Building Information Modeling BIM and Drones in Construction

Building information modeling (BIM) is one of this new wave of digital planning technologies. Acting as a modern counterpart to traditional blueprints, BIM adoption allows firms to accurately view the progress of their jobs as project team members make their contributions. As defined by ScienceDirect”s collection of peer-reviewed reports, BIM is a system for sharing data about a building project before, during, and after construction.

While BIM is meant to act as a modern take on the classic blueprint, its uses go beyond acting as a digital replacement for paper documents. To make sure this system lives up to its potential, strengthening job site workflows, firms need a way to repeatedly collect accurate data — this is where drones enter the picture. Drones have made major strides in construction as technology has become more common and accessible. Contractors have found numerous roles for drones on the job site and made use of the data collected by their increasingly sophisticated sensor modules. This information is the fuel BIM solutions need, making drones and BIM a perfect match.

Drones today may be equipped with multiple kinds of sensors that allow them to generate a 3D point cloud to craft an accurate digital model. The most common method employed by drones is called photogrammetry, and is based on assembling 3D representations out of numerous 2D photos. This is made easy with the Smart Oblique Capture function available with the Mavic 3 Enterprise and the Matrice 350 RTK with a Zenmuse P1. Another method, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), involves invisible beams which give the exact position of objects.

How are construction firms using drones for BIM?

Seeing some of the specific uses contractors are finding for their drones is a way to appreciate the technology’s ever-expanding role in BIM construction workflows. Drones may prove especially useful when dealing with situations that would be logistically difficult for crews on the ground.

Contractors are using drones to assist with:

Power line construction: Power lines are challenging to plan, as they have to cover a large area of terrain. Unless contractors have accurate position data in their BIM software, they can encounter issues on the job. Drones provide an efficient, cost-effective way to generate accurate terrain maps and keep them updated as the job progresses.

Prefabricated concrete embeds: To correctly install prefabricated embeds in concrete, contractors need to know exact position data. A fly-over with a drone allows them to capture the necessary information and access it through a BIM platform.

Updated BIM planning in complex geography: There are many things that can make terrain tough to navigate — a site may be remote, have major changes in elevation or be located in an area being significantly changed by construction. Drones can capture updated information more affordably than would be possible with an airplane fly-by, and more accurately than with satellite imaging.

Whenever a contractor firm needs to gather information, using a drone is an option. Safer than sending surveying crews onto a site and more accurate than other data collection methods, BIM drone use in the construction industry is a potential value-add on the job site.

How do you find the perfect BIM drone loadout?

Surveying a job site from the air and collecting important BIM data are roles for specialized and powerful commercial drones. The exact right drone for a contractor’s needs will depend on what role the company envisions for its UAVs.

Top options include:

DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise: Light, affordable, and equipped with an accurate RTK module, this drone can gather all the information a contractor needs to keep a construction job on track.

DJI Matrice 350 RTK: This drone’s configurable loadouts can include a powerful Zenmuse L1 LiDAR sensor, allowing contractors to collect accurate point cloud data, even in the dark.

If you’re ready to learn more about drones’ ever-increasing role in the construction industry, download our Drones In Construction Guidebook.

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