Drones in Construction with Scott Major

Dive into a fascinating conversation with Scott Major , Digital Engineering Practice Lead and Chief Remote Pilot at Seymour Whyte. Scott shares his unique journey from military to leading digital transformation, emphasizing his core philosophy to "never stop learning." This episode reveals how unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, aka Drones) have evolved from simple aerial cameras to indispensable tools revolutionising everything from surveying and site inspections to safety protocols and long-term asset management. Discover the intricate world of commercial drone operations, reality capture workflows, and what the future holds for this rapidly advancing technology in construction.

The Journey: From Military to Chief Remote Pilot in Construction

Scott Major's diverse career, including roles at Arup , WSP , AECOM , and engineer for the Australian Army, laid a strong foundation for his current leadership role. His journey into digital construction started with AutoCAD in the late 90s. A pivotal moment was obtaining his Remote Pilot Licence in 2015, which eventually led him to become the Chief Remote Pilot at Seymour Whyte, overseeing programs on different sites. 

Beyond Flight: The Role of a Chief Remote Pilot

Being a Chief Remote Pilot is far more complex than just flying drones. Scott explains it involves being responsible for every aspect of UAV operations under their Remote Operator Certificate (ReOC). This includes rigorous regulatory compliance with CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority), operational documentation, and ensuring all pilots are current, competent, and authorized. The role demands a blend of leadership, risk management, and technical integration, with significant time spent planning and approving missions, assessing hazards, and implementing mitigations. The ultimate goal is to balance flight safety, which always comes first, with achieving project objectives, ensuring UAV operations are integrated from the outset, not an afterthought.

Navigating Australia's Drone Regulatory Landscape

Operating drones commercially in Australia requires strict adherence to CASA regulations. While simpler accreditations exist for smaller drones, more complex operations (like those over 2kg or requiring greater flexibility) necessitate a Remote Pilot Licence. Furthermore, businesses running a UAV program need a Remote Operator Certificate, which enables them to employ pilots, operate in complex environments, and apply for special permissions, such as flying near people or in controlled airspace like airports. Scott highlighted the extensive planning involved, including logging flight details, checking with air traffic control, and adhering to strict flight ceilings and times for specific projects.

Drones: A Strategic Capability Transforming Construction

Drones have undeniably transitioned from a "novelty tool for aerial photos" to an integral part of the construction life cycle. Today, they feed live data to models, dashboards, and review platforms, enabling real-time decision-making. Their applications are vast and constantly expanding, including:

• Aerial surveying and mapping with high-resolution cameras and LiDAR.
• Progress monitoring by feeding imagery and measurements into GIS and Digital Engineering platforms.
• Inspections of high-risk, hard-to-reach areas like embankments, rock faces, and bridges, significantly enhancing safety by keeping personnel out of harm's way.
• Volumetric analysis for stockpile measurements and quality assurance, comparing as-built data with design models.

Crucially, they are invaluable for insurance claims, providing rapid before-and-after imagery during events like floods.

Clients across the industry now widely expect drone data as a standard deliverable, showcasing their rapid and accelerating uptake.

The Complexities of Reality Capture Data Management

Scott's approach to reality capture starts with defining the end-use of the data, then designing a structured workflow. This involves selecting the right UAV and sensor (RGB, LiDAR, thermal) and executing largely semi-automated, repeatable flight plans to ensure consistency and compliance. Once captured, data is processed into 3D meshes, and point clouds, which are then integrated into BIM and modelling platforms.

However, significant challenges remain, particularly around data storage, accessibility, and interoperability. The immense volume of data means it's often "dumbed down" for use and frequently treated as short-term project artifacts rather than long-term digital assets. Many datasets are locked in proprietary formats, limiting their value. Scott advocates for open standards, metadata tagging, and integration with asset information models within frameworks like ISO 19650 to truly unlock long-term usability. While the technology exists, the cultural and contractual frameworks need to catch up. Despite these hurdles, integration into BIM workflows is becoming increasingly seamless, with direct drone-to-cloud processing enabling data review within hours.

The Future: Autonomy, AI, and Evolving Regulations

The drone industry is experiencing rapid technological advancements, with prices decreasing and capabilities expanding. Scott anticipates greater autonomy, including "drone-in-a-box" systems, and a wider adoption of Extended Visual Line of Sight and Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations. This will allow remote pilots to manage multiple sites and enable drones to cover larger, more complex, and linear projects, like extensive highway constructions.

Crucially, drones are set to play a significant role in long-term asset management by providing verifiable, high-resolution digital records of an asset's condition over its entire life cycle. This continuous data stream will power predictive maintenance, allowing AI analytics to identify trends in wear, settlement, or corrosion, enabling proactive interventions and reducing whole-of-life costs. Scott is closely watching the evolution of ground-based reality capture for UAV-denied environments, the continued development of AI analytics to automatically identify maintenance issues, and how CASA's regulations for EVLOS and BVLOS will evolve as the technology proves its safety and effectiveness.

Key Takeaways:

• The Chief Remote Pilot role is a complex blend of regulatory compliance, risk management, and technical expertise, far beyond just flying.
• Commercial drone operations in Australia are highly regulated by CASA, requiring specific licences and certifications for businesses.
• Drones have become a strategic capability in construction, revolutionizing surveying, monitoring, inspections, and safety by keeping personnel out of harm's way.
• Reality capture data presents significant challenges in storage, accessibility, and interoperability, highlighting the need for open standards and improved governance.
• The future of drones includes greater autonomy, widespread of Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations, and AI-driven analytics for proactive asset management.