Construction Drones

At more than 5,000 construction sites across Japan, drones are revolutionizing the building process by monitoring and controlling heavy equipment. And in the near future, the plan is to automate it further by adding artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.

Originally driven by a global shortage of construction laborers, the use of drones has already proven to shorten the time needed to perform many preparatory tasks. For example, producing a three-dimensional map of the site — a process that used to take several days and a team of surveyors — can be completed in as little as 15 minutes. The data can then be uploaded to “smart” bulldozer and diggers that proceed autonomously with leveling and piling up the dirt exactly where it’s needed.

In addition to improving efficiency, automating the construction site can reduce accidents and make the workplace safer. In the U.S. alone, about 10,000 injuries are reported every year. With the addition of AI, drones will be able to control equipment without the need for human intervention as well as spot safety hazards.

Other plans include using AI to monitor the building schedule and identify whether materials are being delivered on time. Because many building sites lack reliable WiFi or cellular service, all of the computations and communication are done locally.