What are drones used for?

Main professional applications of drones

Drones have gained incredible popularity over the years and are increasingly being used for professional purposes, positively impacting all sectors in which they are integrated.

What are drones used for?

In fields such as audiovisual production, topography, mining, agriculture, security, etc., the use of drones has spread and brought significant benefits. If you want to know about the main professional applications of drones, continue reading this article

1. Audiovisual sector

One of the sectors in which drones are most commonly used is audiovisual production, because this type of aircraft can be used to take pictures that would otherwise be very difficult to obtain.

Whether on land, in the air or at sea, drones with a camera enable large-scale photography and shooting from different angles and with incredible precision. Whether recording a moving car or a person running, the use of drones is ideal for this type of recording.

However, they are not only used to capture footage that is later edited, nowadays drones are also used when broadcasting major live events, for example, a soccer game, a military parade or a concert.

2. Topography

Topography is another area where drones are a perfect fit, and their use is now so standardized that there are engineering firms that only offer surveying services using drones.

A global view of a piece of land, regardless of its size, is possible with these “robots” that fly over the entire surface in a matter of minutes, allowing all its features to be displayed with great precision.

Drones are used to obtain hundreds or thousands of images of the terrain, and various software enables 3D models to be generated with centimeter precision. The cost and time savings mean that more and more professionals are interested in this technology to implement it in their workflow.

3. Mining

Unmanned aerial vehicles are much less expensive than helicopters or aircraft often used in mining and allow high quality images to be obtained. In this way, remote sensing provides valuable information about mining settlements.

Because drones can reach remote locations much more easily and with less risk, they are also used to explore land in search of mineral deposits and natural resources.

4. Agriculture

In agriculture, drones are widely used to keep an eye on large tracts of land, which would otherwise be impossible. In a few years, drones will become essential tools for farmers, just as, say, a tractor already is.

The most frequent uses of this equipment for agricultural purposes are to fly over crops to ascertain how much land they cover, what stage of their cycle they are at, and whether they are affected by weeds and pests.

In addition, the use of drones in these very extensive areas allows the detection of forest fires and floods, the inventory of plantings and the control of the use of pesticides and other chemical products.

5. Emergencies and safety

In an emergency situation where quick and efficient action is needed, a drone can be used in a very varied and effective manner. Drones allow information about the situation to be obtained from the air in a short period of time, speeding up decision-making.

These drones can be used to obtain aerial imagery that allows for knowing the extent of the situation, locating people in areas that cannot otherwise be reached, determining which areas are most vulnerable or affected, as well as in rescue and salvage operations.

Also in the health and safety sector and the use of drones has become commonplace. From surveillance work to pursuing criminals and investigating crime scenes. All because they enable security forces to act more quickly, efficiently and securely.

6. Environmental Science

Drones are useful in branches concerned with the study of the environment and its conservation. They are used, for example, in research on flora and fauna species in danger of extinction, in the detection of invasive species and in the identification of elements that may alter the ecosystem.

These are just some of the current professional uses of drones, but there are many more, and in the coming years, new applications will certainly emerge that have not been considered so far.