential areas for further researchanddevelopment.Overtheyears,thedronetechnologyhasevolvedandhasbecomemoresophisticated,offeringa widerangeofapplicationsinareassuchasthoseshowninthisstudy.Wecanpredictthatthefuturedroneswillbeequipped withmoreadvancedautomationandAIcapabilitiestoconductmissionswithminimalhumaninterventionsuchasautonomous flightplanningandobstacleavoidance.TheNewerAI-powereddronescanautonomouslynavigatecomplexterrains,identify andassesspotential hazards,andconductadvanceddata analysisasassignedtothem.Thisautomationstreamlinesdata collection,dataprocessing,andreporting,enablingcivilengineersforhelpingthemmakeinformeddecisionsfasterandwith moreaccuracy.Furthermore,theimprovementsinbatterytechnologyanddronedesignwillleadtoextendedflighttimesto allowthedronestocoverlargeareasinasingleflight,makingthemmoreeffectiveforsuchtaskswhereanextensivereviewer needstoworkonenergystoragesystems.Anencouragingprospectforthefutureofdroneapplicationsinthecivilindustry involvesincorporating5Gconnectivity.Theadvancedcapabilitiesof5GDronesworks,includingsubstantiallyhigherdata transferrates,remarkablylowlatency,andexpandedcapacity,enableseamlessreal-timecommunicationbetweendronesand groundstations.Implementingthe5G-enableddronesthecivilengineerswillgaintheabilitytoremotelyoverseeconstruction sitesandinfrastructurewithenhancedaccuracyandefficiency.Thisseamlessexchangeofhigh-resolutiondataandlivevideo feedsempowersthemtomakeagiledecisions,enablingswiftresponsestodynamicprojectconditions.ThenewerCollaborative swarmtechnologyisanotherareawhichneedstobefurtherresearchedinthefuturefordronesastheirabilitytooperatein swarmswillrevolutionizevariouscivilindustries.Dronesworkingtogetherinserieswillenhanceefficiencyanddatacollection capabilitieswhichcanbeappliedatconstructionsites.Suchnewertechnologiescouldpossiblyincreasethedemandfordrones and with the increase in numbers, one cannot ignore that there will be a strong emphasis on making drones more environmentallyfriendlyandsustainable.Thiscouldinvolveusingefficientbio-inspireddesigns,energy-efficientpropulsion systems,MicroAirVehicles,andmaterialswithreducedenvironmentalimpact.
6. CONCLUSION:
6.1 Summary of Key Findings:
Thissection will summarize thekeyfindingsof thepaper, emphasizing the transformativeimpactofdronesand softwareontheconstructionindustry.
6.2
Implications for the Future:
Discussingthebroaderimplicationsoftheresearchfindings,thissectionwillhighlighthowtheintegrationofdrones andsoftwareislikelytoinfluencethefuturepracticesanddynamicsoftheconstructionindustry.
6.3 Recommendations:
Theconclusionwillconcludewithrecommendationsforvariousstakeholders,includingconstructionprofessionals, policymakers,andresearchers,basedontheinsightsgainedfromtheresearch.
Thepresentstudycomprisesapplicationofdronesinconstructionwithabriefaccountoftheexistingreviewsandearlier varioussourcesofliteraturecitedduring2012-2021.Differenttypesofdronesareoutlinedwithfunctionsofeachessential componentinshort.Constructionmanagementsoftwarepromoteswillhelpprojectmanagerstomanageeveryaspecttoa constructionprojectfrominitialstagesofconstructiontoprojectdelivery.Usabilityofdronesinconstructionrelatedindustries alsoaddstoprimeapplicationsofdronesinconstructionindustry.Thebuildingconstructionprocessisdiscussedfromstartto finish.Mostlytheyaredesign,andplanning;procurement,pre-construction;construction,post-constructionandclose-out. Drones/UAVprovidesconstructionstakeholderswithexpansive,accurate,andprecisespatialdata.Landsurveying,inspection, monitoringanyissue,trackprogress,deployinglabour,materialwaste,annotatingmapsandimages,calculatingmaterialtypes andstockpilevolumeforinventoryandincreasingsafety.Increasedproductivity,accuracyandprecision,costreductionare somebenefits.Whilestudyingtheliteraturewerecordedsomelimitationandchallengesfortheuseofdronesinconstruction
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 11 Issue: 06 | Jun 2024 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
and civil engineering. The common challenges are: (i) safety challenges (ii) project delays, and (iii) difficulty/danger of mapping and surveying. The ever-improving capabilities and affordability of drones makes it possible to reduce delays, reworks,andsafetyissuestodrivebetterprojectperformance.Limitationsaredronecost,rulesandregulationofflight,skill operators,flighttimeandweathercondition.Droneusewouldlowerthecostsofprojects,increaseproductivity,createnew jobsandaddvaluetotheconstructionsector.Dronescanflyininaccessibleandhazardousareasandcollectdataeasily.Drones providereal-timeinformation,leadingtosignificantimprovementinsurveyingaccuracy,andboostingoverallefficiencyin productionandcommunication.IntegrationofBIManddronetechnologyplaysaroleinpre-,during,andpost-construction processintermsofdigitaldocumentation.It alsoinvolvesinsitesurveying,inspection,safety,modellinganddelivery.
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