eVTOL stands for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft which is slowly gaining popularity in the Australian construction and engineering spaces. These drones work on electric power and use advanced grade electric propulsion to hover, takeoff and land.
eVTOL drones are easier to operate, considerably reducing the operational risks at construction sites.
Up until recently, professionals could choose only from two different UAV categories: multirotors and fixed-wing drones.
Fixed wing drones are faster and can stay up in the air for longer periods. However, some drone operators have complained that fixed wing drones were prone to damage and are harder to land. Also, drone pilots often found the lack of landing space a hassle.
Multi-rotor drones, in comparison, are more flexible as they have a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) ability. However, multi-rotor drones are not fast or sturdy enough. With eVTOL drones, you get a drone that is fast, flexible and sturdy enough to endure harsh weather conditions and stay in the air for longer durations.
eVTOLs therefore are the more preferred of UAVs that GIS professionals turn to for their land surveying and aerial asset inspection.
Read on to know all about eVTOL drones and how they are changing the land surveying industry.
eVTOL drones and digital mapping
eVTOL drones use GCPs or ground control points to track and capture accurate site footage. These image and aerial videos are geotagged i.e. the location and coordinates are clearly mentioned in the bottom corner of the footage.
This makes it easier for the site contractor to identify exactly which part of the site is being surveyed. eVTOL drones also save a lot of time in the post processing of drone data. I also recommend surveyors to use PPK or post processed kinematics as they are a cost effective and quick solution.
RTK drones, on the other hand, require a little more technical expertise. eVTOL drones are also a more sustainable solution as it offers better flight flexibility, stability and sturdiness when hovering in the air.
Drones are a real game changer in AEC industries
Drones are still a relatively new concept for AEC industries in Australia. Today, architects, on site engineers and building managers are turning to drone tech for their land surveying and inspection requirements.
Drones get the work done faster. Where a traditional manual site inspection takes a week at least, drones can cover hundreds of acres in a single day!
eVTOL drones can optimize every aspect of the construction project. Right from the project conceptualization to implementing the designs- everything becomes easier with drones.
eVTOLs help surveyors reach spaces on the site that might not be humanly possible. This would include roof inspection, surveying underground mining sites and quarries, going down pipelines etc.
In fact, eVTOL drones are considered crucial in asset management, stockpile maintenance and ensuring overall worksite safety.
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Here is a short breakdown of how drones are used by architects, engineers and construction builders:
For architects, drones are used to get aerial footage of the site, record accurate site measurements to generate concept models and working prototypes. Another inspection tech that I recommend is 3D laser scanning for architects.
Engineers can use drones for on-site inspection and maintenance related activities. It helps project managers track worksite productivity and progress as well.
And for construction agents, drones are a lifesaver as these little flying machines keep a record of the on site materials and assets. This is crucial when you are maintaining annual records and ensure that everything is well within the set budget.
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The future of eVTOL drones
eVTOLs are also relatively quiet, have a faster recharding speed and low cost per kWH. In 2020, the eVTOL drones were crucial for transporting medical supplies and other emergency supplies to people around Australia
eVTOL drones are broader and have a higher capacity to carry things as opposed to fixed wing or multirotor UAVs.
The electric VTOL drones are also seen as a lucrative tech to enable flying aircrafts. Aircrafts powered by eVTOL tech can transport cargo and even people across short distances as far as 150 to 200 miles when fully charged.
The future of these wonder drones also look very profitable as companies like Uber are now investing into eVTOL drones.
The bottom line
Drones are still an underrated technology in Australia. However, I am happy to see how these machines are becoming popular in the AEC spaces.
eVTOL drones are the next big thing in the aviation sector, taking drone tech to another level. I hope that this article on eVTOL drones was insightful and would encourage you to incorporate this tech in your next construction project.
Author bio:
Chris Patchell is the General Manager & Director of Operations at AVIAN Australia. He is an avid drone enthusiast and loves innovative technologies. Chris is highly motivated and has a very hands-on approach to things and his goal is to create awareness about drone tech in Australian AEC industries.
On his days off, he is often scouting locations for photogrammetry and laser scanning. These days you’ll probably find Chris around the place using his drones and laser scanners to capture and recreate the real world in 3D space.