Archive for month: July, 2020

Ten years ago, UAVs were almost strictly within the purview of commercial applications. Today, many households have UAVs at home. UAVs are everything from toys for children to highly advanced, professional machines. But where is the line drawn? What are the differences between a commercial UAV and a consumer model? How can you tell the difference?

Here’s everything you need to know about what distinguishes commercial UAVs from consumer models.

The Commercial UAV

Today, commercial Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) are being used in everything from construction to the energy industry. UAVs are used for surveying, maintenance, and safety. But the UAV that is used for commercial use is a far cry from those that are in the standard home. An aerial mapping UAV will be much more technologically advanced than an at-home toy or hobbyist quadcopter, and much more expensive. 

Still, there’s no strict delineation between commercial UAVs and consumer UAVs for a very simple reason: UAVs have become more and more advanced. Just as there is a sliding spectrum of cameras, from a simple phone camera to a professional grade model, there’s also a sliding spectrum between commercial and consumer UAVs. Between the two are “prosumer” (professional consumer) UAVs that are very similar to commercial models, but still are not generally used for commercial use. Consumer-grade UAVs in use today may very well have been commercial-grade UAVs 10 years ago.

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Here are the major differences between today’s commercial and consumer UAVs:

• Cost. Let’s begin with the most obvious difference. A commercial UAV is very expensive, with the cheapest being a few thousand dollars. More commonly, a commercial UAV is going to cost tens of thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, a prosumer UAV is likely to cost about a thousand dollars, while a recreational, consumer UAV may only cost a few hundred. Recreational UAVs are getting cheaper every day, but commercial UAVs are getting more technologically advanced, and thus more expensive.
• Support. A commercial UAV is more likely to come with in-depth support. While many consumer or prosumer UAVs will still have customer support available, the customer support will be more along the lines of offering a refund if the UAV is defective. Meanwhile, commercial UAVs have support services that can help them with both technical and operational issues.
• Durability. UAVs crash all the time. It’s just a fact. UAVs are extremely stable in most conditions, but during heavy winds, they simply may not be heavy enough to maneuver themselves. But when commercial models crash, they’re usually fine. Prosumer models are going to be very durable and will be able to take a lot of hard hits. Cheaper, consumer models could break on the first crash.
• Sensor control and integration. Commercial UAVs allow for sensor control on a granular level and integration with precision solutions. Some UAVs are used for surveying, and others may be used for things like film production. Either way, they need to have the right level of sensor control. They have to be able to capture their exact location and maintain consistency.
• Customization. Commercial UAVs can be used for many purposes, and consequently, must be built so that they can be altered and customized. Consumer UAVs are usually built for a single purpose. They may be built to carry a GoPro, or to carry small packages. Commercial UAVs are more commonly used for things such as surveying, but an aerial mapping UAV is likely to be a commercial UAV tailored for that purpose.

There are also some practical differences. Using a UAV for commercial flight requires different licenses and permits than using one for recreation. Consumer-grade UAVs are going to be billed as being good for consumer needs, whereas commercial UAVs are going to be billed for specific industrial applications. Consumer UAVs cannot be used for most of the things for which commercial UAVs can be used.

What Are the Similarities?

Of course, there are still similarities in commercial and consumer UAVs. In fact, at their core, they’re almost identical. Commercial UAVs have specifically been improved upon for commercial use. That means they’re better in virtually every way. They have longer battery life, they’re larger, they have more features, and they’re easier to control.

Both the consumer and commercial UAV markets are steadily growing. On the recreational side, people are enthusiastic about the opportunity to operate their own UAVs. On the commercial side, the applications for industrial UAVs are expanding by the day. For more information about the difference between consumer and commercial UAVs, contact the experts at Landpoint.

From preserving historic museums to developing new condominiums, building information modeling (BIM) is changing the face of architecture, design, and construction. Through accurate BIM, construction companies are able to plot out their projects in virtual space, anticipating issues, reducing re-works, and otherwise improving their return on investment.

Here’s why accurate BIM is a construction company’s dream.

BIM Construction = Reliable Construction

First, how is BIM used in construction? The construction industry has always relied upon data to make decisions. Recent advancements in technology have made the construction industry far more reliable. Decades ago, construction companies found themselves suddenly able to improve upon their product cost and deadline management through the power of computers.

In the very early days, having spreadsheets available made it easier for construction companies to produce more accurate bids. From there, construction planning solutions made it possible to streamline and improve upon the entire process, from start to finish.

Today, BIM is making construction data even more accurate. Construction companies are now able to plan their projects down to the millimeter, from showing clients how the finished product will look, to determining how different materials may interact with the surrounding environment. The better the data model, the less likely it is that companies will encounter surprises, and the better the company can plan for the future.

Improved Data Means Reduced Reworks

The construction industry spends approximately $178 billion a year on reworks — and that doesn’t include the cost of unsatisfied customers and damaged reputations. To a certain extent, some reworks are going to be expected in any project. But with better data, reworks can be vastly reduced. 

Modern building information modeling is so advanced that construction companies can even assess a project’s interactions with the surrounding environments. BIM is becoming an important part of solar panel farms and wind farms. They can determine what the solar or wind output will be depending on the weather and the season.

Furthermore, building information modeling can be used to keep clients engaged, and to ensure that clients have a picture in their mind of the completed project at all stages of development. Clients will be able to determine whether there are things that don’t work for them at the beginning of the project, instead of at the end, and consequently are less likely to request changes.

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Alleviating Environmental Concerns for New Construction

Today, construction companies are more conscientious than ever about the impact that their buildings can have on the surrounding environment. Will glass potentially reflect damaging rays into the surrounding area? Could a change of water flow increase the natural erosion?

Construction companies aren’t just able to simulate the environment’s impact on the buildings, such as seasonal sunlight changes, but also the building’s own impact on the surrounding environment. This goes a long way towards building construction projects that will last a long time and that will make responsible use of the surrounding land.

Making It Easier to Collaborate with Other Teams

Through BIM, construction companies are able to identify potential conflicts between systems. Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems can all be compared before any work is done. Teams, even those working for different contractors, are able to share data and models. This means they can collaborate and communicate with each other more effectively, since they will always be working off the exact same data, rather than potentially using different versions.

With BIM, construction companies can share data and documents through the cloud, and this information can remain persistent throughout the job. At the same time, the construction company can lock down and control changes, so there isn’t a risk of others overriding the essential data. 

Keeping Records for Completed Projects

Data is eternal. There’s a reason why BIM has been used on historic buildings: to preserve them forever. Through BIM, construction companies are also able to keep thorough records of their completed projects. Not only do they have the plans, but they can also use surveying to create models of the construction as it is completed.

Once the project is done, the company still has a complete record of the work, whether it’s needed in the future for renovations, or whether they simply want to make sure that their client has an archive of their project for legal purposes.

Adapting to BIM Construction

Business information modeling is constantly improving. It’s expected that the coming years are going to see some dramatic advances in the accuracy and ease with which BIM can be used. 

So why are some construction companies not yet using BIM? The use of BIM requires new systems and processes. Construction companies need to explore new advanced technologies and platforms, and engage in training employees. This takes time.

A partner can help. For more information about BIM and how to collect it, consult with the experts at Landpoint.