Arcadis Construction, Engineering & Design by GineersNow Drones & Technologies in Construction Industry | Page 19

scaffolding in order to reach hard-to-access
locations. The regulations require the drone
pilot to remain within line of sight of the drone
but this can be done on firm ground at the site.
This enables consultants to gather data and
turn around high-quality reports much quicker
than ever before. Similarly, the unobtrusive
nature of UAVs means that maintenance
inspection work like pipeline or flare stacks,
can be carried out safely without needing to
shut down active work sites. This allows normal
work to continue even while other activities are
taking place. Ahead of the curve
4. REDUCING RISK AND KEEPING
PEOPLE SAFE We work with 3DR, a leading provider of UAV
technology, as their products have specialist
applications for engineering activities. All
of the information that we capture (aerial
images, videos, 3D mapping and volume
measurements), can be integrated seamlessly
with existing design software packages, making
it incredibly easy to fold the content into the
outputs that we typically produce for clients.
The construction industry has made great
strides in recent years to improve site safety.
UAV technology can help to further support the
drive towards zero incidents by taking away
some of the risks associated with construction
activities. As an example, the use of drones
removes the need for labourers to work at
heights when inspecting assets like bridges,
which are often hard to access.
5. CAPTURING INFORMATION ON
THE EVOLUTION OF A PROJECT
Drone technology allows you to monitor the
progress being made on-site on an ongoing
basis. With a drone, you can save the pre-
programmed flight path for a site and fly the
same flight path each time, enabling you to
record developments in a visually appealing
manner. Capturing this information also
provides a robust record of the project’s
evolution just in case any issues arise on site.
This can be important evidence if the project
does ultimately end up in dispute.
Arcadis was the first consultancy firm in Qatar
to secure the authorisation required to use UAV
technology for engineering applications. We’ve
invested time and resource to develop alliances
with the right technology providers, and to
train up several of our colleagues to become
internationally licenced pilots. All of our pilots
hold the CAA certifications that are required to
operate drones in Qatar and are familiar with all
of the relevant rules and regulations that govern
their usage across the country.
The future of drones in
construction
Since the turn of the decade, the construction
market in Qatar has made incredible progress.
However, as activity ramps up over the next 2-3
years, the need for smarter ways of working
will become even more important. Drones are
much more than just cool gadgets, they’re tools
that will play a fundamental role in ensuring
that the local construction industry can deliver
the portfolio of programmes that are needed to
successfully host the 2022 FIFA World Cup™
and to deliver Qatar’s exciting 2030 National
Vision.
Construction Leaders • May 2017
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