They say there are two kinds of contractors these days: one that uses a drone and another with a drone on back order.

It’s debatable whether anyone actually says this, but the point is unmanned aerial vehicles (as they’re technically defined) or drones (as they’re commonly called) have become popular construction assets. If you’ve decided to take to the skies, approach a drone purchase carefully.

Identify your uses

First, clearly identify what you’ll use a drone for before you buy it. These whirring propellered robots can do many things for contractors. Examples include:

• Collecting data safely and efficiently in hard-to-reach or dangerous areas,
• Being your “eyes in the sky” for monitoring work or strengthening security, and
• Capturing visuals to share with project stakeholders or for marketing purposes.

Thanks to recent improvements, drones are expected to play an even larger role in construction going forward. Today’s models are tools in the growing field of “reality capture technology,” which uses high-tech assets and processes to capture and digitize the physical world. These include real-time aerial imagery, 3D LiDAR (light detection and ranging) scans and integration with building information modeling software.

Again, choose a model based on your construction company’s specific needs. Investigate specifications such as payload capacity, flight time, range and camera resolution. Explore features like thermal cameras, obstacle avoidance, GPS tracking and automatic return to home.

Consider everything

When you’ve narrowed your choices to a few selected models, turn your attention to total cost of ownership. You must account for much more than the initial purchase price to get the most from the asset and maintain it properly. Other important factors include:

Licensing and compliance. You’ll need to register your drone with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and comply with FAA regulations. For example, regs require drone operators to obtain a remote pilot certificate with a “small UAS rating” or be under direct supervision of a licensed operator. Your business’s operators also must follow operational guidelines that include flying below 400 feet and maintaining a constant line of sight with the drone.

Along with the FAA, your local government may regulate drone usage, too. Commercial licensing, registration and operational requirements tend to differ by jurisdiction. Expect fees and possibly other compliance-related expenses.

Insurance. Ensure that you have appropriate coverage for drone operations, as accidents or property damage may lead to claims against you. If your general liability insurance doesn’t cover drone usage, you may need to pay to add this coverage or buy a separate drone-specific policy.

Data processing and storage. Drones collect vast amounts of data, including high-resolution images that can be converted to topographic maps or 3D models. You may need to buy or subscribe to specialized software to process and analyze this information. Additional secure cloud storage might be necessary as well.

Training and maintenance. Be prepared to invest in thorough training for your drone operators. They must rigorously follow all safety protocols to mitigate the risks of lawsuits and property damage. The most common risks associated with drone use on construction sites include collisions, crashes and interference with other equipment. Regular inspections and maintenance of your drone will also cost money but are essential to avoid accidents and breakdowns.

Stay grounded

Getting an adequate return on investment on a drone can be challenging. Many construction businesses buy one only to have it gathering dust in a garage or someone’s office within a few months of the purchase.

That said, when used astutely, one of these high-flying tech tools can deliver incredible project insights. We can help you evaluate a purchase and identify all the associated costs and tax breaks.