Utilizing Drones to Improve Project Workflows-Paper

Paper

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The paper describes how commercial drones can improve civil engineering project workflows by collecting high-quality data and turning it into accurate, shareable digital models. Since 2015, Collins Engineers has used drones for applications including inspections, mapping, construction management, and emergency response. Drone imagery can be processed into orthomosaics, point clouds, and 3D models for use in CAD, GIS, and cloud platforms. Ground control points help provide both local and GPS-based accuracy.<br /><br />The authors identify three main benefits: improved safety, better project information, and cost savings. Drones can reduce the need for staff to enter hazardous areas, while regularly updated site models can help teams identify safety hazards remotely. Accurate models also support design and construction decisions, such as measuring site conditions and planning equipment placement.<br /><br />Two case studies illustrate these uses. After a 2018 rock slide in St. Paul, a drone crew mapped the unstable site in under four hours without entering hazardous areas. The resulting models and maps helped engineers assess the slide’s geometry and enabled city staff to communicate its extent and compare it with property boundaries. At a deep-foundation construction site, two autonomous flights collected 298 images in less than 90 minutes without disrupting work. The resulting model supported safety reviews, equipment and materials planning, measurements, and communication among project staff.<br /><br />The paper concludes that drone hardware and processing software are now mature, practical tools—not merely emerging technology. By improving safety, reducing data-collection effort, and providing clearer information for decision-making, drones can help engineers and project managers reduce costs and improve project outcomes.

Keywords

commercial drones

civil engineering

project workflows

orthomosaics

point clouds

3D models

ground control points

construction management

site safety

data accuracy