Eyes on Every Site, Every Day
Construction projects fail when visibility fails. IoT fleets provide continuous awareness—tracking progress, documenting conditions, and catching problems before they become costly.
Fleet Types in Construction
| Fleet Type | Devices | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Aerial | Survey drones, inspection drones | Progress tracking, site mapping, structural inspection |
| Ground Vehicles | Excavators, loaders, material trucks | Equipment tracking, telematics, utilization monitoring |
| Fixed IoT | Site sensors, access control, equipment monitors | Safety compliance, environmental monitoring, security |
All device types share the same architecture: edge AI, NATS JetStream messaging, and unified fleet management.
The Challenge
Construction and infrastructure face visibility gaps:
- Progress tracking — Manual reporting is delayed and subjective
- Safety compliance — Inspectors can’t be everywhere
- Documentation — Photos don’t capture context or timestamp reliably
- Change detection — Spotting unauthorized work or deviation from plans
- Asset inspection — Bridges, towers, pipelines spanning huge distances
Traditional methods involve people climbing structures, driving routes, or relying on scheduled inspections. Problems hide between visits.
How IoT Fleets Solve This
Aerial: Continuous Site Monitoring
Automated daily drone flights capture:
- Orthomosaic maps — Centimeter-accurate site imagery
- 3D point clouds — Volumetric data for earthwork tracking
- Thermal imaging — Detect moisture, insulation issues, equipment heat
- 360° documentation — Complete visual record with timestamps
Ground: Equipment Intelligence
Telematics from every machine on site:
- Utilization tracking — Hours worked, idle time, fuel consumption
- Location awareness — Real-time position of all equipment
- Maintenance alerts — Engine codes, service intervals, fault detection
- Geofencing — Equipment boundary compliance, theft prevention
Fixed IoT: Site Awareness
Sensors throughout the project:
- Air quality monitors — Dust, emissions, compliance tracking
- Noise sensors — Regulatory compliance, neighbor relations
- Access control — Who’s on site, when, for how long
- Structural monitors — Settlement, vibration, movement detection
Infrastructure Inspection
Systematic inspection without scaffolding or lane closures:
- Bridge inspection — Deck, superstructure, substructure documentation
- Tower climbing — Telecom, power transmission, wind turbines
- Pipeline patrol — Right-of-way monitoring, leak detection
- Building envelope — Facade inspection, roof condition assessment
Onboard AI (Edge Processing)
Real-time inference on NVIDIA Jetson for immediate insights:
| Capability | Construction Application |
|---|---|
| Progress Detection | Recognize completed vs. planned work elements |
| Safety Violations | Identify missing PPE, improper barriers, fall hazards |
| Crack Detection | Surface defects on concrete, asphalt, steel |
| Corrosion Identification | Rust patterns on bridges, tanks, structural steel |
| Thermal Anomalies | Hot spots indicating electrical issues, moisture intrusion |
Why Edge Matters:
- Flag safety issues in real-time for immediate response
- Process large orthomosaic datasets locally
- Work at remote sites with limited connectivity
- Reduce data costs for frequent flights
Cloud AI (Fleet Analytics)
Via NATS JetStream, aggregate insights across projects:
| Capability | Construction Application |
|---|---|
| BIM Comparison | Overlay as-built point clouds on design models |
| Progress Analytics | Percentage complete, schedule variance, trend analysis |
| Defect Tracking | Log issues, track remediation, verify repairs |
| Fleet Scheduling | Route drones across multiple sites efficiently |
| Compliance Reporting | Generate inspection reports, safety documentation |
Why Cloud Matters:
- Compare current state to design intent
- Track progress across portfolio of projects
- Historical analysis for claims and disputes
- Integration with project management systems
Hardware Configuration
For construction deployments, we recommend:
| Component | Selection | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Airframe | Holybro X500 | Stable platform for mapping payloads |
| Flight Controller | Pixhawk 6X | RTK GPS for survey-grade accuracy |
| Sensor Companion | Raspberry Pi CM4 | GPS/IMU data logging |
| AI Companion | Jetson Orin NX | Higher compute for 3D processing |
| Payload | RGB + thermal camera | Visual and thermal documentation |
| Connectivity | 4G/LTE + eSIM | Urban and remote site coverage |
Full hardware specifications →
Use Cases
Active Construction Sites
Daily progress documentation. Earthwork volume tracking. Safety monitoring.
Bridge Inspection
NBIS-compliant documentation. Deck, superstructure, substructure coverage.
Linear Infrastructure
Pipelines, power lines, highways. Patrol and inspection at scale.
Building Inspection
Facade condition assessment. Roof surveys. Thermal envelope analysis.
Mining Operations
Stockpile measurement. Pit progression. Haul road monitoring.
Integration
Connect drone fleet data to your existing systems:
- BIM Platforms — Autodesk Construction Cloud, Bentley, Trimble
- Project Management — Procore, PlanGrid, Oracle Aconex
- GIS Systems — Esri ArcGIS, QGIS
- Asset Management — IBM Maximo, SAP PM
Technical Deep Dive
This application is built on our production-grade fleet architecture:
| Component | Role in Construction |
|---|---|
| NATS Topology | Syncs data from job trailers, processes in regional hubs |
| Vehicle Gateway | Handles photogrammetry preprocessing on the drone |
| JetStream Streams | Stores historical imagery, change detection baseline |
| Safety Model | Geofencing around active work areas, cranes, personnel |
Get Started
Every project benefits from better visibility. Whether you’re managing one site or hundreds, drone fleets deliver the documentation you need.