Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

In 2016, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and PCL Constructors Inc. collaborated on a research project, funded by NSERC Engage Grant Program, to explore and validate the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in construction project management. SAIT's investigative testing and operation of UAVs, also known as drones, on one construction project enabled effective jobsite monitoring and the delivery of very detailed visual construction progress reports based on as-built information captured by high-definition imagery sensors, and thus the industry partner PCL was able to update all the project stakeholders on the project progress. Building upon the previous investigation on the application of drones in construction projects monitoring, SAIT and PCL are proposing to launch another research project aiming to understand and investigate the best practices for integrating unmanned systems into the life cycle of a construction project. The proposed project results are expected to enable PCL to develop process strategies and practices for the unmanned system application and achieve the goal of integrating the innovative technology with its operations at different stages of construction projects. *