Commercial Drones | DJI Enterprise

What are commercial drones and how could they help your work?

By DJI Enterprise DJI Enterprise
May 9, 2022

Interested in drone technology but don’t think it can have a commercial application for your business? Think again. Drone operation for commercial purposes is having an outstanding impact in industries ranging from mining to real estate, to construction and agriculture. All of this is possible due to a wide variety of specialized uncrewed aerial vehicle types and payloads offering customized features that are right for nearly any job.

Read on to discover how enterprise-level uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) are transforming businesses around the world. Is your business next?

How today’s businesses use drones

If your sector uses data collected from a physical space, there’s a good chance drone technology is making an impact. 

Some of the top sectors investing in unmanned aircraft innovation include: 

Land surveying

For years, surveying professionals relied exclusively on terrestrial methods such as total stations, GPS receivers and ground laser scanners to acquire their spatial data. Each of these techniques is time-consuming and can become costly quickly. Luckily there’s a new way to do land surveying.

With drones like the Matrice 300 RTK, land surveyors can map out even the most challenging terrain faster and more accurately than ever before. Drone deployment eliminates the need for sending surveying crews into hazardous areas and makes it possible to easily collect data from inaccessible features like cell phone towers and treetops. 

P4 RTK Surveying

In addition to cutting down on project times, drone usage can be a boon for a surveyor by offering multiple mapping possibilities — including 2D and 3D orthomosaic maps, LiDAR point clouds, 3D models, thermal maps and multispectral maps. Each of these methods may be valuable depending on the specifics of a surveying job. 

Environmental Conservation

With relatively limited funding compared to many of the other sectors on this list, environmental researchers must do what they can to optimize every part of their process. Luckily, scientists have found ingenious ways to utilize drones for the good of the planet. Conservationists are using surveying UAVs to map out fragile ecosystems and perform counts on endangered species. Having this kind of data on hand helps environmentalists better understand how to distribute their resources and what areas need immediate attention. 

Wildlife Conservation Drones Desktop CTA

Agriculture

The world’s farmers have found all kinds of practical uses for commercial UAVs — with different models unlocking different capabilities. For example, farmers of grain crops like rice, wheat and corn are using surveying drones to spot environmental changes and make the right field management decisions. The results? Lower operating costs, better crop quality and higher yield rates.

Drones don’t just help farmers gather new information, however. Drones like the DJI AGRAS T20 can quickly fly over a field and spray fertilizer or pesticides onto crops. This saves both time and labor and represents a major step forward for the agriculture industry.

Ag buying guide

Firefighting

The last few years have seen an increase in wildfires across the world — a trend that sadly doesn’t look to be letting up any time soon. Firefighters have responded to the challenge with innovation

At each stage of a forest fire, an unmanned aircraft system can have a positive impact. Drones can give firefighters a bird’s eye view of the terrain at the outset of a wildfire and help them determine where the flames will move next — allowing them to swiftly make decisions about where crews should go and which towns need to be evacuated. This not only helps crew leaders save civilian lives but also keeps their teams out of harm’s way. Furthermore, drones play a big part in forest fire prevention, helping teams set controlled, prescribed burns from a safe distance. These burns help to clear dry brush and other parts of the ecosystem that could become fuel for a wildfire in the future.

DJI Thermal Guidebook Desktop CTA

Energy

Oil and gas companies use drones to monitor the areas around pipelines for environmental changes over time. This is especially important because some parts of these operations, such as flare tips and floating points, can be challenging to fully assess from the ground. In addition, drone inspections limit the amount of time that employees may need to spend in dangerous environments, such as near steam pipes that spew harmful chemicals. Ultimately, by switching from manual operations to drones, the oil and gas sector is saving time on inspections while keeping its employees safer.

It’s not just fossil fuel companies that are benefiting from UAVs, however. Using drones in combination with remote laser sensors, solar farms are able to inspect their panels in record time and accuracy. While solar farms were previously capped by the amount of time it took to perform manual inspections, these companies are now free to expand while still maintaining quality standards — meaning more green energy for the planet. 

Mining

A safe and successful mining operation requires extensive amounts of information — sometimes even millions of data points for a larger operation. Like many of these industries, drones help mine operators efficiently collect much of this information. Drone photography is used to shave significant amounts of time from stockpile volume measurement, for example — with DJI clients like the Ukrainian mining company Ferrexpo Yeristovo handling the measuring process 90% faster

Commercial Drones Mining

In addition to optimizing the way information is gathered, drones are helping mine operators keep their employees safer on the job. Rather than manually inspecting dangerous equipment, drone pilots can stand at a safe distance and gather all of the information they need. In an industry like mining, where challenging terrain and harmful substances can be plentiful, the ability to work from afar is a true boon for safety. 

Construction

Drone mapping and modeling is helping construction managers make safe, informed decisions. AEC firms can use the technology to make 3D models of projects, gather to-the-centimeter measurements and perform stockpile volume measurements. From pre-planning to supply chain optimization, the results tend to speak for themselves

P4 RTK scanning GIF

Construction-Guidebook-CTA-Desktop

Law Enforcement

From traffic stops to missing people searches, law enforcement agencies are using professional drones to gather the real-time information they need. In situations where a suspect flees the scene of a crime, officers can use a UAV to follow them and plan an interception — without creating the kind of mayhem that a manned vehicle chase may entail. Drones like these can also be used to check police conduct and ensure officers are following standard procedures during traffic stops.

First responders are using remote sensors and thermal imaging to search for bodies in search and rescue missions. With teams often working in darkness and on razor-thin time margins, the right technology can be the difference between life and death. 

Accident Reconstruction SZ Police 2

Real Estate

Realtors are using drones to make accurate 3D models of homes for sale and offer virtual tours. While this technique has been around for a few years, its popularity took off during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it allowed prospective renters and buyers to view a property from a safe distance. 

Roof Inspections - Desktop CTA

Insurance

To provide accurate valuations of properties, insurers need to gather as much information as possible. Drones can help make inspections easier and more time-effective. According to Deloitte, insurance companies will now often rely on a single generalist contractor to handle these inspections due to the large amount of data that can be gathered from a drone. In the past, multiple specialists may have been needed for the role. Factors that insurers look for in these inspections include existing damage and potential risk to a natural disaster like flooding.

In addition to initial evaluations, insurers use drones to assess property damage and even root out fraudulent claims. In some cases, a single drone flight path may be enough to gather all the images needed for an evaluation.

Historic Preservation

Archeologists are using drone mapping and modeling to learn new information about some of the world’s most important historic sites. Drone models can be used to gather data before a dig and also help teams optimize the way they work, discover new historic assets and understand the architecture of a building. In Japan, for example, archeologists used DJI Terra to create a 3D point cloud model of the Karatsu Castle, a defining piece of architecture from the 17th century. 

Terra transform

Becoming a commercial drone pilot

While opportunities for drone pilots are clearly ample, there are some steps you’ll need to take before you can fly commercially. 

Most countries with UAV-specific regulations on the books differentiate between recreational and enterprise drone use — with the latter (and often the former) almost always requiring some kind of permit.

In the U.S., for example, a person must obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate and register their UAV with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before they can start flying commercially. To be eligible for a Remote Pilot Certificate, a pilot must:

  • Be at least 16 years of age;
  • Pass the Part 107 test;
  • Have the ability to read, speak and write English;
  • Have the physical and mental condition to fly a drone safely

The Part 107 test, in particular, is perhaps the greatest barrier for many seeking to enter the commercial drones market. The test requires pilots to remember important information on drone regulations, operating requirements, the effects of weather on a commercial UAV, radio communication and emergency procedures, and maintenance and preflight inspection procedures.

Other countries handle pilot certification differently. The EU and U.K., for example, regulate drones based on their weight and use, rather than whether the pilot is profiting or not. However, most commercial drones fall into the “Open” category — which means pilots can’t fly a UAV over any “uninvolved people,” with specific exceptions. “Open” drone pilots must complete a test with 40 multiple-choice questions.  

Commercial Drone License - Desktop CTA

Finding the best drones and payloads for your business

The right drone for you depends on your line of work and the kinds of features and support you’ll require.

Features to consider when making a purchase include:

  • Battery life: While jobs can be completed in only a few flights, others will require you to take thousands of aerial photographs with to-the-centimeter accuracy.
  • Flight performance: Do you need a drone that can move nimbly across an automated flight path? Is flying in a straight line at a steady pace more important? Drone and payload size and weight will affect how the drone can fly.
  • Imaging accuracy: While some commercial drone jobs need to-the-centimeter accuracy, others can suffice with a wider view. Know what you’re looking for before making a purchase.
  • Payloads: Different drones are designed to hold different kinds of payloads like cameras and sensors — with some heavier drones even having the capability to carry multiple payloads at once.

No matter what sector you’re working in, it’ll be worth your while to invest in an enterprise drone, rather than one designed for hobbyist use. Enterprise drones tend to be more durable than their recreational counterparts in order to meet the rigors of daily use. Features to look for include improved wind resistance, self-heating batteries, and a higher tolerance for extreme conditions. The DJI Matrice 300 RTK, for example, has a body that was specifically designed for inclement weather

Splash testing IPX4 of the M300 RTK

Top drone providers are also likely to offer their enterprise customers a higher level of after sale support, as enterprise drones are more likely to be used regularly and put in positions where they can incur a higher level of wear and tear. 

DJI Care Enterprise - Desktop CTA

Why DJI

When it comes to providing high-quality enterprise equipment for a variety of uses, no company in the drone industry has a reputation quite like DJI. From the impressive surveying capabilities of the DJI Phantom 4 RTK to the rapid speeds and long-lasting batteries of the DJI Matrice 300 RTK, there’s a drone in our inventory for your enterprise needs

In addition to our drones, we also sell specialized software and payloads to meet the needs of clients. Programs like our premier surveying software, DJI Terra are capable of handling huge amounts of data and turning them into interactive 2D and 3D models.

For more information on how to build your own enterprise drone program, check out our handy step-by-step guide.

Share on Social Media:

Tags: Drone Ecosystem

System Security White Paper Mobile CTA

To stay in touch and receive ebooks, resources, and product updates, subscribe to our newsletter.

DJI Enterprise
About the Author DJI Enterprise

Related articles

Recent Posts

DJI M350 RTK

Drone Ecosystem | Regulations

Navigating Remote ID Compliance for Drone Operations in the EU

If you have been flying a drone or following our industry for any amount of time, you're probably familiar with the term 'Remote ID.' As part of the European Union's latest drone regulations, the...
Read More

AEC & Surveying

Everything You Need to Know About Drone Surveying

Drones are continually proving to be powerful commercial tools, simultaneously providing users with leaps in efficiency and safety. The surveying and mapping industry is no exception.
Read More
3D Data collected with Mavic 3E

Care and Maintenance | Inspection

Creating Digital Twins with DJI Enterprise Drones

Digital transformation is on the rise across industries, and part of that is creating digital twins of physical assets. A digital twin is a digital representation of a physical object, which can...
Read More

Inspection | General

How Drones Help Warehouse Logistics and Inventory Checks

That pallet rack is really high up. But you’ve been tasked with taking inventory for the warehouse — something you’re glad you don’t have to do often. You step onto the forklift, reach the right...
Read More