Bechtel Among First Companies to Use Unmanned Aircraft System Technology in Construction

HOUSTON, Texas — Bechtel has been granted permission for commercial use of unmanned aircraft system technology by the United States Federal Aviation Administration. The permission allows Bechtel to operate UAS technology, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles or drones, on projects in the United States to enhance construction processes within the virtual project delivery approach.

“The use of UASs is crucial to continued innovation in engineering and construction,” said Mike Lewis, Bechtel’s manager of construction. “We teamed with Skycatch to explore innovative ways of integrating drones into our execution systems, particularly on the megaprojects Bechtel is building around the world. This technology helps improve safety and quality of project delivery by providing real-time data and analysis to project teams so they can act in a timely manner.”

The FAA authorization granted under the Section 333 of the 2012 FAA Modernization and Reform Act is based on the cutting-edge UAS technology and accompanying software. The technology gathers real-time data and provides powerful data analytics necessary to improve efficiency of construction on large and complex projects. A patented automated power system is used that automatically recharges during operation, allowing drones to fly extended periods of time. The system can carry a variety of sensors like high-definition cameras, infrared scanners, thermal sensors and radiation monitors.

Bechtel teamed with Skycatch in 2013 to further develop the company’s UAS platform and integrate it into Bechtel’s systems and processes. The data collected by the drone can now be stored in a cloud, analyzed within Bechtel’s design and construction software requirements and viewed on multiple devices by the teams onsite. Bechtel will use the technology to collect real-time environmental data (e.g., air quality, temperature, etc.) to ensure safe operation of projects; to survey difficult and inaccessible terrain to provide accurate information needed for its engineering teams to design facilities efficiently and with improved environmental footprint and to track real-time construction progress enabling its site teams to work safely and plan construction more efficiently.