IT IS ALL ABOUT BEING SMART.
THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS LOOKING TO TAKE OFF When looking at latest technological innovation in the construc- tion industry the sky is the limit, well that may not be true anymore. Unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) commonly known as drones are hitting the construction industry by storm and experts believe that they will be a common tool on jobsites. With the cost of drones continuing to drop as more and more manufacturers move into the market place we are seeing the increase use of this technology for the commercial sector. Canada is ahead of the curve in North America, at least in terms of regulation as the U.S. Federal Aviation Agency does not permit the use of drones for commercial purposes, but with time this will change. In the construction industry, there are a number of different appli- cations that can benefit from the collection of aerial images and data, which include: site surveying and planning, construction documentation, safety and inspection, environmental reporting, lead line/cable delivery and positional marking. Drones can also be used to perform volume and planning calculations and thermal calculations. Drones can be programmed to fly a consistent path at a consistent height to ensure a consistent data set, without the We have our smart cars and our smart phones but it just might be the “Smart Helmet” that redefines workflow on the construction site. Topcon Positioning Group and DAQRI put their heads together and partnered up to create a wearable technology designed to change the way construction and survey professionals interface with the job site. The DAQRI Smart Helmet is an industrial-grade wearable that seam- lessly connects construction and infrastructure professionals to their work environments by providing them the ability to view valuable infor- mation about the project and job environment around them using aug- mented reality technology solutions allowing workers on the job to be safer and more productive. The DAQRI Smart Helmet is designed to bring wearable technol- ogy to a wider AEC (architecture, engineering and construction) user-base; empowering the user with a safe hands-free tool that can be used on the job. Both Topcon and DAQRI are committed to developing innovative solutions that power the future of work and are at the forefront of the Construction and Infrastructure industries with some of the most innovative products that are being used by millions of workers across a variety of environments. We look forward to seeing how our partnership re-defines the nature of ‘work,’ by setting a new standard for wearables in the AEC space..
human error that often creeps into data collection. Safety is another important element of drone use. A huge benefit in the construc- tion industry is that drones can increase the focus on safety on the job site as it can eliminate having to send employees into unsafe environments to collect data or for inspections.
We are seeing the increase use of this technology for the commercial sector.
It has been proven that drones clearly have a role to play on construc- tion sites. Now contractors need to consider that technology is evolving quickly, and early adopters may run the risk of investing in equipment that becomes outdated before the return on investment is realized. For some businesses outsourcing might be the way to go at first and you need to remember staff training and gear maintenance costs also have to be considered plus Transport Canada requires a Special Flight Operating Certificate (SFOC) for most commercial drone use. Whether your decision is to invest in the technology yourself or hire a service provider, it is very clear that the use of drones for commercial purposes is growing exponentially and soon will be as important to your business as computers and mobile phones.
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS • APRIL 2016
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