How Drones & Software Enhance Inventory Control

by Jim Gibson
Construction Site Walk-Through

As a veteran Drone Service Provider (DSP) that specializes in construction progress monitoring, we’ve grown to appreciate just how much our commercial construction clients rely on us delivering the capabilities of generating regular stockpile measurements.  Stockpile measurements are critical for organizing and managing material and critical supplies ordering and replenishing, essential components for the ongoing production of any construction project.

What are Stockpile Measurements used for?

Inventory Management: Stockpile measurements help construction project managers and key team members keep track of the quantity of materials available on-site. This information is essential for ensuring that there is an adequate supply of materials to support ongoing construction activities without delays.

Resource Planning: By knowing the volume of materials in stockpiles, construction project teams can plan resource allocation more effectively. This includes determining when to order more materials to replenish stockpiles and avoid shortages that could halt construction progress.

Cost Management: Accurate stockpile measurements allow project managers to better manage costs by preventing over-ordering or under-ordering of materials. This helps to optimize budgets and avoid unnecessary expenses.

Space Optimization: Understanding the volume of materials in stockpiles helps optimize the layout of the construction site. By strategically arranging stockpiles, managers can maximize available space and improve workflow efficiency.

Quality Control: Regular stockpile measurements enable internal teams to monitor the quality of materials over time. This helps to identify any issues such as degradation or contamination early on, allowing for timely corrective action to maintain construction quality standards.

Internal team members depend heavily on accurate stockpile measurements to make informed decisions about material usage and ordering. By having precise data on the quantity and status of materials on-site, construction project managers can anticipate when supplies are running low and proactively order more, thereby avoiding costly delays in construction timelines. Furthermore, these measurements aid in optimizing storage space and preventing overstocking, which can tie up capital and create unnecessary clutter on the site.

Stockpile Measurements of a Construction Dirt Pile
Software Can Convert Regular Drone Images to an Ortho Rectified Image thus Enabling Accurate Stock Pile Measurements

How Drones Have Changed the Stockpile Measurement Game

Traditionally, obtaining stockpile measurements involved manual methods that were time-consuming and prone to errors. However, the advent of drone technology has revolutionized this process, providing a faster, more accurate, and less labor-intensive solution. Tools like DroneDeploy have become invaluable in streamlining data collection by allowing us to quickly capture high-resolution aerial imagery, called Orthomosaics, of construction sites. 

The integration of drone technology into stockpile and inventory management has brought about several significant advantages for our clients. One of the most notable benefits is the ability to collect volumetric data in near real-time. Drones equipped with advanced sensors can capture detailed information about stockpile quantities without the need for manual measurement or site visits. This enables construction project managers to monitor stockpile levels remotely and make informed decisions promptly.

Orthomosaic of Commercial Construction Site
Orthomosaics are Invaluable Tools for Construction Project Managers

Drones Deliver Highly Sharable Data

Additionally, drone technology facilitates the sharing of mission-critical data with internal stakeholders located in different offices, across the country, or even across the ocean. Through cloud-based platforms like DroneDeploy, volumetric data can be uploaded and shared seamlessly, fostering collaboration and ensuring that all team members have access to the same accurate information. This level of accessibility and transparency is essential for maintaining alignment and driving project success.

In summary, volumetric or stockpile measurement data collection depends on drone technology to create efficiencies at scale. By leveraging drones and innovative tools like DroneDeploy, construction project managers can streamline the process of gathering and analyzing stockpile data, leading to better decision-making and more effective management of materials and critical supplies. This not only saves time and resources but also enhances overall project outcomes, ultimately contributing to the success of commercial construction endeavors.

From The Editor

Do you need to hire a professional drone service provider for your project?  To speak to an aerial data specialist, fill out a form, email us or for even faster response times, give us a call at (833) FLY-4YOU or (833) 359-4968.  Check out our transparent pricing at https://www.aerialdecisions.com/drone-photography-pricing/ and watch this space as we expand on the above topics and more over the coming weeks and months.  

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Jim Gibson
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Construction Progress Monitoring
Drone Service Providers
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