Why You Should Integrate Drones into Your Heavy Civil/Aggregate Business | Part 2: How to Integrate Drones & Best Practices

With their reliance on brute-force machinery to shape projects, the heavy equipment and construction industries may seem an unlikely place for technological advancements. However, technology is revolutionizing the efficiencies in how these projects take shape. One technology making a significant impact is the integration of drones into work processes, particularly those using a relative low-cost photogrammetry solution.

In part 2 of this 3-part series, we examine the best ways to integrate drones into your heavy equipment business.

How to integrate drones into your heavy civil or aggregate business

Choosing the right drone technology

The first decision point is determining what you want to accomplish using drones. With the many possible applications, selecting drones with the capabilities and technology needed to fulfill your requirements is crucial. For general site-mapping use, consider these capabilities:

1. High-Resolution Camera
2. Extended Flight Time
3. Mapping Software Compatibility
4. RTK/PPK Technology
5. Ease of Use
6. Safety Features

Drone software and data integration

Implementing software that efficiently processes and analyzes drone-captured data, especially the demanding datasets produced by LiDAR, is essential. When selecting your mapping software, evaluate how to integrate the resulting outputs with your existing software before committing to a particular package.

Training for employees and regulatory compliance

In addition to training your employees to fly your drones properly and safely, you need to follow the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations under Part 107 to fly drones for commercial purposes in the United States. Here are the essential requirements:

1. Remote Pilot Certificate

   You must obtain a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating. This involves passing an aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA-approved testing center. Best practice recommends keeping comprehensive training records.

2. Drone Registration

   Register your drone with the FAA. Each drone must have a registration number visibly marked on the aircraft.

3. Operating Rules

   Follow specific operating rules, such as:
   • Obtain flight permissions, if required.
   • Fly only during daylight or civil twilight with appropriate lighting.
   • Keep your drone within visual line-of-sight.
   • Do not fly over people or moving vehicles.
   • Do not fly from a moving vehicle unless in a sparsely populated area.
   • Maximum altitude of 400 feet above ground level.
   • Maximum speed of 100 mph (87 knots).

4. Pre-Flight Inspection

   Conduct a pre-flight inspection to ensure the drone is safe for operation. Best practice recommends keeping comprehensive inspection records.

5. Maintenance Records

   Best practice recommends keeping comprehensive maintenance records.

6. Accident Reporting

   Within 10 days, report drone-related accidents to the FAA that result in severe injury, loss of consciousness, or property damage of at least $500 to avoid penalties and adverse license action.

Partnering with drone service providers to try before you buy

If in-house operations aren’t feasible, partnering with specialized drone service providers is an option. This allows you to enjoy the benefits of drone integration with your operations without the upfront investments in hardware, software, licensing, and training.

Drone service packages from licensed suppliers like RMS offer reliable packages scalable to each project size and scope, providing flexibility and expertise until your business is ready to manage drone operations internally.

Let RMS show you how to integrate drones into your workflows

Integrating drones into heavy equipment operations offers increased efficiency, improved safety, and significant cost savings. RMS’s comprehensive drone services, including scalable survey packages, Smart Construction Dashboard, Propeller, and Aeropoints, provide the tools and expertise to optimize construction workflows without the substantial up-front investment necessary to build an in-house drone capability.

Let's talk if drones are on your company’s radar. Leveraging RMS’s drone solutions to enhance your operations through in-house integration or by partnering with RMS’s specialized services might be exactly what you need. As drone technology advances, the collaboration between drones and heavy equipment will further revolutionize the construction and industrial sectors, driving innovation and sustainable practices.