A UAV is defined as an aircraft with no pilot on board. It can be remote-controlled from the ground or it can fly autonomously, guided by a pre-programmed flight plan. UAVs can be used for recreational or commercial purposes.

• Commercial use in the US is legal if the user complies with FAA Section 14 CFR Part 107.

In our business, contractors and aggregates producers are sending camera-equipped UAVs into the air to take dozens—if not hundreds or thousands—of images. The pictures, which are linked to GPS data, can be stitched together with special software, transforming them into a 2D or 3D site model. The model can be used to:

• Assess progress on a project—daily, weekly or at some other regular interval
• Locate specific areas where work is falling behind schedule
• Measure stockpile volume
• Determine the amount of overburden that needs to be removed from an area
• Monitor width and slope of haul roads
• Analyze quarry faces and berms
• Inspect hazardous areas
• Confirm that employees are wearing protective gear and working safely
• Get a high-level view of operator technique, load-zone placement, tire rotation and other factors that affect efficiency
• Show clients work in progress
• Create images for marketing presentations and materials

These tasks and many others can be done quickly, accurately and economically with UAV systems—assuming you have access to the right technology, analytics and expertise.

Caterpillar has a small team of UAV experts whose focus is determining how the technology can be used to improve site safety, efficiency and profitability. We work with industry leaders like Trimble, who sells aircraft and software, and Redbird, a global leader in cloud-based analytics for UAVs. Together with our partners, we’re evaluating the technology on job sites in the real world. Our process is fairly simple whether we’re working with a contractor or aggregates producer.

1. Clarify goals. Understanding what the equipment owner expects to do with the data drives the choice of aircraft and other factors.
2. Survey Ground Control Points (GCPs). GCPs are reference points that improve the precision and accuracy of the model that will be created. These data points can be captured quickly with GPS-enabled surveying equipment.
3. Program mission and upload to UAV. The mission is another word for the route the UAV will take as it flies above the site.
4. Launch UAV and capture images. Typically the aircraft executes its mission without operator control. However, it can be interrupted and flown in manual mode at any time. At the end of the mission, the UAV returns to its launch point.
5. Upload images to photogrammetry software. All the pictures, stored on a memory card, are uploaded to a computer where they’re turned into a 2D or 3D model.
6. Use analytics platform to measure and improve operations.

We tested a fixed wing UAV in a US quarry that produces between 800,000 and 1 million tons of aggregate per year. Our pilot flew three 25-minute missions over the 350-acre site, capturing thousands of images that were converted into a 3D model within 24 hours. Had the owner gathered the information manually, the process could have taken an extra week or more. Costs and safety risks would have been higher and the data would have been less accurate. The company is using the data in a variety of ways.

• They’re calculating stockpile volume—quickly, safely and accurately—to ensure they’re paying the right amount of taxes.
• They’ve identified the next area of the site to be mined and are now planning where to put the haul road; its length, width and elevation; and how much material will be required to build it.
• They’ve calculated how much overburden will need to be removed at the next site and can now determine when to start stripping, what size fleet they’ll need and whether they should do the work themselves or hire a third party.
• They’re monitoring site activity near a creek on the property, giving them easy access to information they need to meet environmental regulations.
• They have a new aerial image of the site for the office and interesting graphics for marketing communications.

This owner—like others we’ve worked with—started the process with a general plan for using the data, but ended up finding many more ways to leverage the technology and analytics.

As we test UAVs in the US and Europe, the feedback from contractors and aggregates producers is overwhelmingly positive. But despite the enthusiasm, there are at least three challenges to be aware of:

• Regulations are changing all the time. Laws governing the commercial use of UAVs are different depending on where you do business. The United States has the tightest federal regulations, with new ones slated for 2016. Additional laws have been enacted by local governments, making it even more difficult for owners to understand and meet compliance obligations.
• Technology is racing forward. New developments in hardware, software and cloud computing are driving rapid change in UAV design, capabilities and costs. Given the pace of change, it can be difficult to choose the best path forward: buying the assets, leasing them or purchasing services from a third-party provider.
• True expertise is in short supply. A quick Google search can put you in touch with dozens of self-proclaimed drone experts. But finding a real professional with experience applying the technology in construction or aggregates is another matter. Without the right expertise, you may end up with little more than a colorful site model.