Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1006805
P1 PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 JULY 2018 Property & Construction Technological advancement and innovation are proving lifesavers in a number of industries, with artificial intelligence and virtual reality providing sectors with new – more powerful – tools. But the digital revolution is not limited to these alone; another innovation that is aiding the construction industry achieve new heights, literally, is the use of drones. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones are one of the most promising and multifaceted technologies to come along in recent years. With a seemingly endless list of uses both in the field and in construction planning and managing, drones are proving to be ultimate game changers. Drones have found a home in numerous industries as diverse as agriculture, energy, public safety, media, infrastructure and of course construction. With UAV technology touching so many industries, there are many hardware and software products providing end users with a wide array of solutions applicable for use in construction. In fact, drones are not only able to take aerial photographs, but are also being used to provide 2D/3D mapping, survey data and thermal imaging with the use of FLIR technology. Companies focused on the software side of this aerial technology provide even more tools to the construction professional, including providing project managers, superintendents and upper management in construction with aerial site intelligence for surveying that is both cost effective and more efficient than traditional methods. With relatively small investments of money and time, drones can become an addition to any company's tool set. As you will see in this supplement, drones are not the only technological innovation that is pushing engineering and the construction industry to venture into unexplored territory.