Poettker Construction announced it has launched a cutting-edge drone program. This initiative enhances pre-project planning, improves construction visibility, boosts safety measures and increases operations efficiencies.

“The drone program has been a great asset to use within the Preconstruction Department,” said Ryan Diekemper, Vice President of Preconstruction. “We utilize this technology to take current aerial images of potential projects and then place the proposed building plan onto the site to provide the client with a better understanding of options for how a building could be sited onto the potential property. We are also able to use the drone to obtain existing topographical information enabling us to make preliminary plans and prepare earthwork budgets early in the project design process.”

Poettker’s drone program also benefits the Risk Management Department. “One of the most significant benefits of our drone program is its impact on our risk management efforts,” said Charles Wilson, Vice President of Risk Management. “Drones enable us to cover larger areas more quickly and gather high-quality data. With a single flight, we can create 3D models, conduct thermal scans, perform quantitative takeoffs, and carry out surveys. This comprehensive data collection enhances the productivity of our risk management staff, allowing them to focus on critical tasks with greater efficiency.”

Drones enable Poettker Construction to safely and easily review progress in difficult areas to access, as well as assess elevated structures, such as powerlines. Artificial intelligence can evaluate the drone footage to measure stockpile quantities. Drones with thermal mapping can scan roofs to identify leaks. Recently, one of Poettker’s teams used drone footage to establish locations for 39 strategically placed traffic barriers. The drones provide the on-site teams with a second review method, which enables them to respond more quickly, significantly reducing rework and strengthening the company’s quality assurance efforts.

Poettker’s drone program enables customers to monitor the progress of their project, a feature especially important to customers who don’t reside in the same state as their new building. Customers also benefit from improved safety and quality monitoring, streamlined inspections and aerial photography and videography.

Logan Decker, an FAA licensed drone operator, oversees Poettker Construction’s drone program. He visits projects to capture progress through 4K video, still imagery, 2D site survey, 3D models, and periodic thermal scans. His work encourages collaboration among project stakeholders and provides Poettker’s Marketing Department with photography and video for promotional efforts.

“I enjoy being able to support multiple teams, visit different locations, and meet new people,” said Decker. “I appreciate the variety that the job provides.” 

Decker and Wilson devised Poettker’s drone program together. Through the program, employees can use an online form to request a drone flight, they can use an app to review pictures and video organized by project, they receive automated safety reports, and they can access 3D maps in which they can click on a single point to view all the images captured at that specific location. Poettker’s aerial fleet incorporates multiple drone models with unique specialties from quick deployment and thermal imaging to a larger full-service model that can withstand higher winds. 

“One day I hope that our drone program will be so successful that I won’t be able to keep up with demand, leading us to hire a second drone operator,” said Decker. “That would be the ultimate testament to the success of Poettker Construction’s drone program.”