Drones in Construction: 5 Ways to Change the Market

Contents:

• The Role of Drones in Modern Construction
• How Drones Are Transforming the Construction Process
• Comparison of Drone Technology Markets in Russia and the USA
• Obstacles to the Development of the Drone Market in Russia: Comparison with the USA

The Role of Drones in Modern Construction

The construction industry has long been characterized by a conservative approach, and many processes have remained unchanged for decades. However, research shows that labor productivity in this industry has significantly decreased over the past 50 years. This fact is confirmed by Artur Khasiyatullin, CEO of TraceAir Russia. The persistent decline in productivity highlights the need to implement innovative technologies and optimize construction processes to improve the industry's efficiency and competitiveness.

TraceAir is a leading startup that has been providing a unique web platform for monitoring construction processes using drone data since 2015. The company is actively developing its services in both the Russian and American markets, focusing on industrial and road construction in Russia and residential construction in the United States. The use of innovative technologies allows TraceAir to significantly improve project management and increase the efficiency of construction work.

According to vc.ru, at the beginning of 2021, the volume of investments in TraceAir reached $7 million. However, according to Forbes, the company's revenue in Russia in 2020 decreased by 35% compared to 2018. In the first five months of operation in Russia, TraceAir earned $430,000, while in the US this figure was $1.2 million.

Drones are becoming an important tool in the construction industry, as they automate many processes, helping to reduce costs and prevent delays. Drone technologies are finding applications in various aspects of construction, including:

— construction site monitoring, allowing you to track progress in real time and identify potential problems;
— creating accurate maps and 3D models of the area, which simplifies planning and design;
— inspection of hard-to-reach areas, ensuring worker safety and speeding up the quality control process;
— material supply management, allowing you to track inventory and optimize logistics;
— Collecting data for analyzing and evaluating the efficiency of construction processes.

The use of drones in construction not only increases efficiency but also improves the quality of work, making projects more transparent and controllable.

• Studying natural conditions and analyzing terrain for construction;
• Developing building designs and making adjustments to construction solutions;
• Monitoring the progress of construction and ensuring safety on site;
• Promoting completed projects, including advertising materials created using drones.

Integrating drones with cloud web platforms allows developers to effectively analyze topographic surveys and evaluate terrain without the need for specialized software. This solution provides specialists with the ability to calculate the scope of work in real time, including clearing the area of ​​vegetation. The use of drones in combination with cloud technologies significantly accelerates the processes of data collection and processing, which contributes to more accurate project planning and management. This approach not only increases work efficiency but also reduces the costs of earthworks and storage.

The technological process is carried out as follows:

• A drone scans the construction site to collect data.
• The cloud platform automatically compares the design documentation with the resulting 3D model.
• All project participants work in a single system, receiving up-to-date data, which allows for the early identification of potential problems during the construction process.

How drones are transforming the construction process

According to a study by PlanGrid, construction projects lose up to 35% of their time searching for information, resolving conflicts, and correcting errors. This not only leads to an increase in the budget but also significantly slows down the completion of projects. Optimizing processes on construction sites can significantly reduce these losses and increase work efficiency. The implementation of modern project management technologies and tools improves communication between project participants and minimizes the risks associated with errors and delays.

Aerial monitoring using drones is a more efficient and faster method than traditional surveying. Processing drone data over a 100-acre area takes just 24 hours, while a traditional survey can take 2-3 weeks. This makes drone technology an attractive choice for various projects that require rapid, accurate information about an area. The integration of drones into aerial monitoring not only speeds up the process but also reduces costs, which is especially important for businesses and government agencies. Thus, the use of drones in aerial monitoring opens new horizons in the fields of surveying and cartography.

Alexander Ryzhov, CEO of Skyeer, emphasized in an interview with Skillbox Media that drone technology can monitor up to 90% of earthworks. This opens up new opportunities for process automation in construction, significantly increasing efficiency and reducing task completion times. The introduction of drones into the construction industry not only optimizes work processes but also reduces costs, making them indispensable in modern construction. Founded in 2017, Skyeer is developing an innovative platform for project management and construction control. The company actively uses drones to obtain high-quality images, which allows it to efficiently process data and provide clients with up-to-date information on the progress of work. According to Forbes, in 2021, Skyeer raised investments of $2 to $5 million from the New Industry Fund. The company's revenue in 2019 amounted to 18 million rubles, and in 2020, it increased to 46 million rubles, despite losses of 16 million rubles over two years. Skyeer continues to develop its technologies, striving to improve processes in the construction industry and ensure transparency at all stages of project implementation. Modern technologies have significantly simplified access to construction data for managers. Artur Khasiyatullin notes: "We never imagined we'd be able to use a mobile app available both at construction sites in Norilsk and in Norilsk Nickel's Moscow office. This innovation allows us to effectively manage projects and respond quickly to emerging issues, significantly increasing productivity." Integrating modern applications into construction management processes opens up new horizons for optimization and control, providing access to up-to-date information anytime, anywhere.

Cloud technologies enable managers to effectively monitor performance and make operational decisions. Previously, access to such tools was limited only to engineers with specialized education, notes Maria Khokhlova, co-founder of TraceAir. Modern cloud technology solutions make management more accessible to specialists in various fields, which helps optimize business processes and increase company competitiveness.

Process automation is becoming especially important for Russia's Far North, where 80% of the country's oil and natural gas reserves are located. Harsh climatic conditions, low population density, and vast distances create difficulties in ensuring stable communication, which, in turn, leads to a shortage of IT specialists in this region. The implementation of automated systems allows for the optimization of resource management, increased efficiency, and the minimization of risks associated with remote and hard-to-reach fields. Effective use of modern technology in the Far North can significantly improve production processes and ensure worker safety. Despite its advantages, the use of drones in construction has several drawbacks. Adverse weather conditions, such as strong winds and rain, can significantly degrade image quality, which in turn delays project completion. Furthermore, drone operation requires a qualified team of specialists, increasing overall project costs. It's also important to consider that obtaining numerous permits for drone operations in Russia can take several weeks, creating additional difficulties and slowing down the process. Considering these factors is critical to the effective use of drones in construction projects.

Comparison of the Drone Technology Markets in Russia and the USA

The drone market continues to grow rapidly, attracting increasing investment. According to Ernst & Young analysts, the global volume of this sector exceeded $4 billion in 2020. In this context, Russia ranks seventh in the world ranking, ahead of countries such as Canada, Hong Kong, and the UK. However, 75% of the entire drone market is still concentrated in the hands of the United States and China. Given the growing interest in drone technology and its diverse applications, it can be expected that Russia will strive to increase its share of this promising market in the future.

According to drone technology expert Maria Khokhlova, the use of drones in Russia has been ineffective for many years. Many general contractors and clients lacked the necessary knowledge to successfully integrate drones into their processes and preferred to resort to traditional methods. Previously, some construction and industrial companies attempted to integrate drone technology independently, but soon abandoned this practice. The high costs of deploying and supporting drones on-site, due to challenging natural conditions and a shortage of qualified specialists, made the use of drones economically impractical.

Today, given the growing interest in drone technology and its potential across various industries, it is important to develop training and qualifications for specialists. This will optimize processes and reduce costs, making the use of drones more attractive to businesses.

The situation in the Russian construction market is gradually improving. More and more platforms for monitoring construction processes are beginning to be actively implemented, which is generating positive feedback in the industry. Currently, this market is dominated by key players such as TraceAir, Skyeer, and Sarex. However, the latter company did not provide comments to Skillbox Media's request for comment. The rapid development of technology in construction is contributing to increased efficiency and transparency in processes, which is an important step for the entire industry.

TraceAir, with offices in Russia and the US, observes differences in the use of drones in construction. In Russia, unmanned aerial vehicles are primarily used in industrial and infrastructure construction. Meanwhile, in the US, their popularity is rapidly growing in the residential construction sector. This demonstrates the diversity of approaches to technology implementation and process optimization in different countries. Using drones in construction improves the quality of work, increases safety, and reduces project completion time.

Obstacles to Drone Market Development in Russia: A Comparison with the US

The development of the drone market in Russia and the US demonstrates a noticeable lag for our country in this area. Since 2017, American companies have been actively integrating drones into commercial processes, which has become possible thanks to more flexible legislation. In Russia, the introduction of drones faces serious bureaucratic obstacles, which hinders the development of technologies and their application in various industries. Simplifying the rules and regulations for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles could accelerate the growth of this market segment in the country and increase the competitiveness of Russian companies on the international stage.

According to Maria Khokhlova, the process of approving drone flights in Russia is a real challenge. Each unmanned aerial vehicle weighing over 250 grams requires registration with the Federal Air Transport Agency, which can take a significant amount of time – up to several months. After this, permits must be obtained from various government agencies, including the Federal Security Service and local authorities, which complicates and delays the process.

Between 2014 and 2016, the United States saw a significant increase in interest in the commercial use of drones, despite strict permitting conditions. At the same time, in Russia, there was legislative uncertainty, creating a "gray area" for the use of this technology. These circumstances presented opportunities for economic growth, but they were not realized. The development of the drone market in Russia could have facilitated innovation and improved business processes, but missed opportunities have limited the potential of this industry.

According to the Russian government decree of May 25, 2019, registration of drones weighing from 250 grams to 30 kilograms is mandatory. Unmanned aerial vehicles weighing more than 30 kilograms are also subject to mandatory registration. Drone registration applications can be submitted through the Gosuslugi portal or other official channels. Drone registration is important for ensuring flight safety and compliance with aviation legislation.

A comparison with the United States shows that regulations for drone use are significantly more streamlined. In the US, apps exist that automatically process flight permits in restricted areas, something that is currently not available in Russia. This creates a more attractive environment for operators and investors in the American drone market. Simplified procedures and accessible technology facilitate industry development and increase interest in investing in drone technology. It is important for Russian operators to consider these aspects to improve competitiveness and attract foreign investment.

Gleb Babintsev, CEO of the AeroNext association, notes that the use of drones in the construction industry is showing significant growth. However, legislative restrictions continue to hinder this process. It is important to recognize drones as measurement tools for monitoring construction processes, which will improve efficiency and safety on construction sites. The adoption of relevant regulations will be a key step toward integrating unmanned technologies into the construction industry, fostering innovation and improving work quality.

Experts believe that active legislative transformation would significantly accelerate the industry's development. Key aspects include not only improving the regulatory framework but also implementing systemic standardization and ensuring safe flight procedures. These measures are necessary to improve safety and efficiency in the aviation sector, which, in turn, will foster greater confidence among users and investors.

Russian legislation is gradually adapting to digital technologies in the construction sector. In March 2021, the Russian government introduced mandatory requirements for construction industry participants to implement digital design. President Putin also emphasized the importance of aerial monitoring in the oil and gas industry, demonstrating a commitment to integrating modern digital solutions into key economic sectors. These measures are aimed at increasing the efficiency, transparency and quality of construction processes, as well as optimizing resources in the oil and gas sector.

Skillbox Media sent inquiries to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Rosaviatsia, but both organizations clarified that they do not regulate the use of drones in construction. Rosaviatsia only handles the registration of unmanned aerial vehicles, which creates numerous uncertainties and questions regarding the use of drones in the construction industry. It is important to take into account that the lack of clear norms and rules can hinder the implementation of modern technologies in construction processes.

For the successful development of the drone market in Russia, it is important not only to simplify the registration and approval procedures, but also to create favorable conditions for the implementation New technologies and standards will accelerate the sector's growth, improve flight safety, and foster innovation. The introduction of modern technologies, such as automated control systems and advanced navigation tools, will facilitate the more efficient use of drones in various industries, such as agriculture, logistics, and environmental monitoring. Creating clear standards and rules for the operation of drones will protect the interests of users and increase trust in this market segment.