How to Build a Business Case to Use Drones in Your Construction, Engineering, or Architecture Operations

So, you've heard and read that drones are being increasingly used in the construction industry to realize multiple benefits: they are utilized to complete some tasks in commercial real estate development and construction workflows faster, cheaper, safer, and in many cases, more accurate than using traditional methods. The latest construction industry reports show that drone use cases in construction are expanding, and the number of flights is increasing.

At this point, you may be already convinced that bringing drones, or at least testing the inclusion of drones in your operations is the right thing to do. The main problem you are facing is that you know that trying this technology will take additional resource allocation from your organization (it may be time, budget, manpower, or all the above). And if you don't control any of these resources but see the opportunity and are eager to bring this to your managers, you will need to build a business case and present it to your superiors.

At the end of the day, you also want to keep yourself relevant and further your career in your organization or even create a new position job for yourself, so proposing using cutting-edge technology to make your company's operations more efficient will promote your reputation as forward-thinking and innovative. If you do control the decision-making and resources in your organization, you can contact V1DroneMedia today, and we can help you find the right drone solution and help incorporate drones into your operations.

Building a business case

steps on how to build a business case to incorporate drones into your operations:

1.   Understand the gaps that your organization must fill to build up this capability. They are:

·   Knowledge of national airspace regulations to gauge your ability to fly at any given site (resource allocation and cost – can be a drone pilot or drone operations manager)

·   Part 107 licensed staff or contractors that can legally and skillfully operate drones to accomplish required tasks (staff allocation and training cost, or cost to hire pilots)

·   Purchase drones that are suitable for your use cases (know-how and the cost)

·   Drone equipment maintenance (know-how and the cost)

·   Purchase Drone Insurance (unless your pilot contractors have it and can add your organization as an additional insured)

·   Establish Drone Operating procedures on work sites

·   Photogrammetry software (cost to purchase, human resources, and the know-how to process the data)

2.  Establish use cases in current workflows that can bring value to your organization and translate them into cost savings, a competitive advantage, new added value, or other benefits.

See our blog posts Photogrammetry, Top 4 Drone Uses in Construction, Drone Use in Construction Marketing, Drone Mapping: Unleashing the Full Potential of Aerial Data, What is Drone Mapping, and Drone Mapping Advantages vs. Conventional Mapping Methods for information on a variety of ways to incorporate drones into your operations. Benefits of these use cases include, but are not limited to:

·   Saving time in accomplishing tasks faster (translate that into saving $ as well)

·   Providing more accurate data for some use cases (translate into $ savings)

·   Potential for safety increase (can be one of the organizational goals, or translate it into insurance savings, or other $)

·   Add new value to your operations (translate that into a new product/service offering as a new stream of revenue, new customer benefit to differentiate you from the competition, etc.)

3.   Establish a budget range and other resources (like labor) necessary to acquire this capability.

You will also have to decide if you want to grow this capability from within, or outsource the data gathering and processing – i.e. Make or Buy decision)

4.   Run financial analysis with multi-year scenarios to show the Return on the Investment (ROI) of implementing drone technology into your workflows

5.   Develop a business case presentation that includes:

·   Industry trends with drone adoption data

·   Case studies of organizations that have adopted this technology (for example, see the article Ohio Department of Transportation Makes a Good Case for Their Drone ROI)

·   Pros/cons of not adopting drones

·   Outline your plan to build this capability for your organization

1.   How your organization will use the drones

2.   How drones will incorporate into workflows

3.   What resource investment is required (budget and timeline for labor, hardware, software, insurance, etc.)

4.   Financials with ROI. If you didn't have a financial professional from your workplace develop this model, make sure you can explain your assumptions. I recommend bringing a trusted finance team member on board to help you make the business case with concrete numbers

5.   Present risks of adopting drones into your organization and plans to mitigate them

6.   Finally, present your business case to your decision-makers.

Present your drone use business case

We hope you found this step-by-step guide on building a business case to include drones in your operations valuable.

V1DroneMedia is a Cleveland-based drone services company that was founded by an airline pilot with a background in remote control aviation and electrical engineering, and a marketing professional who has a couple of decades of experience in developing and pitching business cases to leadership (read more about V1DroneMedia here).

If you are looking for a consultant to help you include drones into your operation, help you train your employees to fly drones, build a business case, or are looking to outsource drone flying to a reputable company, contact us today, and learn more about our AEC Drone Services.

Drone Mapping: Unleashing the Full Potential of Aerial Data

Drones have revolutionized the way we capture and process data. Their ability to capture high-quality imagery and 3D models from the air has made them an indispensable tool for many industries, from construction to agriculture to environmental conservation.

While cost and time savings are two of the most commonly cited benefits of drone mapping, the technology offers so much more. Here are some of the other main advantages of drone mapping:

1. Precision and Accuracy: Drone mapping captures high-resolution imagery and precise location data, making it a game-changer for tasks that require precision and accuracy. For example, drones can capture detailed 3D models of a construction site, allowing architects and engineers to design with greater accuracy and detail.

2. Safety and Accessibility: Drones can access areas that are difficult or dangerous to reach, making them ideal for tasks like inspecting bridges or mapping disaster zones. By keeping human workers out of harm's way, drones can help save lives and prevent accidents.

3. Efficiency and Speed: Drones can cover large areas in a fraction of the time it would take a team of humans to do the same job (which is why many mention time and cost savings as the main benefit of drone mapping). For example, a drone can survey a large plot of land in a matter of hours, allowing construction companies or farmers to make decisions based on real-time data.

4. Real-time Data: Drone mapping can provide real-time data that can be used to make decisions quickly and accurately. This is particularly useful in emergency situations where time is of the essence, and drones are now a very useful tool for disaster response. 

5. Environmental Monitoring: Drones can be used to monitor environmental changes over time. For example, they can capture images of forests to monitor tree density and detect signs of deforestation. This information, delivered in a timely manner, can be used to inform conservation efforts.

6. Planning and Design: Drone mapping provides architects, engineers, and urban planners with highly detailed and accurate data that they can use to plan and design more effectively. For example, a drone can capture a 3D model of a building site, which can be used to optimize the placement of equipment and materials.

As you can see, drone mapping is an incredibly powerful tool that can help organizations save time, improve safety, and make better decisions. With their ability to capture highly accurate and detailed data, drones can transform your workflows and allow a business to add more value to its operations, improving profitability and many other business metrics. Whether you're an architect, engineer, construction manager, or environmental scientist, drone mapping has the potential to unlock new possibilities and drive innovation in your field.

Please be aware that you should not fly drones or hire someone to fly them for commercial purposes without that person holding an FAA-issued Part 107 Certificate. If you want to learn if drone mapping is the right solution for your design problem or how it can add value to your business, contact V1DroneMedia for a consultation and demo today! We also offer drone training classes, and consultations on how to set up a drone program, if you are looking to bring this into your organization.

V1DroneMedia is a drone services provider based in Cleveland, Ohio, but we provide services anywhere in the United States. We service a variety of industries including construction, architecture, engineering, video production, marketing, and more!

V1DroneMedia's Chief Drone Pilot is a former commercial airline pilot and trained electrical engineer. Read more about V1DroneMedia.

Drone Mapping Advantages vs. Conventional Mapping Methods

Drone mapping is becoming a popular use case for drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles. There are several reasons why it is getting so much traction with various industries:

1.    Cost-effectiveness: Drones can cover large areas quickly and at a lower cost than traditional survey methods, such as using manned aircraft or ground surveys.

2.    High-resolution imagery: Drones can capture high-resolution images and data that can be used for detailed mapping and analysis.

3.    Safety: Drones can access areas that are difficult or dangerous for humans to reach, such as steep terrain, hazardous sites, or structures.

4.    Speed: Drones can cover large areas quickly, reducing the time required to complete a mapping project.

5.    Flexibility: Drones can be easily deployed and controlled, allowing for mapping in a wide range of conditions and environments.

6.    Data collection: Drones can be equipped with a variety of sensors, such as cameras, LiDAR, and thermal imaging, to collect a wide range of data for various mapping applications.

7.    3D mapping: Drones can generate 3D models of landscapes and structures, providing more accurate and detailed information than traditional 2D maps.

8.    Regular updates: Drones can be used for regular monitoring and updating of maps at a fraction of the time and cost vs. traditional methods, which enables tracking changes over time possible for organizations that couldn’t afford it before.

9.    Accuracy: Drone mapping can provide just as accurate maps as traditional methods, as it can use GPS and other technologies (such as including ground control points) to ensure precise GIS information.

Most of the drone mapping can be performed using drone photogrammetry, but other technologies such as lidar can also be used with the drone technology for certain use cases.

If you want to learn more about drone mapping, its uses, how much it costs, and how it is performed, read more details in our What is Drone Mapping blog post, and view V1DroneMedia drone services for AEC industries.

V1DroneMedia is a drone services provider in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. We service midwestern states, and our drone services include drone mapping, drone videography (including FPV drones), drone photography, full video production, virtual tours, drone construction services, and drone training.

V1Dronemedia’s Chief Drone Pilot has 20+ years of experience in commercial airlines, and 30+ years in remote control aviation. If you are interested in contracting drone mapping services and are looking for a quote, contact us!

What is Drone Mapping

Drone mapping, also known as aerial mapping or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) mapping, is the process of using drones equipped with cameras and other sensors to capture and process aerial imagery and data to create detailed maps, 3D models, and other visualizations.

How is drone mapping performed?

The drone flies over the area of interest and takes multiple overlapping images. These images are then processed using specialized software to create a detailed map or 3D model of the area.

Typically the process of drone mapping involves several steps: planning the flight, capturing the data, processing the data, and analyzing the data. Some of the key technologies used in drone mapping include photogrammetry (see our drone photogrammetry post to learn more), lidar, and thermal imaging. The outputs are usually in the form of Orthomosaic maps, 3D models, point clouds, and other forms of data that can be used for various purposes.

What can drone mapping be used for?

The maps and models created by drone mapping can be used for a wide range of applications, such as land surveying, construction planning and management, crop monitoring, and environmental conservation.

What are the advantages of drone mapping vs. traditional mapping methods?

Drone mapping can provide a cost-effective and efficient way to collect detailed data and imagery of large areas, including hard-to-reach places, and can provide a high level of detail not possible with traditional mapping methods. Read our Drone Mapping Advantages vs. Conventional Mapping methods blog post for more details (especially if you need to make a business case to use drones for mapping). See more details in our blog post Drone Mapping advantages vs. Conventional Mapping Methods.

How much does it cost to contract drone mapping services?

The cost of drone mapping can vary depending on a variety of factors, such as the size of the area being mapped, the level of detail required, and the equipment and software used. Typically V1DroneMedia charges for time on site, processing time, and software use, which varies on a project basis. This cost can range from a few hundred dollars for a small project to several thousand dollars for a large or complex project.

Who can use drone mapping services?

1.     Agriculture: Drones can be used to create detailed maps of crops and fields, which can help farmers optimize crop yields and make better-informed decisions about planting, fertilizing, and harvesting.

2.     Construction: Drones can be used to create detailed maps of construction sites, which can help contractors plan and execute projects more efficiently.

3.     Real estate: Drones can be used to create detailed maps and 3D models of properties, which can help real estate agents market properties more effectively. Drones are also used to make informative listing videos and photos - you can read more about it in our Why Use Drone In Real Estate Photography and Video blog post

4.     Surveying: Drones can be used to create detailed maps of land and structures, which can help surveyors and engineers plan and design projects more accurately.

5.     Environmental monitoring: Drones can be used to create detailed maps of environmental features such as wetlands, forests, and wildlife habitats, which can help conservationists and scientists monitor and protect these areas.

6.     Emergency response: Drones can be used to create detailed maps of disaster-stricken areas, which can help emergency responders plan and execute rescue and recovery operations more effectively.

7.     Inspection: Drones can be used to create detailed maps of industrial plants, power lines, and other infrastructure, which can help organizations identify and address potential safety and maintenance issues.

These are just a few examples - drone mapping can be used for many other applications as well. V1DroneMedia provides drone mapping services and more AEC Drone Servies in Ohio and other Midwest states. Read about our founders who brought a combined 40 years of aviation and business experience to start V1DroneMedia.

Contact us if you are looking for a drone mapping project consultation or a quote. Don’t forget that in order to perform drone mapping one has to hold FAA Part 107 commercial drone certificate, and be aware of and comply with the FAA airspace regulations for the area where the drone mapping missions are flown.