Drone Technology in Architecture, Engineering and Construction

Book excerpt: A start-to-finish roadmap on incorporating drone technology into your AEC firm workflow Drone Technology in Architecture, Engineering and Construction: A Strategic Guide to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operation and Implementation is the only process-driven, step-by-step handbook to implement drone technology in AEC workflows. It provides a comprehensive and practical roadmap for architecture, engineering, and construction firms to incorporate drones into their design and construction processes. The book offers extensive information on drone data processing, and includes guidance on how to acquire, manipulate and use the various data types produced from drone flights. The creation of three-dimensional data and visualizations are covered in-depth. Drone Technology reviews how to select and fly drones based on data needs and initial costs, and how to collect and maintain required flight logs, licenses, and permits. Drone Technology uses several real-world project examples that demonstrate and explain how drones can be used to collect: · Full-color orthorectified imagery · Accurate 3D point cloud and mesh models · Topographic contours · Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) The project examples also describe how these datasets can be integrated with 3D models of proposed conditions, photos, and other project datasets. Drone Technology in Architecture, Engineering and Construction is an essential guide for a wide variety of professionals, from civil engineers to landscape architects. It provides information on professional use of drones for those just considering the technology, to those already flying drones professionally. It is an invaluable guide for anyone working in the design or construction of buildings and landscapes.