Innovation takes flight.
Drones are elevating what’s possible.
What if an organization’s most difficult challenges could be made easier? Unmanned aerial systems (UAS), better known as drones, have the power to revolutionize the way industries do business. As Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines evolve and become clearer, there are more opportunities than ever for organizations to use commercial drones. Whether companies aspire to integrate drones into their short- and long-term roadmaps, or utilize them on a larger, more impactful scale—the possibilities for drones to improve the way we work are practically endless.
Improving the way the world works.
Drone technology is changing what’s possible and solving diverse needs for organizations across industries.
Easier data collection.
The most well-known use case for drones is collecting photos or high-definition video footage from a bird’s eye view in remote areas, harsh climates or hard-to-reach locations. But drones can also make it easier to collect other types of data—like topographic, climate, infrared and more—from areas that are challenging for personnel to survey.
Faster operations, better sustainability.
With drones performing difficult tasks faster and collecting verifiable data, organizations can find new ways to optimize their processes. All the while, industries that utilize drones can significantly reduce their environmental footprint.
Safer, more frequent inspections.
Since unmanned aerial systems can work in dangerous areas and conditions, employee risks are reduced, more frequent inspections are possible and issues can be uncovered and mitigated sooner.
Streamlining helps cut costs.
As drones improve efficiencies and reduce large equipment maintenance fees, there are many opportunities to streamline tasks and cut costs, allowing personnel to focus on more critical business priorities.
Additional business opportunities.
Throughout all industries, drones can create opportunities for new products, services or revenue models to further serve organizations and their customers.
How industries can use drones.
Drones have the potential to create efficiencies, expand capabilities and revolutionize the way businesses operate. See how they can be used in different industries.
Agriculture
For the agriculture community, unmanned drones bring new cost savings, enhanced efficiencies and increased productivity. Some uses include:
- Quickly surveying expansive stretches of farmland remotely
- Mapping property
- Getting up-to-date reports on crop health
- Improving treatment accuracy
- Remotely monitoring irrigations systems
Critical infrastructure inspections
Drones make it safer and more efficient to conduct essential inspections, helping ensure the integrity of important infrastructure like:
- Bridges
- Highways
- Powerlines and other utilities
- Railways
- Construction sites
- Commercial buildings
Public safety
Drones provide enhanced visibility and can reach remote locations quickly, making them incredibly useful in law enforcement and emergency response efforts.
- Law enforcement: Drones give responding officers additional support and enhanced visibility during tactical operations, building searches, crash investigations and pursuit efforts.
- Emergency response: Drones equipped with thermal and visual sensors can be used to quickly locate people in some of the most extreme conditions—directing resources and care teams to the right areas fast.
Construction and urban planning
Drones can be a valuable tool on the job site during maintenance, inspections and more.
- Building and safety inspections are greatly aided by the use of drones—allowing inspectors to quickly view areas that may be difficult or unsafe for a person to reach.
- Drones can significantly improve and speed up the process of surveying land.
- Drones can be used to gather visual information about urban activity, traffic patterns, public space usage and more—giving urban planners more and better data to aid their work.
Sanitation and waste management
From maintaining landfills to cleaning up waterways, drones can be used for upkeep in a variety of environments.
- Landfill managers can use drones to map out 3D models of the landfill and inform better usage.
- Drones can be used to collect litter in public places like parks and beaches.
- Unmanned Marine Vehicles (UMVs) can be used to clean bodies of water and collect waste in ports and harbors.
Shipping and logistics
Many companies are already strategizing around how drone fleets can change the way we move goods. As FAA rules become more concrete, expect to see big innovations in this field.
- Everything from time-sensitive medical supplies to e-commerce purchases may soon be delivered by drones.
- Drones can be used within warehouses to gather and move product or monitor inventory.
Insurance
Insurance companies rely on data to make accurate risk assessments. Drones allow them to collect more data in more places to inform critical decisions.
- Drones can be used to inspect assets, monitor conditions and give analysts better information to forecast loss.
- Drones give inspectors a powerful way to quickly assess damage and determine coverage. In events like natural disasters where access can be limited and resources constrained, drone inspections can help clear backlogs with limited human effort so people can get their claims paid quickly.
Drones by the numbers.
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$100B
forecasted value of drone market
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339K+
commercial drones currently registered in the United States
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$82B
expected economic impact in the US by 2025
The possibilities of drones capturing and delivering real-time aerial data and images will leverage AI, enabling smart decision-making. Drones will be capable of fulfilling complete tasks and missions with detailed reporting.
Dive deeper.
We’ve gathered several resources to help you better understand drones.
Reaching New Heights
City Tech Collaborative, in partnership with Crown Castle, demonstrates how monitoring and maintenance can become easier by deploying drones remotely.
Drones, Reporting for Work
Goldman Sachs outlines the huge opportunity the drone market brings with an interactive look into how drones have been used in multiple contexts.
Drone Defibrillator Ready to Take Off and Save Lives
Delft University of Technology demonstrates how drones can be used to provide emergency medical care faster than other response methods when every second counts.
New Drone Rules Take Effect
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) breaks down how drone regulations have evolved, looking forward to the limitless benefits.
The Race to Win the Drone Traffic Management Market
BCG emphasizes the importance of forging partnerships with key players in the drone traffic management space as the need to monitor it skyrockets.
The space, power and connectivity you need.
The possibilities that drones bring to businesses and industries are many. In the coming years, new innovations and regulatory clarity will open up even more opportunities. No matter which direction drone technology heads, one thing is clear: the right infrastructure will be needed to support unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and unmanned traffic management (UTM) systems. This will include:
Space: We have over 40,000+ towers nationwide, ready to support many aspects of drone deployment.
Power: Our sites can enable the drone ecosystem with power in urban and remote areas—allowing you to set up a network of charging stations to facilitate long-distance flights.
Connectivity: Our towers, small cells and fiber are shared real estate assets—meaning you can utilize existing infrastructure to build out the connectivity networks you’ll need for drone communication and navigation, as well as traffic management systems.
We have first-hand experience using drones to optimize our own operations and leverage verifiable data. Additionally, as a member of the Commercial Drone Alliance, you can count on our expertise to guide you as you consider the role of drones in your organization.