TECHNOLOGY MATTERS
Drones can help contractors create more competitive bids that maximize profit margins and also help monitor the project with high levels of accuracy and frequency.
Propeller Aero
From Bidding to Progress Monitoring: How Drone Surveys Give Earthworks Teams an Edge
T
he earthworks bidding process is always a delicate balancing act, challenging construction managers to both submit a competitive bid that wins the project while crafting a proposal that remains profitable. Traditionally, bids are proposed based on the overseeing engineer’s final design and data that depicts current conditions at the site itself. The process of acquiring accurate data can be incredibly time-consuming, especially for larger scale projects. However, drone survey data is offering a new way to streamline and
10
ASPHALT CONTRACTOR DECEMBER 2021
ACON1221_10-13_Technology_JD.indd 10
enhance this process, since it allows planners to more easily validate the design and obtain accurate materials estimates not only at the start of a project, but throughout as well. Survey teams can obtain incredibly accurate measurements of the quantity of materials onsite with a single flyover, helping to check bids and generate clear cost estimates to ensure operators have a proper understanding of what the job will entail. Throughout the project, drone surveys become even more useful, helping teams monitor progress and create visual reports for clients.
DEEPER INSIGHTS BEFORE BREAKING GROUND Flying a drone before making a final bid allows contractors to avoid underbidding, which can lead to a net loss on the project, while also avoiding overbidding, which can lead to a potential client selecting a competitor’s bid. Once the contract is won, a construction firm can use drone data before they break any ground, capturing crucial preliminary information that allows them to measure, cut, net and fill quantities at a given site. With the information collected during a drone survey, operators can
www.ForConstructionPros.com/Asphalt
11/21/21 2:47 PM
