Large building projects are dynamic and having everyone aware is always a challenge. The aerial images enable developers, builders and investors to have a clear picture of what is going on a whole site. This guide outlines the effect of aerial photography in supporting groundwork-to-complete monitoring.

The role drone photography plays in construction progress monitoring

Capturing the whole site from above

Ground level photos depict only a part of a site. Aerial photos show the entire layout, points of access, and relation of the various work areas. This broader perspective also assists teams to realize the progress in just one glance . Wide-view benefits include:

• Complete site overview: One image of all work areas, buildings and access points on the entire project area.


• Clear sense of scale: Views of the project in the air that make stakeholders see that a project is very big and how far it has been developed.


• Easier spotting of site issues: The visible problems including drainage, placement of material or access congestion that can usually be missed by ground view.


• Better planning support: Use images to assist teams in planning deliveries, crane locations, and areas of staging.

Recording progress through regular flights

Progress can be more easily measured with consistency. This leads to a reliable visual record by taking pictures at the same points at set time intervals. A drone photography service in Melbourne will be able to plan such flights either weekly, fortnightly or monthly to fit some project. Regular capture supports:

• Repeatable flight paths: Fly through the same angles and heights each time to enable comparisons of changes over time.


• Dated progress records: Developing a clear time schedule of the transformation of the site between earthworks and final finishes.


• Time-lapse sequences: Using the combination of images within several months to form a clear picture of the build to be presented.


• Milestone documentation: Recording of important milestones of the project (foundations, structure, roofing and external works).

Always keeping the stakeholders informed

Clients, developers and investors are unable to visit a site frequently. The aerial pictures would allow them to see the progress without going or invading a risky zone. Reporting with clear visuals is also more comprehensible. Communication benefits include:

• Easy-to-share reports: It is possible to add images and short clips to reports or updates, a presentation, an investor report.


• Remote progress checks: Any stakeholder monitoring the site remotely reviews it, eliminating the physical inspection of the site so frequently.


• Clearer discussions: Visuals that help a team reach a conclusion regarding the status, priorities and the further actions during meetings.


• Stronger client confidence: Cases of high client confidence which appears very often: that the project is doing well and being managed well.

Supporting site safety and inspections

There are areas within a construction site that are hard or inaccessible. Drones will be able to get close shots to roofs, facades and high-rise without endangering individuals. This minimizes risk and yet offers an informative visual aid. Benefits of safety and inspections are:

• Roof and façade views: Close photographs of hard to access or high shots with no scaffold or body on the ladder.


• Reduced exposure to hazards: Less individuals having to move towards unsafe or dangerous places just to take pictures.


• Quick condition checks: Fast visual inspection post-storm or heavy rain to assess the evidence of visible damage or site issues.


• Safety planning support: Overview images assist the teams to consider access routes, exclusion areas, and layout of the site.

Creating useful records for compliance and disputes

Detailed records of the visuals may be useful long after the completion of work. Images with dates indicate what was constructed, when and in what condition. This documentation can be used to assist in reporting, quality reviews, and conflict work discussions. Documentation benefits include: