The construction industry has long been dominated by analogue processes, but recently took big steps towards a digital future. For instance, planning, collaboration, and supervision systems were enhanced with accurate digital data. The benefits of this are numerous.
One of these new digital planning technologies is Building Information Modelling (BIM). As a modern counterpart to traditional blueprints, BIM allows construction companies to accurately view the progress of their work. All while members of the project team contribute. For this system to live up to its potential and strengthen workflows on the construction site, however, companies need a way to repeatedly collect accurate data.
That, in turn, is where drones are a perfect solution. These have made great strides in the construction industry, especially as the technology has become more commonplace and accessible. Contractors use drones for numerous functions and use the data collected by their increasingly sophisticated sensor modules. This information is the fuel that BIM solutions need.
And that makes drones and BIM a perfect match!
What is Building Information Modelling?
ScienceDirect defined it thanks to a collection of peer-reviewed reports: BIM is a system for sharing data about a construction project before, during and after construction. Although BIM is meant to be a modern version of the classic construction drawing, its use goes beyond digitally replacing paper documents.
It is also a system for collaboration and data exchange. One of the important roles BIM can play is to act as a single source of truth for a construction project. That way, every part of the team is aware of not only the original plan of the structure, but also the current situation as well as the expected future. From the architect’s initial design, BIM files keep all members of the project team informed.
One of the defining features of BIM is the use of a 3D model of the construction project. By comparing the latest BIM data with speculative models created when the work was still in the planning stage, contractors get a valuable and clear picture of their planned, current, and projected buildings.
However, we should note that the general definition of BIM goes beyond the digital BIM model itself. BIM software is also a valuable place for stakeholders to provide comments and updates on the status of a construction project. Real-time updates from the BIM system allow staff to log in from the office and even the construction site to check current inventory levels, staffing levels and more.
The need for accurate, real-time data entered into the BIM software is one of the key issues contractors need to consider when implementing these systems. To take full advantage of the solutions, they need updated figures. One of the most effective, safe, and reliable ways to deliver that content is the use of construction drones.
What is the role of drones in BIM?
Drones solve one of the major problems companies can face after BIM implementation. One example: if the actual progress of the project differs from the projection made in the planning phase, working from those 3D plans can be challenging. Laying a 3D model of the construction in progress over the plan is a convenient way to continue working with BIM technology as a project progresses.
But it can also be done differently. Drones can nowadays be equipped with different types of sensors. With these, they can, for example, generate a 3D point cloud to create an accurate digital model. The most used method for drones is photogrammetry. This is based on composing 3D views from numerous 2D photos. This is made easy with the Smart Oblique Capture feature available on the Mavic 3 Enterprise and the Matrice 300 RTK with a Zenmuse P1. Another method, Light Detection and Ranging or LiDAR, uses invisible beams that indicate the exact position of objects.
Drones are useful for building real-time 3D models that are at the heart of BIM systems. But they can also play another role in generating actual data. For example, drones can fly over material warehouses and take stock volume measurements. This can accurately report how much stock is left at a particular site and allow contractors to plan better.
As drones are an unobtrusive way of capturing information about a building site or structure, they are useful at any stage of a construction project. The BIM data they provide can inform a contractor’s initial plans, track the progress of a project, and ensure it is completed to high quality and safety standards thanks to ongoing facilities management.
Before a job
Drones map a construction site and provide accurate topographical data that is incorporated into the initial, projected 3D model in the BIM platform. Even on rough terrain, drones provide a safe, efficient way to scan the entire site. By building in this accuracy from the very beginning, contractors can stick to their schedules.
During a project
By flying a drone over the site, all stakeholders can be periodically updated on the current situation. Generating updated 3D models to lay over the original plans is a BIM-specific role for drones. These unmanned aerial vehicles can also take aerial photographs showing where assets are located. Something that helps managers coordinate work.
After completion of a job
The role of BIM technology is not over when the last nail is hammered. The same goes for drones. They can provide safe, effective inspections and facilities management, looking at a structure from all sides and ensuring that every part of the building is structurally sound and compliant.
How are construction companies using drones for BIM?
Drones can be especially useful in situations that are logistically difficult for crews on the ground. But there are still numerous specific applications for which contractors use drones.
- Construction of power lines
High-voltage power lines are challenging to plan because they need to cover a large area. If contractors do not have accurate position data in their BIM software, they may encounter problems during the work. Drones offer an efficient, cost-effective way to generate accurate terrain maps and keep them updated as the work progresses.
- Updated BIM planning in complex geography
There are many things that make a site difficult to navigate. A site may be remote, have large elevation differences or be in an area significantly altered by construction. Drones can capture updated information more cheaply than with an aircraft and more accurately than with satellite imagery.
- Updated BIM planning in complex geography
There are many things that make a site difficult to navigate. A site may be remote, have large elevation differences or be in an area significantly altered by construction. Drones can capture updated information more cheaply than with an aircraft and more accurately than with satellite imagery.
When a construction company needs to gather information, drones can certainly be used. It is safer than sending measuring teams to a construction site and more accurate than other data collection methods.
How does the application of BIM using drones yield returns?
At its core, BIM is a solution for information sharing and collaboration. This makes it an important part of the construction planning process and a reliable value generator. Because drones provide a constant source of accurate data from the construction site, companies can improve their BIM workflows.
Construction companies equipped with BIM and drones can see added value in the following areas:
- Instantly update construction plans:
With a consistently updated BIM model to overlay over the plans, contractors immediately know if they have deviated from their original intentions. This allows them to adjust along the way – the ability to change course is more efficient than having to make drastic changes later in the construction process.
- Working with the most accurate figures possible
Drones don’t just provide timely data. When using advanced sensor modules, the information coming in from these unmanned aerial vehicles is also highly accurate. Real-time kinematics (RTK) is a system that uses a drone, a base station, and a satellite to triangulate accurate position data at centimetre level. Working with highly detailed figures helps contractors plan at every step, from initial visualisation to final inspection.
- Managing the job site from a bird’s eye view:
The ability of drones to measure more than the structure under construction makes them valuable and cost-effective components of any contractor’s overall equipment. A drone flying over the construction site can inform contractors where assets and materials are located and conduct inspections. All this data is then uploaded to the BIM so that all stakeholders can access it. They can immediately incorporate this information into their workflows.
BIM and drones are a valuable combination, a source of accurate data throughout the construction process and an efficient way to share it all.
How to find the perfect BIM drones?
To map a site from the air and collect important BIM data, you need specialised and powerful commercial drones. The right drone for a contractor’s needs depends on the role the company has in mind for these devices.
The best options are:
Light, affordable, and equipped with an accurate RTK module. Gathers all the information a contractor needs to execute a construction project on schedule.
Configurable equipment with possibly a powerful Zenmuse L1 LiDAR sensor. This can be used to collect accurate point cloud data, even in the dark.
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