Plantworx drone zone cleared for take off

The use of drones in construction has grown dramatically in recent years.

These flying cameras or UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) are transforming the industry from small-scale construction sites to mammoth infrastructure projects and offer a level of project monitoring not previously possible.

The UAV sector is set to be worth billions of dollars in the coming years as more and more companies invest in this advanced technology. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) recent study of the Impact assessment of drones on the UK economy by 2030, states that the construction and manufacturing sector will see an uplift of more than £8 billion (US$10.5 billion) due to drone technology.

This year’s Plantworx construction machinery exhibition, taking place in Peterborough, UK, from June 11 to 13 will host its first ever “Fly Zone” where visitors can experience drones first-hand.

Plantworx has formed a partnership with Comit (Construction Opportunities for Mobile IT), which has been bringing construction and technology together since 2003 and aims to improve understanding between the construction and technology industries and speed up the adoption of mobile IT within the construction sector. A conference on drones will also feature at the event.

“There certainly seems to be a lot of excitement around the PWC report,” said Comit chair for drone technology Tony Shooter.

“The figures for construction are mixed in with manufacturing, but even a small proportion of the GDP uplift would be a welcome boost to the construction sector.”

The fly zone will occupy over 2,300 sq m (24,750 sq ft) of space.