Technology is always moving, and drones have been one of the biggest winners of late. As drones evolve, they’re constantly being put to new and creative uses.
The technology powering drones has come so far that these platforms are now used to perform a huge range of tasks that were traditionally handled by humans. This provides greater efficiency in many cases, as well as improved safety, cost savings and a range of other benefits.
In this article we’ll delve into the world of third-party drone services to see how they’re changing the world as we know it.
Common Types of Drone Services
Drones are now used to perform dozens of tasks. The only challenge is that operating drones requires expertise and practice. This is where drone service providers come in.
For a nominal fee, you can hire an expert drone pilot to perform any of the following services:
- Thermal imaging – Thermal imaging drones are used to detect differentials in heat. This allows drones to measure things like heat inefficiencies, leaks, damaged solar panels and more.
- Crop spraying – Crops need a range of treatments to maximise yield. Fertiliser, pesticide, herbicide and other treatments need to be spread evenly at regular intervals. This has traditionally been performed using large and expensive machinery (including aeroplanes), but it can now be handled by drones.
- Asset inspections – Many types of buildings and structures need to be regularly inspected in order to assess the condition and plan maintenance works. This type of inspection is dangerous and time-consuming to perform by hand. Drones are now used extensively for asset inspections because they dramatically improve safety and reduce the time involved with inspections.
- Aerial mapping – Mapping large areas has always been a challenge. With drones, it’s possible to create intricate maps of small or large tracts of land, providing the information needed to plan projects.
- Emergency response – Drones can operate in almost any conditions. When fitted with the right cameras and sensors, they’re often used for emergency response following floods, fires and other disasters.
- Surveying – Drones can capture a huge range of common survey data. This includes everything from simple information about the size of blocks, right through to as-built inspections, intricate measurements and more.
Industries That Use Drone Services
Drones are now widely used in hundreds of industries all over the world. When fitted with the right cameras and sensors, drones can be used to perform almost any task. That’s why they’re commonly used in demanding industries, including:
- Mining – The mining industry makes extensive use of drones for prospecting, asset management, volumetric measurements and mapping. Drones are especially useful in mine site conditions that pose a serious risk to personnel.
- Agriculture and forestry – Agriculture and forestry operations often take place over hundreds of hectares. This is a challenge for ground teams. On the other hand, drones can quickly and methodically cover huge tracts of land, making them ideal for monitoring crops.
- Construction and engineering – Drones have been supporting the construction industry for years. They’re used to plan projects, create 3D models, verify work and monitor deformation during construction. The precision of drone sensors means they can deliver millimetre-accuracy, which is ideal for engineering applications.
- Power generation – Most of Australia’s energy is generated in remote locations. This means that power typically needs to travel long distances to reach suburban substations. Monitoring these power lines is a time consuming process. Using drones greatly speeds up the process and reduces the need to send ground teams into harsh outback conditions to inspect power lines.
- Civil industries – Civil industries that deal with road, rail and utilities planning often use drone technology. Civil industries primarily use drones for their surveying and inspection capabilities, where they are indispensable for planning projects and monitoring progress.
- Solar farms – The sheer size of solar farms makes them a challenge to manage. Drones are useful for mapping and monitoring solar equipment, but they can also be used to detect inefficiencies in panels. With the right sensors, drones can detect faulty solar panels that are in need of repair or replacement. This ensures solar farms are always operating at maximum efficiency.
- Emergency services – Police, firefighters and search and rescue teams make extensive use of drones. Because drones can quickly and safely collect information in disaster situations, they’re the perfect tool for managing conditions and protecting lives.
Benefits of Using Drone Services
Using drone services provides a range of benefits to businesses. From improved efficiency to cost savings, drones are changing the way every industry operates. The major benefits include:
- Improved safety – Drones perform a huge range of tasks that were traditionally performed manually. These tasks often included operating at heights or in dangerous conditions, which posed a serious risk to technicians. Using drones minimises the risk to personnel and allows critical data to be collected safely.
- Reduced costs – The speed with which drones can collect and analyse data significantly reduces expenses on site. Not only that, but the accuracy of drone data means fewer mistakes, which further reduces project costs.
- Even better, considering the growing market for used survey equipment, you can find cost-effective drone solutions to fit any budget. This allows you to reap the benefits of this technology without a massive upfront investment.
- Better access – Drones are the ideal for operations in dangerous, remote or inaccessible terrain. Compact drones can fly in almost any conditions, including enclosed spaces and inside buildings. In fact, many drones can access spaces that humans are unable to reach, making them suitable for every application.
- Detailed information – Drones can be fitted with dozens of types of cameras and sensors. These are calibrated to millimetre-accuracy, allowing drones to provide detailed information about any project. This is further simplified by the fact that drones are often used to produce 3D models that would be time-consuming to create otherwise.
