Drones in Modern Construction: Resource Allocation, Inspection, and Regulatory Challenges
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/jatm.v18.1420Keywords:
Drones, Aircraft construction, Geometric, Mission, Aerial photography, MiningAbstract
This review analyzes the integration, functionality, and regulatory environment of unmanned aerial vehicles. In this review, the role of drone technologies with advanced payloads, Red-Green-Blue, and infrared sensors to revolutionize the process of surveying, inspection, and safety monitoring by providing extremely high accuracy in real-time spatial data delivery is considered. The technologies are essential in increasing productivity, minimizing expenses, and decision-making in project management. Other than the technical capability, the paper discusses the international regulatory frameworks and governance models developed by agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and the International Civil Aviation Organization. Even though such systems guarantee the security of the airspace and responsibility of the operators, the analysis indicates that the operations of UAVs between countries remain cumbersome as the loopholes continue to persist. The economic analysis shows that there is a high return on investment in the form of less time spent in the survey, lower labor expenses, and better safety results. Further research should be oriented to artificial intelligence-related data analytics, autonomous UAV swarm control, and automatic connection to building information modelling to allow real-time monitoring of the project and predicting its maintenance requirements.
References
Aiyetan AO, Das DK (2023) Use of drones for construction in developing countries: barriers and strategic interventions. Int J Constr Manag 23(16):2888-2897. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2022.2108026
Ajayi OG, Palmer M, Salubi AA (2018) Modelling farmland topography for suitable site selection of dam construction using drone (UAV) photogrammetry. Remote Sens Appl Soc Environ 11:220-230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2018.07.007
Alarcón VV, García M, Alarcón F, Viguria A, Martínez A, Janisch D, Ollero A (2020) Procedures for the integration of drones into the airspace based on U-Space services. Aerospace 7(9):128. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace7090128
Ali BS (2019) Traffic management for drones flying in the city. Int J Crit Infrastruct Prot 26:100310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcip.2019.100310
Anand J, Aasish C, Narayanan SS, Ahmed RA (2023) Drones for disaster response and management. Boca Raton: CRC Press. Internet of drones; p. 177-200
Anwar N, Izhar MA, Najam FA (2018) Construction monitoring and reporting using drones and drones (UAVs). Paper presented 2018 The Tenth International Conference on Construction in the 21st Century. CITC Global; Colombo: Sri Lanka.
Ashraf S, Aggarwal P, Damacharla P, Wang H, Javaid AY, Devabhaktuni V (2018) A low-cost solution for drone navigation in a global positioning system-denied environment. Int J Distrib Sens Netw 14(6):155014771878175. https://doi.org/10.1177/1550147718781750
Biggs TW, Thengabail PS, Gumma MK, Scott CA, Parthasaradhi GR, Turral HN (2016) Irrigated area mapping in heterogeneous landscapes with MODIS time series, ground truth and census data, Krishna Basin, India. Int J Remote Sens 27(19):4245-4266. https://doi.org/10.1080/01431160600851801
Butcher PA, Colefax AP, Gorkin RA III, Kajiura SM, López NA, Mourier J, Purcell CR, Skomal GB, Tucker JP, Walsh AJ (2021) The drone revolution of shark science: a review. Drones 5(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/drones5010008
Cardellicchio A, Ruggieri S, Nettis A, Renò V, Uva G (2023) Physical interpretation of machine learning-based recognition of defects for the risk management of existing bridge heritage. Eng Fail Anal 149:107237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2023.107237
Chamola V, Kotesh P, Agarwal A, Gupta N, Guizani M (2020) A comprehensive review of drone attacks and neutralization techniques. Ad Hoc Netw 102324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adhoc.2020.102324
Charavgis F (2016) Monitoring and assessing concrete bridges with intelligent techniques (doctoral dissertation). Delft: Delft University of Technology.
Chesley JTT, Leier ALL, White S, Torres R (2017) Using unmanned aerial vehicles and structure-from-motion photogrammetry to characterize sedimentary outcrops: an example from the Morrison Formation, Utah, USA. Sediment Geol 354:1-8. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2017.03.013
Choi HW, Kim HJ, Kim SK, Na WS (2023) An overview of drone applications in the construction industry. Drones 7(8):515. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones7080515
Daud SMSM, Yusof MYP M, Heo CC, Khoo LS, Singh MKC, Mahmood MS, Nawawi H (2022) Applications of drone in disaster management: a scoping review. Sci Justice 62(1):30-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2021.11.002
Dheeravath V, Thenkabail PS, Chandrakantha G, Noojipady P, Reddy GP, Biradar CM, Velpuri M (2010) Irrigated areas of India derived using MODIS 500 m time series for the years 2001-2003. ISPRS J Photogramm Remote Sens 65(1):42-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2009.08.004
Ding W, Yang H, Yu K, Shu J (2023) Crack detection and quantification for concrete structures using UAV and transformer. Automat Constr 152:104929. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2023.104929
Erdelj M, Natalizio E (2016) UAV-assisted disaster management: applications and open issues. Paper presented 2016 International Conference on Computing, Networking and Communications. IEEE; Kauai, USA. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCNC.2016.7440563
Feroz S, Abu Dabous S (2021) UAV-based remote sensing applications for bridge condition assessment. Remote Sens 13:1809. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13091809
Giordan D, Adams MS, Aicardi I, Alicandro M, Allasia P, Baldo M, De Berardinis P, Dominici D, Godone D, Hobbs P, et al. (2020) The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for engineering geology applications. Bull Int Assoc Eng Geol 79: 3437-3481. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-020-01766-2
Gohari A, Ahmad AB, Rahim RBA, Supa’at ASM, Abd Razak S, Gismalla MSM (2022) Involvement of surveillance drones in smart cities: a systematic review. IEEE Access 10:56611-56628. http://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3177904
Gonzalez-Aguilera D, Rodríguez-Gonzalvez P (2017) Drones – An open access journal. Drones 1(1):1. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones1010001
Guerra E, Munguía R, Grau A (2018) UAV visual and laser sensors fusion for detection and positioning in industrial applications. Sensors 18(7):2071. https://doi.org/10.3390/s18072071
Gupta A, Afrin T, Scully E, Yodo N (2021) Advances of UAVs toward future transportation: The state-of-the-art, challenges, and opportunities. Future Transp 1:326-350. https://doi.org/10.3390/futuretransp1020019
Gupta H, Verma OP (2021) Monitoring and surveillance of urban road traffic using low-altitude drone images: a deep learning approach. Multimed Tools Appl. 81(14):1983-19703. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-021-11146-x
Gupta S, Nair S (2023) A review of the emerging role of UAVs in construction site safety monitoring. Mater Today Proc. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2023.03.135
Halder S, Afsari K (2023) Robots in inspection and monitoring of buildings and infrastructure: a systematic review. Appl Sci 13(4):2304. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13042304
Harvey MC, Rowland JV, Luketina KM (2016) Drone with thermal infrared camera provides high resolution georeferenced imagery of the Waikite geothermal area, New Zealand. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 325:61-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2016.06.014
Hassanalian M, Abdelkefi A (2017) Classifications, applications, and design challenges of drones: a review. Prog Aerosp Sci 91:99-131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paerosci.2017.04.003
Huang X, Liu Y, Huang L, Stikbakke S, Onstein E (2023) BIM-supported drone path planning for building exterior surface inspection. Comput Ind 153:104019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2023.104019
Husman MA, Albattah W, Abidin ZZ, Mustafah YM, Kadir K, Habib S, Islam M, Khan S (2021) Drones for crowd monitoring and analysis. Electronics 10:2974. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10232974
Ishiwatari M (2024) Leveraging drones for effective disaster management: a comprehensive analysis of the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake case in Japan. Prog Disaster Sci 100348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2024.100348
Joshi PM (2015) Wing analysis of a flapping wing drone using CFD. Int J Adv Eng Res Sci 2(5):216-221. https://doi.org/10.21090/ijaerd.020530
Kangunde V, Jamisola RS, Theophilus EK (2021) A review on drones controlled in real-time. Int J Dynam Control 9:1832-1846. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40435-020-00737-5
Kardasz P, Doskocz J (2016) Drones possibilities of their using. J Civ Environ Eng 6(3):1-7. https://doi.org/10.4172/2165-784X.1000233
Khan NA, Jhanjhi NZ, Brohi SN, Usmani RSA, Nayyar A (2020) Smart traffic monitoring system using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Comput Commun 157:434-443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comcom.2020.04.049
Kim P, Park J, Cho Y (2019) As-is geometric data collection and 3D visualization through the collaboration between UAV and UGV. Paper presented 2019 36th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction. IAARC; Banff, Canada. https://doi.org/10.22260/ISARC2019/0073
Kim SR, Lee WK, Kwak DA, Biging G, Gong P, Lee JH, Cho HK (2011) Forest cover classification by optimal segmentation of high-resolution satellite imagery. Sensors 11(2):1943-1958. https://doi.org/10.3390/s110201943
Lee J, Jo H, Oh J (2023) Application of drone LiDAR survey for evaluation of a long-term consolidation settlement of large land reclamation. Appl Sci 13(14):8277. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13148277
Li J, Jiang S, Song L, Peng P, Mu F, Li H, Xu T (2023) Automated optical inspection of FAST’s reflector surface using drones and computer vision. Light Adv Manuf 4(1):3-13. https://doi.org/10.37188/lam.2023.001
Li R, Yu J, Li F, Yang R, Wang Y, Peng Z (2023) Automatic bridge crack detection using drone and Faster R CNN. Constr Build Mater 362:129659. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.129659
Liu Z, He Y, Yang L, Han J (2017) Control techniques of tilt rotor drone systems: a review. Chin J Aeronaut 30(1):135-148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cja.2016.11.001
Lu X, Zhou J, Yang R, Yan Z, Lin Y, Jiao J, Liu F (2023) Automated rice phenology stage mapping using UAV images and deep learning. Drones 7(2):83. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones7020083
Luo K, Kong X, Zhang J, Hu J, Li J, Tang H (2023) Computer vision-based bridge inspection and monitoring: a review. Sensors 23(18):7863. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23187863
Lyu Y, Cao M, Yuan S, Xie L (2023) Vision-based autonomous UAV estimation and following for building inspection. IEEE Trans Syst Man Cybern Syst 53(12):7475-7488. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2102.01423
Majumdar A, Tavawalla H (2021) India: Drone Law 2021 – New regime, old problems. Nat Law Rev XI(263). https://natlawreview.com/article/india-drone-law-2021-new-regime-old-problems
Martinez JG, Gheisari M, Alarcón LF (2020) UAV integration in current construction safety planning and monitoring process: case study of a high-rise building construction project in Chile. J Manag Eng 36:05020005. http://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000761
Meng S, Gao Z, Zhou Y, He B, Djerrad A (2023) Real-time automatic crack detection method based on drone. Comput Aided Civ Infrastruct Eng 38(7):849-872. http://doi.org/10.1111/mice.12918
Muhmad Kamarulzaman AM, Wan Mohd Jaafar WS, Mohd Said MN, Saad SNM, Mohan M (2023) UAV implementations in urban planning and related sectors of rapidly developing nations: a review and future perspectives for Malaysia. Remote Sens 15(11):2845. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15112845
Munawar HS, Ullah F, Heravi A, Thaheem MJ, Maqsoom A (2021) Inspecting buildings using drones and computer vision: a machine learning approach to detect cracks and damages. Drones 6(1):5. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones6010005
Ngo BT, Luong CX, Ngo L, Luong HM (2023) Development of a solution for collecting crack images on concrete surfaces to assess the structural health of bridges using drone. J Inf Telecommun 7(3):304-316. http://doi.org/10.1080/24751839.2023.2185448
Nwaogu JM, Yang Y, Chan AP, Chi HL (2023) Application of drones in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Automat Constr 150:104827. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2023.104827
Onososen AO, Musonda I, Onatayo D, Tjebane MM, Saka AB, Fagbenro RK (2023) Impediments to construction site digitalization using drones (UAVs). Drones 7(1):45. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones7010045
Papageorgiou A, Tarkian M, Amadori K, Ölvander J (2018) Multidisciplinary design optimization of aerial vehicles: A review of recent advancements. Int J Aerosp Eng 2018:1-22. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/4258020
Patrick OO, Nnadi EO, Ajaelu HC (2020) Effective use of quadcopter drones for safety and security monitoring in building construction sites: case study Enugu Metropolis Nigeria. J Eng Technol Res 12(1):37-46. https://doi.org/10.5897/JETR2020.0695
Perikleous D, Margariti K, Velanas P, Blazquez CS, Gonzalez-Aguilera D (2025) Aerial drones for geophysical prospection in mining: a review. Drones 9(5):383. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones9050383
Prabu B, Malathy R, Taj MG, Madhan N (2022) Drone networks and monitoring systems in smart cities. Boca Raton; CRC Press.AI-centric smart city ecosystems. p. 123-148. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003252542-8
Radoglou-Grammatikis P, Sarigiannidis P, Lagkas T, Moscholios I (2020) A compilation of UAV applications for precision agriculture. Comput Netw 107148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comnet.2020.107148
Regona M, Yigitcanlar T, Hon C, Teo M (2024) Artificial intelligence and sustainable development goals: systematic literature review of the construction industry. Sustain Cities Soc 105499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2024.105499
Rojas Viloria D, Solano-Charris EL, Muñoz-Villamizar A, Montoya-Torres JR (2021) Unmanned aerial vehicles/drones in vehicle routing problems: a literature review. Int Trans Oper Res 28:1626-1657. https://doi.org/10.1111/itor.12783
Said KO, Onifade M, Githiria JM, Abdulsalam J, Bodunrin MO, Genc B, Akande JM (2021) On the application of drones: a progress report in mining operations. Int J Min Reclam Environ 35(4):235-267. https://doi.org/10.1080/17480930.2020.1804653
Sandino J, Vanegas F, Maire FD, Caccetta P, Sanderson C, Gonzalez F (2020) UAV framework for autonomous onboard navigation and people/object detection in cluttered indoor environments. Remote Sens 12(20):3386. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12203386
Schauwecker K, Ke NR, Scherer SA, Zell A (2012) Markerless visual control of a quad-rotor micro aerial vehicle by means of onboard stereo processing. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer. Autonomous mobile systems. http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32217-4_2
Sestras P, Badea G, Badea AC, Salagean T, Roșca S, Kader S, Remondino F (2025) Land surveying with UAV photogrammetry and LiDAR for optimal building planning. Automat Constr 173:106092. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106092
Shahmoradi J, Talebi E, Roghanchi P, Hassanalian M (2020) A comprehensive review of applications of drone technology in the mining industry. Drones 4(3):34. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones4030034
Staffa Junior LDB, Bastos Costa D, Torres Nogueira JL, Silva AS (2025) Web platform for building roof maintenance inspection using UAS and artificial intelligence. Int J Build Pathol Adapt 43(1):4-28. http://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-12-2022-0186
Szóstak M, Nowobilski T, Mahamadu AM, Pérez DC (2023) Unmanned aerial vehicles in the construction industry – towards a protocol for safe preparation and flight of drones. Int J Intell Unmanned Syst 11(2):296-316. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIUS-05-2022-0063
Tatum MC, Liu J (2017) Unmanned aircraft system applications in construction. Procedia Eng 196:167-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2017.07.187
Umar T (2021) Applications of drones for safety inspection in the Gulf Cooperation Council construction. Eng Constr Archit Manag 28(9):2337-2360. http://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-05-2020-0369
Valavanis KP, Vachtsevanos GJ (2015) Handbook of unmanned aerial vehicles. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9707-1
Van Wyk L, Kajimo-Shakantu K, Opawole A (2024) Adoption of innovative technologies in the South African construction industry. Int J Build Pathol Adapt 42(3):410-429. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-06-2021-0090
Velev D, Zlateva P, Steshina L, Petukhov I (2019) Challenges of using drones and virtual/augmented reality for disaster risk management. Int Arch Photogramm Remote Sens Spatial Inf Sci 42:437-440. http://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-3-W8-437-2019
Wang J, Ueda T (2023) A review study on unmanned aerial vehicle and mobile robot technologies on damage inspection of reinforced concrete structures. Struct Concr 24(1):536-562. http://doi.org/10.1002/suco.202200846
Yamane T, Chun PJ, Dang J, Honda R (2023) Recording of bridge damage areas by 3D integration of multiple images and reduction of the variability in detected results. Comput Aided Civ Infrastruct Eng 38(17):2391-2407. http://doi.org/10.1111/mice.12971
Yang X, del Rey Castillo E, Zou Y, Wotherspoon L (2024) UAV-deployed deep learning network for real-time multi-class damage detection using model quantization techniques. Autom Constr 159:105254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2023.105254
Zhang J, Virk S, Porter W, Kenworthy K, Sullivan D, Schwartz B (2019) Applications of unmanned aerial vehicle-based imagery in turfgrass field trials. Front Plant Sci 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.00279
Zhu Y, Tang H (2023) Automatic damage detection and diagnosis for hydraulic structures using drones and artificial intelligence techniques. Remote Sens 15(3):615. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15030615
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Prabu Baskar, Shalini Annadurai, Pavithra Annadurai, Elango Krishnan Soundararajan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0. Authors are free to Share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and Adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially). JATM allow the authors to retain publishing rights without restrictions.
