How Businesses Should Use Drone Technology

In industries like public safety, energy, and construction, the security of employees is paramount. Thankfully, new innovations in enterprise drone technology have created alternatives to the traditional ways of conducting operations in these industries to improve safety and reduce costs. Adopting enterprise drones means that companies can utilize safer — and constant — surveillance, reduce liability, and streamline the efficiency of their processes, saving both lives and money.

The primary factor that makes drones an optimal solution for so many industries is their robust adaptability. The needs of drones for enterprise use are much more complicated than those that consumers use, and part of what allows drone technology to fulfill the diverse needs of companies is their customizable nature. Outfitting drones with different payloads and attachments enables them to have several applications, such as thermal cameras in the energy industry to help collect data, or long range zoom cameras in the security industry for better surveillance.

For the most part, early adopters of enterprise drones were those in the public safety field. Public safety teams have used drones for years to conduct search and rescue, disaster response, law enforcement activities, and more. These teams have deployed life saving drone technology to assist first responders in ways that were once — in some cases, quite literally — out of reach. When it comes to first responders, in particular, every single second is essential. Being able to respond more quickly could mean a life saved.

In addition to these benefits, training programs are available that can help organizations effectively integrate drone solutions into their operations. Companies understand that the technology they are working with is new and revolutionary, so taking a standardized approach would not be appropriate. As the industries in which drones can be utilized continue to expand, it will be necessary for these sectors to learn how to use, deploy, and integrate this technology to their advantage.

Embracing drones in the energy sector

One of the industries in which drone technology is beginning to take hold is the energy sector. Many of the capabilities that have been designed to allow commercial drones to respond in emergency situations can be applied proactively in the energy sector, enabling them to conduct their operations much more safely and efficiently. As a result, energy companies will be able to ensure the safety of their employees while also reducing their costs and liabilities.

[su_quote]For instance, enterprise drones can be used to conduct inspections in the energy industry in ways that significantly streamline them. Inspections can be dangerous for human crews to conduct because they often take place at extreme heights or in proximity to other hazards. Using drones to conduct these inspections allows industry workers on the ground to analyze the high-quality imagery being instantaneously transmitted. This feature is also beneficial in situations where an inspection must be conducted quickly in order to respond promptly.[/su_quote]

In addition, thermal and infrared camera capabilities can be helpful for energy companies in providing more data than may have been formerly available. Previously, getting this level of access and information required expensive equipment like helicopters and extensive support teams. Now, however, a single drone operator with an adequately-outfitted drone can conduct the same level of inspection as an entire team of workers.

How drones can help make construction safer

Drones aren’t only helpful for inspecting established infrastructure — they can also be useful in inspecting infrastructure that is being built. The potential applications of drones in construction could make the industry operate much more efficiently. The massive scale of many construction projects can often make them challenging to manage, but the speed and efficiency with which drones work allow them to cover a larger amount of ground in a shorter amount of time.

Moreover, the imaging capabilities of enterprise drones allow construction operations to develop site maps, take measurements, and report progress with more precision than the human eye could ever allow. With drones, collecting and presenting this information allows it to be far more accurate than what could have been done without their integration into the project. Another benefit of integrating drones this way is that, with this more accurate data, construction companies can verify their projects are being completed up to code and standards without worry.

Safety monitoring is also a crucial aspect of any construction operation. Worksites present all sorts of dangerous conditions and challenges for employees, and drones can allow them to stay on top of these hazards before they become a present concern. It can be challenging for the human eye to identify potential weaknesses in a construction site, but the advanced imaging technology accessible by enterprise drones can successfully identify these vulnerabilities.

The adoption of drones in other industries shows the massive potential of this technology to help people and save lives. Embracing drones means safer operations, reduced liability, and lower costs for companies. Complex operations can be streamlined and simplified using enterprise drone solutions, making this technology the future of industrial safety.

Author bio: Brendon Bartholomew is the president of Vector Solutions. He has more than 20 years of United States Air Force Special Operations and Air Mobility experience flying multiple platforms, leading several organizations, multiple aspects of strategic planning, strategic communications, budget development, research and development, and legislative affairs.

This article was edited and published by Rick Weinberg, California Business Journal’s Founder, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief. Click here for Rick Weinberg’s biography.

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