When it comes down to it, the primary reason construction companies are turning to drones for their projects boils down to the data they provide. Drones offer a wealth of information that can significantly enhance a business's efficiency and profitability. The most apparent advantage of using drones in construction is the speed at which data can be collected. With drones, you can gather data far quicker than traditional methods, leading to numerous benefits such as improved financial performance, eliminating guesswork, and accelerating cash flow.
However, to maximize these benefits, it’s essential to analyze the various analytics and reports available through your drone mapping software. This post aims to help you understand the different types of analytics and their significance in construction projects.
To illustrate this, we'll refer to our cloud-based solution, Site IQ, and the analytics it provides, as a prime example of what to look for when choosing a drone software provider, especially if you're an enterprise-level business.
While there are many other analytical features beyond the scope of this article, don't worry—this post will cover all the critical elements that can have the most significant impact on your projects!
Here are the five main types of analytics and reports construction companies should seek from drone mapping:
**Understanding Current Topography with Drone Maps**
The drone map is one of the most basic yet crucial components of your drone software. It's essentially a visual representation of the job site combined with geospatial data. This map serves as the foundation for several analytics and reports that enable informed decision-making.
These maps are compatible with CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software, allowing you to verify topography and compare older contour maps with the updated drone-provided surfaces to detect changes. Accurate topographical data is vital for precise bidding.
Imagine bidding on a project based on outdated maps that claim the project requires 100,000 cubic yards of material. If that map is ten years old, it might be inaccurate. With drone maps, you could identify discrepancies and adjust your bids accordingly, ensuring you're bidding the right amount.
[Insert Image: Contour Map]
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In the Site IQ screenshot, you can see the difference between the old and new contour maps, clearly showing how the terrain has changed over time.
**Winning Bids and Invoicing with Cut/Fill Quantities and Heat Maps**
Tracking cut and fill data is crucial for accurate billing and bidding. These analytics help you understand the total amount of material removed (cut) and transported (fill) on-site. Drone software can provide these analytics swiftly and accurately, which is essential since payments are often calculated based on cubic yards of cut and fill.
Site IQ offers a cut/fill quantities report that allows you to compare the current state of the project with previous stages or the initial design file. Additionally, heat maps on Site IQ provide a visual representation of earthwork quantities on the map, from the current day's production to the final day, rather than just presenting data in a report format.
This feature not only aids in bidding but also builds trust by helping you confirm subcontractor work.
[Insert Image: Tracking Cut/Fill Region]
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In the Site IQ screenshot, you can see the highlighted blue area where cut work was performed, accompanied by a corresponding graph detailing the amount.
**Monitoring Project Progress with Change Detection Technology**
In construction, constant change is inevitable, making change detection technology indispensable. Similar to tracking cut and fill, this tool highlights areas where changes occur, rather than focusing solely on the specifics of those quantities.
On Site IQ, changes are color-coded—blue for cut and red for fill—allowing you to easily see where excavation has taken place and how much work remains. You can even switch the colors if you prefer.
Change detection technology offers an easy-to-understand way to visualize daily progress without needing to be physically present on-site. This insight into daily activities helps ensure your project stays on schedule throughout its duration.
[Insert Image: Change Detection Heat Map]
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In the Site IQ screenshot, you can observe the red and blue overlays indicating where cut and fill changes have occurred.
**Accurate Billing with 3D Volume Calculations and Volume Reports**
Do you bill clients based on the volume of material moved, or do you need to manage inventory on-site? If so, 3D volume calculations are invaluable.
Like cut and fill analytics, 3D volume calculations provide detailed insights into material quantities on-site. On Site IQ, this tool goes further by offering deeper analytics about specific materials. You can see individual piles of material circled and outlined, each accompanied by a corresponding report detailing the density, volume, tonnage, and monetary value.
This capability ensures you bill the correct amount and speeds up cash flow.
[Insert Image: Volume Calculation Region]
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In the Site IQ screenshot, you can see the selected area with all relevant statistics, including tonnage and density.
**Ensuring Projects Stay on Track with As-Built vs. As-Planned Overlays**
One essential feature every drone software should include is the ability to compare the as-built version of a project with the original design plan. This comparison reassures you that your project aligns with the intended blueprint, keeping operations on track.
Using our drone software, Site IQ, this comparison is straightforward through the blueprints tool. The design plan overlays the current progress, allowing you to compare the two and ensure everything is proceeding as planned.
[Insert Image: Blueprints]
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In the Site IQ screenshot, you can see the lighter red overlay representing the design plan and the darker red overlay showing the current progress.
**The Most Vital Tool for Construction Projects**
Among the various analytics available, change detection technology paired with cut and fill tracking is particularly critical for construction and earthmoving projects. This combination provides precise measurements of how much cut and fill work remains, giving you real-time insights into project progress and whether you’ll finish on time.
A drone mapping solution is the fastest way to obtain this crucial information.
**Conclusion**
By now, you should have a clearer understanding of the data you can gather from drone mapping. To succeed in construction, mastering these analytics is essential. Consuming this data efficiently is key to achieving success, something we strive to empower with our cloud-based solution, Site IQ, and the use of survey drones.
What do you think is the most critical dataset you can obtain from a drone mapping provider? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
[Image: Guide Cover]
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