Top 10 Reasons to Use Drones on Earthwork Projects
Top 10 Reasons to Use Drones on Earthwork Projects
Is drone data really that helpful for dirt contractors? We think so, and here are 10 ways to use it:
A drone point cloud can quickly be compared to the original ground map used to bid the job to evaluate if anything has changed since the existing ground survey. Plus, the high-resolution orthophoto documents the site so both you and the project owner can truly see current conditions.
AGTEK’s REVEAL takes the data collected from your drone and automatically classifies and removes unwanted elements, providing clean, exact data in a fast, simple process leveraging the power of AI, saving you time and money.
Once you’ve imported your drone map into Gradework, you can use it to quantify and validate demolition quantities on existing buildings, asphalt, concrete, and vegetation. Or use drone data to fill in where demo plans are incomplete or unavailable.
You can fly a site much faster than you can do a GPS topo and the drone data gives you a more detailed point cloud and aerial photo so that you can accurately haul plan, identify balance regions, and know where to stockpile materials.
Progress happens quickly and drone data will help you track it without tying up your GPS system. Compare your updated map to the existing ground survey (or your last drone flight) to see how much dirt you have moved to date or to your subgrade model to see how much you have left to do. Validate and calibrate the compaction factors for shrink and swell.
You know the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words”? Well, it is just as true for job site documentation, progress monitoring, and haul route verification.
You can also take visual inspection to the next level by measuring lengths, areas, and counts – both for what’s in place and for what remains – to easily assess and quantify material procurement needs.
Drone data can be shared with the owner, designer, engineer, and project team allowing for streamlined communication, even with those who are not able to be present on site.
It improves internal communication because the data is easily relayed between the office and the field through AGTEK’s SmartDirt mobile app. The point cloud data and photographs create clear documentation of site conditions for use in change order negotiations, claims, and disputes.
Drones make it quick and most importantly safe to get very accurate stockpile volumes or quarry inventory quantities.
Measure twice, cut (or fill!) once.
Use Gradework to share the current drone map with owners, developers, and your project team. AGTEK makes it easy to export .kmz files which can be opened in Google Earth or in your AGTEK mobile apps to use onsite.
Once the project is complete, you can use the drone to capture as-built information and identify utility tie-in points and other relevant information for the follow-on contractor or project owner.
When you combine your drone data with equipment tracks you can start analyzing production because you can measure what has changed and see why!
Want to learn more? Email us at sales@agtek.com.