Applications of Drone Surveying in Civil Engineering: A Technological Advancement Towards Efficient Infrastructure Development

https://doi.org/10.46610/JOCCE.2025.v011i02.004

Abstract

Drone surveying has revolutionized civil engineering by offering fast, safe, and cost-effective alternatives to conventional ground-based methods. This paper explores the transformative impact of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in various civil engineering applications, including construction site monitoring, topographic mapping, infrastructure inspection, and post-disaster assessment. The integration of drone technology with photogrammetry and remote sensing tools allows for high-resolution, real-time data acquisition that enhances decision-making and project efficiency.

This study presents a comprehensive methodology that compares UAV-based surveying with traditional techniques in terms of accuracy, time efficiency, and operational costs. Several real-world case studies and field data are examined to illustrate the practical benefits of drone deployment. In addition, visual analyses such as charts, graphs, and tables are used to quantitatively demonstrate performance improvements across multiple survey scenarios.

The results indicate that UAVs can reduce survey time by up to 80%, cut labour costs, and improve safety by minimizing the need for human presence in hazardous areas. The findings support the growing adoption of UAV technology as a standard surveying tool in modern civil engineering practice. This paper also discusses current challenges, such as regulatory constraints and data processing complexities, while highlighting future research opportunities in automation, machine learning integration, and 3D modeling.