Drone scanning isn’t just the future of the construction industry – for many companies, it’s becoming the present. Manitoba Construction Sector Council (MCSC) is working hard to make sure that’s a reality for all construction companies in the province with two key investments – state-of-the-art equipment and the advance training to use it.

The first step was the purchase of a Matrice 350 RTK drone and a Zenmuse L2 high-precision aerial LiDAR system. This powerful combination enables a range of advanced capabilities, including site scanning, precision measurement, and detailed 3D modeling. Construction companies can dramatically accelerate planning, surveying, and decision-making processes compared to traditional methods.

“So many people I’ve spoken to are using photogrammetry for construction purposes,” said Chelsea Treboniak, President of Critical Ops, a company committed to helping businesses use technology like remote sensing services to keep moving forward. “They’re having to mesh files together to give them the volume and depth capabilities that LiDAR naturally brings just by doing a scan.”

Both of the new technologies will complement the SkySkills drone training and new LiDAR remote sensing technology training that MCSC has been delivering through partnerships with New Media Manitoba, the province’s sector council for information communications and digital technologies, and Critical Ops. To make an introduction to drones in the construction industry, the SkySkills training focused on basic operational skills. With growing interest in foundational drone skills and an increasing number of participants eager to pursue advanced training, SkySkills will launch a combined training stream starting in fall 2025 in partnership with Merit Contractors to support both entry-level learners and those ready to take the next steps. “It’s an accelerated curriculum that introduced advanced components early on, with the goal of helping participants earn both their basic and advanced certifications,” said Treboniak.

Participants from all backgrounds are welcome, affirmed Matt McMahon, Unreal Engine Instructor & Technology Lead for New Media Manitoba. “We need people who are interested in flying drones around,” said McMahon. Aside from the keen interest in flying drones, he hopes the new training will attract participants from all industries and backgrounds. “We need data experts who can actually capture the data. They know what type of data they’re looking for, so that they can properly employ the right drone pilot with the right drone equipment. Then you need people who understand how Unreal Engine works so that you can take all that fabulous data that the data specialist captured, and bring it all in. We need a lot of people from a lot of different areas, not only in the construction sector but also in the interactive digital media sector.”

One of the new drone training participants that McMahon is looking for could include Diana Olynick. She is an engineer with Tetra Tech who has signed up for the fall session because she sees tremendous opportunity as drones, especially in the early stages of any project where gathering and analyzing data are challenging. “My hopes are that I will be able to apply all of this guidance and all of these resources in a very real project, perhaps working with the city, or working with Manitoba infrastructure or whatever project we have the opportunity to work on.”

Watch how the new advanced drone training will serve the construction industry

Thanks to MCSC’s $35-thousand investment in the two pieces of equipment, companies like Tetra Tech can learn how to apply their training with the most advanced drone equipment on the market as companies will be able to rent the equipment for more affordable access. “We’re always looking for ways that we can strengthen the construction sector, and it became obvious that despite the drone and LiDAR training, there was still a barrier to companies implementing it,” said Carol Paul, Executive Director of MCSC. “Technology is driving the future of construction, and we need to keep pace with our counterparts across the country to stay competitive. This is one way for us to help companies in our province do that.”

Combining this equipment with training and other technological investments that MCSC is already making gives those in the construction industry a full set of tools at their disposal.

“MCSC has got the education, they’re handing companies the equipment, they’re connecting them to advanced technologies, and they’re giving them access to New Media Manitoba’s StudioLab xR to visualize this data,” listed Treboniak. “There are no excuses standing in the way of companies pursuing what is the future of the industry.”

Paul hopes that those in the sector see that too, whether they’re large or small businesses.

“We’re hearing from early adopters that drone technology is quite literally a game changer,” said Paul. “Drones save time and money, and they assist with scoping out any potential danger before crews begin work on construction sites. Those are aspects we want all companies in the sector to benefit from.”

The drone purchase in particular sets MCSC up well to continue investing in technology for the sector. The drone’s capabilities go beyond just LiDAR scanning use, opening further opportunities to push the industry forward.

“This drone has some of the best aerial imagery that you can find, and you can swap sensors and payloads in and out,” said Treboniak. “MCSC can add a thermal sensor, a ground penetrator radar, optical gas imaging, and more because they have the baseline airframe to do it.”

As exciting as the technology itself is, what will be more exciting is seeing what the Manitoba construction sector can do with the technology.