Propeller, DroneDeploy, Pix4Dsurvey, and Bentley’s ContextCapture are widely used because they automate flight planning, streamline photogrammetry processing, and export BIM-friendly outputs like LAS/LAZ point clouds and OBJ meshes. Each offers robust ground-control integration, cloud collaboration portals, and progress-tracking dashboards, letting project teams review data without heavyweight desktop installs.

Typical deliverables include georeferenced orthomosaic images, dense point clouds, textured 3D meshes, and digital surface/terrain models (DSM/DTM). Volume reports, elevation heat maps, and cut-fill analytics can be generated from these base files. Formats commonly supplied are GeoTIFF, LAS/LAZ, OBJ, DXF, and CSV—ready for import into BIM, CAD, or earth-moving software.

First, export point clouds or orthos in formats like LAS, E57, or IFC. Import them into Navisworks, Revit, or Trimble Connect as reality-capture references. Align the drone dataset to the project coordinate system, then run clash detection, schedule simulations, or as-built comparisons directly against design models. Many cloud platforms (e.g., Autodesk Construction Cloud, OpenSpace) accept tiled orthos, allowing stakeholders to layer drone imagery on BIM viewer dashboards for real-time context.

Most construction progress missions are conducted within visual line of sight (VLOS) of the remote pilot, so a BVLOS waiver is typically not required. However, if the site spans beyond the pilot’s visual range—such as linear infrastructure or large industrial complexes—you’ll need an FAA Part 107.31 waiver, plus risk-mitigation procedures (visual observers, DAA tech) to maintain situational awareness.

Most GC and AEC owners require a $1 million minimum UAV liability policy, with some mandating umbrella coverage up to $5 million for large urban sites. The policy should specifically list “Unmanned Aircraft Systems” and cover bodily injury, property damage, and privacy/advertising injury. Ask your broker to name the owner and GC as additional insureds and include a waiver of subrogation to satisfy contractual risk-transfer clauses.

With RTK or PPK correction and well-placed ground control, horizontal and vertical accuracy of ±1–3 cm is achievable, comparable to conventional topo shots for most progress-monitoring needs. For ultra-tight tolerances (e.g., millimeter-level steel alignment), drones complement rather than replace terrestrial scanners, but they still flag out-of-spec work early enough to prevent major rework.

Point clouds export as LAS/LAZ, E57, or RCP, meshes as OBJ or FBX, orthomosaics as GeoTIFF, and breaklines or contours as DXF. Most BIM platforms—Revit, Navisworks, Tekla, Archicad—ingest these natively or via plug-ins, allowing you to overlay reality capture, run clash checks, and synchronize 4D schedules without format gymnastics.

Yes—at least a few well-surveyed check shots. RTK/PPK minimizes systemic GNSS error, but sparse ground control (3–5 targets on a mid-rise site) validates absolute accuracy, detects multipath issues, and satisfies owners stipulating “survey-grade” verification for pay-apps or litigation defense.

Reputable platforms such as Propeller, DroneDeploy, and Pix4Dcloud encrypt data in transit (TLS 1.2/1.3) and at rest (AES-256), support SSO/SAML for user management, and let you segment projects so subcontractors see only their scope. For highly sensitive work, you can self-host processing engines on AWS GovCloud or on-prem, meeting ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II compliance requirements.

In the U.S., every remote pilot must hold a current FAA Part 107 certificate and abide by site-specific airspace authorizations. Many GCs also mandate OSHA-10 safety training, site orientations, and evidence of recurrent Part 107 knowledge tests. If flying near controlled airspace, file LAANC or a manual waiver in advance; some owners further require pilots to register on their vendor management systems for insurance verification.

Yes—small FPV-style quadcopters fitted with stabilized 4K cameras can safely navigate tight interiors, capturing framing, MEP rough-ins, and finish progress. Flight paths are pre-planned to avoid workers and debris, and LED lighting rigs compensate for low-lux conditions. Data yields close-range video and stills that integrate with 360° site walks or BIM viewers for holistic progress tracking.

Light rain, high humidity, and winds above 22–25 mph degrade image quality and jeopardize flight stability. Cold temperatures shorten battery life, while heat can trigger thermal shutdowns. Most operators maintain a ±48-hour weather buffer in the schedule, use IP-rated aircraft (e.g., IP55), and carry spare batteries in insulated cases. If delays occur, prioritizing critical-path zones first helps keep reporting cycles on track.

Use LiDAR when vegetated, low-texture, or reflective surfaces obscure photogrammetric tie points—think dense foliage on site perimeters or rebar-heavy decks. LiDAR also captures narrow MEP runs and scaffolding faster, providing true-void geometry without extensive ground control. However, photogrammetry remains ideal for color-textured façades or marketing visuals due to its photo-realistic outputs.

For vertical builds, 60–90 ft AGL typically yields 0.5–1 in (1.3–2.5 cm) ground-sample distance—fine enough to discern rebar patterns, anchor points, and slab edges. Large civil sites may be flown at 200 ft AGL to balance coverage and file size, still achieving ~1 in GSD with a 20 MP sensor. Maintain 70–80% overlap to ensure accurate photogrammetric reconstruction and avoid data gaps.

For a mid-rise project, a 25-minute flight can be processed in the cloud within 2–4 hours, generating orthomosaics and point clouds ready for mark-up the same day. Larger civil sites may require overnight processing, especially when LiDAR or ground-control adjustments are involved, but most teams still deliver before next-morning coordination meetings.

A weekly photogrammetry mission on a 10-acre site produces 8–12 GB of RAW imagery and ~2 GB of processed outputs. Cloud platforms offer tiered cold-storage that auto-archives inactive projects after 90–180 days, cutting costs by 50–80%. For on-prem retention, use RAID-6 NAS arrays and compress orthos to cloud-optimized GeoTIFFs while keeping full-resolution LAS files for legal defense.

Yes—timestamped orthomosaics, volumetrics, and point clouds provide defensible evidence of percent-complete work. Many GCs append progress imagery to payment applications and change-order packages; owners appreciate the transparency and auditors accept georeferenced data as supporting documentation, provided it’s signed by a licensed surveyor or PE where required.

Costs break down to pilot labor ($200–$400 per mission), software subscriptions ($150–$450/month), and amortized hardware ($150/month over three years). Typical ROI stems from rework avoidance and schedule compression: avoiding a single two-day concrete re-pour can save $20K–$40K, eclipsing annual UAS program costs. Many contractors report 4–6× returns within the first project cycle.