College - Author 1
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Department - Author 1
Construction Management Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Construction Management
Date
6-2024
Primary Advisor/Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Bryan Knakiewicz, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Construction Management Department
Abstract/Summary
Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have revolutionized various industries since their creation, particularly in construction. Originally used for military and recreational purposes, drones began to find their place in construction in the early 2010s, primarily for surveying and mapping. While tons of research has been conducted on drones' capabilities in surveying, there is a gap in studies focusing on their applications for general contractors, particularly in large-scale developments. Five interviews were conducted, three with general contractors who have integrated drone technology into their teams and two drone companies that provide subcontracted drone services. Through these interviews, the primary applications identified for drone use among general contractors were capturing site photos for collaborative purposes, progress tracking, and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC). The efficiency and communication of projects are greatly improved by these applications. The advantages of management teams using drones in construction are significant as through the interviews were shown to save project engineers substantial time each week that would otherwise be spent on site walks and taking photos. Additionally, aerial photographs taken by drones offer better quality photographs from superior angles compared to traditional ground-level photos. This improved efficiency and production can lead to improved collaboration, communication, and cost savings.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cmsp/816
Poster Board
SP - Proposal Form - Leo Geiger (1).pdf (161 kB)
Proposal
Student Evaluation Form - Geiger.pdf (110 kB)
Reflection