Drones in construction: the law and how they’re used
A free CPD session for your team, delivered at your office or online via Teams. Learn what UK drone law allows, how survey data is captured, and where drones save time, cost and risk on real projects.
- FormatAt your office or online via Teams
- Ideal forArchitects, surveyors, contractors and estates teams
- CostFree
Six topics, one practical session
The session covers the law and the practical uses of drones in construction, with time for your team’s questions throughout.
UK drone law today
The Open and Specific categories, Flyer and Operator IDs, operational authorisations and what a commercial operator must have in place before flying near buildings and people.
UK drone laws guide →Planning a compliant survey
Airspace checks and flight restriction zones, landowner permissions, risk assessments and method statements, and handling privacy and GDPR on occupied sites.
How data is captured
High-resolution imagery, photogrammetry, LiDAR, thermal and multispectral sensors: what each one records and when to use it.
Outputs you can use
Orthomosaics, point clouds, 3D models, CAD and BIM-ready data, thermal reports and condition ratings, and how they slot into existing workflows.
Measured surveys →Real-world applications
Roof and façade surveys, progress monitoring, stockpile volumes, housing stock condition, heritage buildings and infrastructure inspections.
Roof surveys →Limitations and when not to fly
Weather, restricted airspace, intrusive investigation and the jobs where a drone isn’t the right tool, so your team can specify surveys with confidence.
The humble roof survey, transformed
One of the most common uses of drones in construction is the roof survey. No cherry picker hire, no driver or banksman, no road or lane closures and no permits. The drone captures higher-quality images from angles that were never achievable before.
Add a thermal camera and the same visit can show heat loss, water ingress and cold bridging, taking a simple roof survey to another level.
See our roof surveys →- Traditional accessCherry picker or scaffold hireDriver, banksman and road permitsLane or road closuresLimited angles and coverage
- Drone surveyNo access equipmentNo one working at heightWhole roof captured in one visitOptional thermal imaging
Built for construction professionals
No prior knowledge of drones is needed. The session suits anyone who specifies, commissions or uses survey information, and the content is pitched so both newcomers and enthusiasts get something from it.
- Architects and designers
- Building and quantity surveyors
- Main contractors and site managers
- Housing associations and local authorities
- Facilities and estates teams
- Health and safety professionals
- Engineers and project managers
- Anyone specifying or commissioning surveys
Choose how your team attends
At your office
We come to you and present to your team in person, ideal for a lunch-and-learn or team meeting.
Online via Teams
Join from anywhere. Great for teams across several offices or working remotely.
- 1Send an enquiry
Tell us about your team and whether you’d like us in person or online.
- 2Agree a date
We’ll find a time that suits your team’s diary.
- 3We deliver the session
A practical presentation with real project examples.
- 4Your questions answered
Bring the projects you’re working on. We’re happy to talk them through.
Is the CPD session free?
Yes. The session is free for construction professionals and teams.
Can you come to our office?
Yes. We can present in person at your office, or deliver the session online via Microsoft Teams if that suits your team better.
Do we need to know anything about drones?
No. The session starts with the basics of UK drone law and builds up to survey methods and outputs, so it suits complete newcomers as well as people who already commission drone surveys.
Who should attend?
Anyone who specifies, commissions or uses survey information: architects, surveyors, contractors, housing and estates teams, engineers and health and safety professionals.
Book a free CPD session
Tell us about your team and how you’d like to attend.
Let us know roughly how many people will attend, whether you’d like us at your office or online via Teams, and any dates that work. We’ll come back to you to agree the details.