The Spokane Public Works Department, Spokane, Wash., will use a drone to assist in various projects related to water main breaks, construction and landscape analysis, according to www.constructiondive.com.
Officials say the plan will save contractors money by decreasing overtime hours and make job sites safer by delegating risky inspections to drones.
"Routine inspections might be able to happen more quickly because we don't have to set up all the protections that we would need to normally," says Public Works Director of Strategic Development Marlene Feist. "Anytime we can have the ability to assess a situation in an unmanned, safer way, that's a good thing for us."
The real-time data and image gathered from drones can help contractors track project progress and identify issues early on, helping to finish the project on time and budget.
The drone will cost $15,000 and is expected to be in use by the end of summer.
