Better Cost Estimates and Site Understanding Through Drone Technology: Your Construction RFP Guide
Ready to take the guesswork out of your construction project estimates? The right cost estimates make all the difference between project success and budget overruns. Modern drone technology delivers precise site analysis at a fraction of traditional surveying costs and time, giving you accuracy that manual methods simply can't achieve in the same amount of time.
Drone-powered photogrammetry gives project managers a clear view of construction sites from every angle - especially valuable for expansive projects where ground surveys fall short. Your team spots potential issues before they become problems, tracks daily progress, and makes smart decisions that keep projects on schedule. The added benefit? Drone surveys handle dangerous terrain safely, eliminating the risks tied to manual site inspections.
This practical guide shows you exactly how drone technology creates spot-on cost estimates for your construction RFPs. We'll walk you through smart ways to include drone data in your documentation, break down the real cost advantages, and share proven techniques to get the most value from your investment.
Incorporating Drone Data into RFP Documentation
Looking for crystal-clear RFP documentation? Drone technology delivers exactly that through GPS-referenced data collection and visual insights. That means better accuracy while significantly cutting documentation time.
Creating compelling visual presentations
Picture-perfect aerial photography and video captures every site detail, can give you professional 3D models and detailed topographic maps. Your RFP will stand out with stunning imagery, site maps that you can utilize for 3D renderings, helping give stakeholders a clearer picture of the finished project.
Demonstrating project understanding through aerial imagery
Expert aerial surveys can uncover the full story of your site - from elevation changes to drainage patterns and vegetation details.
Underground utility mapping and overlay techniques
Smart GPS drones follow carefully planned flight paths, taking hundreds of overlapping photos to build complete site models by utilizing drone photogrammetry. These models can pinpoint underground utility locations by working seamlessly with existing utility location data to deliver spot-on utility mapping reports.
Supporting cost estimates with precise measurements
Want measurements you can trust? Drone surveying delivers exceptional precision for volume calculations and material quantities. You can get:
· Volume measurements in minutes instead of hours
· Precision down to 1/10ft (3cm) for stockpile measurements
· Instant site condition updates through real-time data
This level of accuracy keeps your bids right on target, helping you stay competitive while protecting your profit margins.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Drone Implementation
Ready to see the real financial impact of drone technology? The numbers tell a compelling story. Today's construction industry spends USD 8.00 trillion yearly, yet typical projects still run over budget and behind schedule.
Time savings in bid preparation
Think weeks of survey work - now done in hours. A 12-acre property survey shrinks from 100 hours to just 2 hours. Your team prepares bids faster, tracks progress more often, and handles more projects. The result? More contracts won and fewer project delays.
Using Drones Beyond RFP
Looking for precision in project tracking? Today's construction demands exact documentation at every stage. Drone technology captures crystal-clear aerial imagery, giving project managers unmatched site monitoring capabilities.
Maximizing ROI Through Strategic Drone Use
Want to see real returns on your drone investment? Smart implementation delivers exceptional results. Just ask Grade Tech - they employ the latest software that interfaces with our positioning tools to perform topographic and layout operations, advanced modeling programs, and modern job-tracking software to ensure efficiency at every stage of the project, cutting traditional survey times by 60-70%.
Project monitoring brings even bigger rewards, with drone use eliminating costly downtime.
Measuring and tracking cost savings
The proof is in the numbers - 92% of construction firms see positive ROI within their first year using drones. Your savings grow through reduced labor costs, minimal downtime, and precise measurements. The key to measuring drone use ROI? Careful tracking of every dollar saved across your project timeline helps fine-tune your drone strategy based on real results.
Construction Progress Monitoring for Project Management
Smart drone flights follow carefully planned routes, delivering consistent site documentation. Your project managers receive a focused package - 3-5 key images plus a 30-second video clip from each monitoring session. These visual updates spotlight potential delays or issues before they impact your timeline. Our clients catch inefficiencies early and adjust their strategies with confidence. Having an ongoing drone site capture schedule gives project manager and superintendent opportunity to request additional shots or data collection before a visit as needed for faster decision-making.
Client Project Updates with Drone Photos and Videos
Keep your stakeholders in the loop without site visits. Professional progress reports flow on a regular schedule, giving everyone clear insight into project developments. These detailed updates prove timeline adherence and milestone achievements to clients, and are especially helpful when clients are located out of state, or even out of the country (as was the case with one of our client projects).
Project Documentation for Marketing
Stunning aerial photography tells your project's story, highlighting its true scale and sophistication. Our clients use drone footage to:
· Build impressive time-lapse videos showing project progress
· Showcase sweeping panoramic views of projects for digital marketing
· Create winning portfolios for future proposals
The real power of drone technology lies in its versatility throughout your project's lifecycle. Your team can even upload raw footage directly to specialized construction software platforms, building a complete visual record of construction progress. Learn more about this topic in our Drone Use in Construction Marketing blog post.
Conclusion
Ready to take your construction RFP process to the next level? Drone technology delivers perfect cost estimates through exact measurements and detailed site analysis. Your team gains 90% better accuracy while slashing documentation time in half. Most companies see remarkable results in yearly savings and productivity gains over time, making drone technology a game-changer for modern construction management.
The path to success starts with committing to giving drone technology a try from the pre-construction RFP submission all the way to the completion of the project. The numbers will tell a clear story - while ongoing costs can average $5000-$20000 with consistent use of drone technology throughout construction project span (6-18 months usually), construction firms see positive returns within twelve months. Your tangible and intangible savings can grow quickly through streamlined costs, faster bid preparation, precise project monitoring, informed decision-making, improved client communication, and stunning marketing materials.
Want to see these benefits firsthand? V1Dronemedia offers a free drone photography and video shoot for your next RFP submission. Our expert team can also help you obtain accurate site measurement and mapping for better site visualization. Contact us to learn how you get your free drone shoot at the RFP stage!
Drone Mapping: Unleashing the Full Potential of Aerial Data
Drones have revolutionized the way we capture and process data. Their ability to capture high-quality imagery and 3D models from the air has made them an indispensable tool for many industries, from construction to agriculture to environmental conservation.
While cost and time savings are two of the most commonly cited benefits of drone mapping, the technology offers so much more. Here are some of the other main advantages of drone mapping:
Precision and Accuracy: Drone mapping captures high-resolution imagery and precise location data, making it a game-changer for tasks that require precision and accuracy. For example, drones can capture detailed 3D models of a construction site, allowing architects and engineers to design with greater accuracy and detail.
Safety and Accessibility: Drones can access areas that are difficult or dangerous to reach, making them ideal for tasks like inspecting bridges or mapping disaster zones. By keeping human workers out of harm's way, drones can help save lives and prevent accidents.
Efficiency and Speed: Drones can cover large areas in a fraction of the time it would take a team of humans to do the same job (which is why many mention time and cost savings as the main benefit of drone mapping). For example, a drone can survey a large plot of land in a matter of hours, allowing construction companies or farmers to make decisions based on real-time data.
Real-time Data: Drone mapping can provide real-time data that can be used to make decisions quickly and accurately. This is particularly useful in emergency situations where time is of the essence, and drones are now a very useful tool for disaster response.
Environmental Monitoring: Drones can be used to monitor environmental changes over time. For example, they can capture images of forests to monitor tree density and detect signs of deforestation. This information, delivered in a timely manner, can be used to inform conservation efforts.
Planning and Design: Drone mapping provides architects, engineers, and urban planners with highly detailed and accurate data that they can use to plan and design more effectively. For example, a drone can capture a 3D model of a building site, which can be used to optimize the placement of equipment and materials.
As you can see, drone mapping is an incredibly powerful tool that can help organizations save time, improve safety, and make better decisions. With their ability to capture highly accurate and detailed data, drones can transform your workflows and allow a business to add more value to its operations, improving profitability and many other business metrics. Whether you're an architect, engineer, construction manager, or environmental scientist, drone mapping has the potential to unlock new possibilities and drive innovation in your field.
Please be aware that you should not fly drones or hire someone to fly them for commercial purposes without that person holding an FAA-issued Part 107 Certificate. If you want to learn if drone mapping is the right solution for your design problem or how it can add value to your business, contact V1DroneMedia for a consultation and demo today! We also offer drone training classes, and consultations on how to set up a drone program, if you are looking to bring this into your organization.
V1DroneMedia is a drone services provider based in Cleveland, Ohio, but we provide services anywhere in the United States. We service a variety of industries including construction, architecture, engineering, video production, marketing, and more!
V1DroneMedia's Chief Drone Pilot is a former commercial airline pilot and trained electrical engineer. Read more about V1DroneMedia.
What is Drone Mapping
Drone mapping, also known as aerial mapping or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) mapping, is the process of using drones equipped with cameras and other sensors to capture and process aerial imagery and data to create detailed maps, 3D models, and other visualizations.
How is drone mapping performed?
The drone flies over the area of interest and takes multiple overlapping images. These images are then processed using specialized software to create a detailed map or 3D model of the area.
Typically the process of drone mapping involves several steps: planning the flight, capturing the data, processing the data, and analyzing the data. Some of the key technologies used in drone mapping include photogrammetry (see our drone photogrammetry post to learn more), lidar, and thermal imaging. The outputs are usually in the form of Orthomosaic maps, 3D models, point clouds, and other forms of data that can be used for various purposes.
What can drone mapping be used for?
The maps and models created by drone mapping can be used for a wide range of applications, such as land surveying, construction planning and management, crop monitoring, and environmental conservation.
What are the advantages of drone mapping vs. traditional mapping methods?
Drone mapping can provide a cost-effective and efficient way to collect detailed data and imagery of large areas, including hard-to-reach places, and can provide a high level of detail not possible with traditional mapping methods. Read our Drone Mapping Advantages vs. Conventional Mapping methods blog post for more details (especially if you need to make a business case to use drones for mapping). See more details in our blog post Drone Mapping advantages vs. Conventional Mapping Methods.
How much does it cost to contract drone mapping services?
The cost of drone mapping can vary depending on a variety of factors, such as the size of the area being mapped, the level of detail required, and the equipment and software used. Typically V1DroneMedia charges for time on site, processing time, and software use, which varies on a project basis. This cost can range from a few hundred dollars for a small project to several thousand dollars for a large or complex project.
Who can use drone mapping services?
1. Agriculture: Drones can be used to create detailed maps of crops and fields, which can help farmers optimize crop yields and make better-informed decisions about planting, fertilizing, and harvesting.
2. Construction: Drones can be used to create detailed maps of construction sites, which can help contractors plan and execute projects more efficiently.
3. Real estate: Drones can be used to create detailed maps and 3D models of properties, which can help real estate agents market properties more effectively. Drones are also used to make informative listing videos and photos - you can read more about it in our Why Use Drone In Real Estate Photography and Video blog post
4. Surveying: Drones can be used to create detailed maps of land and structures, which can help surveyors and engineers plan and design projects more accurately.
5. Environmental monitoring: Drones can be used to create detailed maps of environmental features such as wetlands, forests, and wildlife habitats, which can help conservationists and scientists monitor and protect these areas.
6. Emergency response: Drones can be used to create detailed maps of disaster-stricken areas, which can help emergency responders plan and execute rescue and recovery operations more effectively.
7. Inspection: Drones can be used to create detailed maps of industrial plants, power lines, and other infrastructure, which can help organizations identify and address potential safety and maintenance issues.
These are just a few examples - drone mapping can be used for many other applications as well. V1DroneMedia provides drone mapping services and more AEC Drone Servies in Ohio and other Midwest states. Read about our founders who brought a combined 40 years of aviation and business experience to start V1DroneMedia.
Contact us if you are looking for a drone mapping project consultation or a quote. Don’t forget that in order to perform drone mapping one has to hold FAA Part 107 commercial drone certificate, and be aware of and comply with the FAA airspace regulations for the area where the drone mapping missions are flown.
Drone Photogrammetry And Its Uses
What is Photogrammetry
Photogrammetry is the science of making precise measurements of three-dimensional objects and terrain features from two-dimensional photographs. The input to photogrammetry is multiple photographs of some real-life object or a scene, taken from different angles and locations, and the output is typically a map, a drawing, a measurement, or a 3D model of the subject matter.
How does photogrammetry work?
This process works by using the method of triangulation. It involves taking pictures from a minimum of two different locations. These pictures create lines of sight that lead from each camera to specific points on the object being photographed. The intersection of these lines plays into mathematical calculations that help produce geometric 3D coordinates of the specified points, which sometimes is referred to as “point cloud”.
Photogrammetry triangulation creates 3D object
Photogrammetry history and evolution
Photogrammetry is nearly as old as photography itself. Since its development approximately 150 years ago, photogrammetry has moved from a purely analog, optical-mechanical technique to analytical methods based on computer-aided solutions of mathematical algorithms, and now to digital photogrammetry based on digital imagery and computer vision, without any mechanical hardware.
Topographic map creation was the first application of photogrammetry, which gave way to the development of simple map-making techniques geared towards the mapping needs of the military during World Wars I and II.
Types of Photogrammetry
Two general types of photogrammetry exist aerial (with the camera in the air) and terrestrial (with the camera handheld or on a tripod).
Terrestrial Photogrammetry
The photos used in photogrammetry can also be taken directly on the ground or from a fixed terrestrial position, such as by a person walking around or a camera mounted to a building.
Aerial (Drone) Photogrammetry
Aerial photogrammetry was introduced with the invention of flight, and drone technology advancements in the last 6 years have made it more accessible and affordable.
Now a drone captures several high-resolution photos over an area at different angles from multiple vantage points. These images are then processed with photogrammetry software (such as Pix4D, AgiSoft, Drone Deploy, etc.) that “stitches” the images together to create point clouds.
Photogrammetry accuracy
Several variables affect the overall accuracy of an aerial map, including camera specifications, the number of photos collected, the photo overlap percentage, the flight altitude, atmospheric conditions (wind speed, air pressure, air density, cloud cover, position of the sun), the GPS signal strength, and the ground sampling distance (GSD). A lower flight altitude yields a smaller GSD, and a smaller GSD yields a more accurate and higher resolution aerial map.
Many of these factors are already accounted for by main drone manufacturers that produce drones for collecting visual data used for photogrammetry processing. These drones are equipped with proper cameras, and the differences between those drones are oftentimes the quality of the camera itself, and the experience of the drone operator in using the drone for photogrammetry data collection (programming the flight path, calibrating, camera settings, etc.)
Relative and absolute photogrammetry accuracy
In aerial photogrammetry, there are such terms as relative (local) accuracy and absolute (global or spatial) accuracy.
Relative accuracy is the measurement of how objects are positioned relative to each other in a reconstructed model (Orthophoto map, Digital Surface Model, or 3D point cloud). Most aerial maps provide a high degree of relative accuracy. So, for simple use cases (measuring distances, volume, and height differences, etc.) relative accuracy should work just fine.
Absolute accuracy refers to the difference between the location of the objects on the reconstructed model and their true position on the Earth (or a geodetic coordinate system). Aerial maps do not provide a high degree of absolute accuracy unless Ground Control Points (GCPs) are used during the drone aerial data collection.
Relative vs. absolute accuracy
What are Ground Control Points (GCPs) in photogrammetry?
Ground control points are points on the ground with known ground coordinates, which can be easily recognizable in aerial photos. The ground coordinates can be measured with traditional surveying methods or an existing map (even Google Earth map), or smart control points that automatically upload position data, such as Aero Points. To calculate the coordinates for each point on the aerial photography several ground control points’ coordinates should be in place in the survey area and they should be clearly visible in the taken aerial photographs.
Ground Control Point Positioning
Drone Photogrammetry Outputs
The photogrammetry software generates object or area point clouds that enable data visualization, turning these clouds into various outputs for different applications, with many allowing for measurements such as distances, heights, areas, and volumes:
Orthomosaic maps are stitched from multiple drone photos that have been corrected for lens distortion, with each pixel containing 2D geo-information (X, Y) which enable the generation of measurements such as horizontal distances and surfaces.
Orthomosaic Map
Topographic maps show details of the relief features using contour lines (connecting points of equal elevation), giving a better understanding of the surface of the area.
Topographic Map
3D Point Cloud is generated from drone images with each point containing geospatial (X, Y, Z) and color information. It provides a model for distance, area, and volume measurements.
3D Point Cloud
3D Model is often generated from the 3D Point Cloud, and is a reproduction of the edges, faces, vertices, and texture of the object or area shot by the drone, and is most useful for visual inspection. This type of model can be used in CAD (Computer-Aided Design) or BIM (Building Information Modeling) software.
3D Model Screenshot
Digital Surface Model represents the elevation associated with the surface of the earth including topography and all human-made features, containing 2D information (X, Y) and the altitude (Z) of the highest point for the area.
Digital Surface Model
Digital Terrain Model (also Digital Elevation Model) is a topographic model representing the bare ground surface without any objects like plants or buildings and can be uploaded into and manipulated by computer programs. The model contains 2D information of the area.
Digital Terrain Model. Credit: Jason Stoker
These outputs can be used in many applications in various industries, where the workflows for the collection of this type of data were largely manual and time-consuming. With drone photogrammetry productivity and efficiency of such operations can be improved significantly, and allow for more opportunities to innovate with such easy access to digitized data.
If you are interested in learning more about drone photogrammetry and its applications for your business, Contact us for a free consultation!