S A F E T Y S P OT L I G H T
Kelly recommends keeping a safe distance from the paving train when flying a drone on the job site, adding that it’s easy to crop in on a photo after the fact while still flying at a distance. Photo courtesy of James Kelly
Drone Safely Over the Paving Train BY SARAH REDOHL
Editor’s Note: It is recommended to review the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) website for regulations related to implementing drones on your job site or plant (faa.gov/uas) and to note there may be additional state and local regulations. It is each pilot's responsibility to ensure that every flight falls within the legal practices deemed by applicable governing bodies and manufacturer guidelines.
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ccording to a recent survey of construction companies by Dodge Data & Analytics, 37% of contractors are currently using drones on their job sites, with an additional 6% expecting to begin use in the future. AsphaltPro has previously covered the use of drones for stockpile management and production forecasting, and even for delivery of 3D-printed asphalt repairs. But the use cases of drones on construction job sites are numerous. During a recent webinar from the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), Yiye Xu of Oregon State Universi8 | AUGUST 2022
ty outlined some additional use cases for drones in construction: mapping and surveying, site layout planning, security surveillance, logistics management, site communication, monitoring of project progress, quality and safety, post-construction inspections and documentation. James Kelly, superintendent of the asphalt construction division at C.W. Matthews Contracting, Marietta, Georgia, said the company regularly uses drones on its paving jobs for tracking progress and as a marketing tool. Kelly tries to fly his drone at least once a week to capture content for his growing social media following (@JamesPavesIt and @CW_Matthews on Instagram). “Growing up, I always wanted to see what it was like [to work on a paving crew doing heavy civil construction],” Kelly said. “Now, I get to show what we do every day and tell that story.” Not only does he see the photos and videos he captures as a marketing tool to attract talent, but also as an employee engagement tool. “Our crews think it’s so cool to be able to see the work they did that day,” Kelly said. “It gives them more buy-in and a sense of pride in their accomplishments.”
