As a 90-year-old commercial construction company, we’ve seen the importance of enhancing timeless construction principles with new tools and technology. We are intentional about always looking for ways to improve our processes and project outcomes. One recent example is the use of drones, which are transforming how we approach project management, quality assurance, and collaboration.
Drones definitely made a difference on one of our largest projects to date: The Crestmoor, a 12-story, 350,000-square-foot senior living center in the heart of Green Hills. Assistant Project Manager Don Duong has played a pivotal role in leading this initiative, using drones to change the way we operate.
A High-Level Look at How Crain is Embracing Drone Technology
Drones provide unique advantages in construction, offering new ways to track progress, improve accuracy, and enhance safety. Here are a few specific examples from our work on The Crestmoor:
1. QA from the Sky: Smarter Insights for Complex Projects
Drones have become a powerful tool for maintaining high-quality standards, especially on complex projects. At Crain, we’ve integrated DroneDeploy software to create high-resolution maps, 3D models, and detailed photo reports.
At our Crestmoor site, we conduct weekly drone missions with custom flight plans to capture the entire site. These consistent photo reports allow our team to track work progress at every stage—from rebar placement to exterior finishes. Having a bird’s-eye view enables us to identify potential issues quickly and address them efficiently, ensuring the project remains on track.
2. Raising the Bar: Enhancing Safety and Streamlining Permit Approvals
Safety is always a top priority, and drones have proven valuable in identifying risks and improving processes. While our drone program is still in its early stages, we’ve already seen how it can streamline complex operations.
For example, during planning for the tower crane demobilization at Crestmoor, we used drones to map out Cleghorn Avenue. Real-time aerial images helped us identify potential hazards, adjacent driveways, and detour routes. This information was instrumental in creating a traffic control plan and securing approvals from NDOT, simplifying the permitting process significantly.
3. Aerial Advantages: Saving Time and Resources While Enhancing Accuracy
One of the biggest advantages of drones is their ability to save time and increase precision. At Crain, we’ve leveraged drones to take aerial photos quickly and cover vast areas in minutes—saving countless hours compared to traditional methods.
On the Crestmoor site, drones have been invaluable for pre-pour inspections of concrete decks. Aerial shots of the deck combined with ground-level photos help our team document and recall the placement of sleeves or block outs that may later be covered by concrete. We can also overlay floor plans onto aerial images to double-check the accuracy of installations, ensuring everything is in the right place before moving forward.
4. A Bird’s Eye View: Boosting Collaboration and Increasing Project Efficiency
Drones also foster better collaboration among trade partners. On the Crestmoor project, for instance, drone photos of the roof allowed our mechanical contractor to track progress on equipment installation and waterproofing. The aerial perspective helped them plan and execute their work more effectively, ultimately contributing to a smoother project timeline.
The Sky’s the Limit: A Culture of Continuous Improvement
At Crain Construction, we believe continual learning is key to delivering exceptional results for our clients. By embracing employee-driven innovation like drone technology, we’re not just improving project outcomes—we’re enhancing how we collaborate, communicate, and problem-solve.
As we continue exploring the potential of drones and other advancements, our commitment to knowledge, teamwork, and excellence remains at the heart of everything we do. Whether it’s a 12-story high-rise like The Crestmoor or a smaller-scale project, we’re always looking for ways to build smarter and better together.
