The iPHONE, created in 2007 by Apple and its founder Steve Jobs, revolutionized the telecommunications world by turning what was then just a mobile phone for making calls into a device capable of helping us with countless daily tasks and keeping us connected to the outside world. Today, no one doubts the profound impact that smartphones have had on our lives.

Similarly, although drones began to enter the scene on a massive scale in 2013 with the launch of the first Phantom model, drones are making their way into various fields, gaining more value every day in many activities. Some of these are:

• Mapping and elevation data creation
• Precision photogrammetry for creating plans and cadastral information
• Construction monitoring and control of electrical grids, pipelines, wind farms, thermal plants, and generally infrastructure projects
• Inspection of confined spaces in plants, tanks, channels, and tunnels
• Facade cleaning on tall buildings
• Transportation and delivery of goods
• Aerial taxis
• Precision agriculture
• Film production
• Advertising
• Extreme sports
• Forest area monitoring and fire control
• Ecosystem and national park monitoring
• Search and rescue operations
• Transport of medicines to hard-to-reach places
• Security
• Military activities
• Border control
• Insurance claim inspections

This list will continue to grow, and without a doubt, the rapid advancement of technology will keep improving and accelerating this new service.

Its simplicity, versatility, and the fact that they are unmanned aircraft controlled remotely allow these devices to replace activities that were once costly or risky with a more efficient, safe, and economical approach.

A whole new world, without a doubt, for many. Looking at it this simply makes it seem easy, but behind these achievements, there have been years of research, development, and multi-million-dollar investments from several countries.

In the military field, the United States leads, accounting for 80% of the development and production of military drones, followed by China, Russia, India, Australia, and Israel, among others.

In the commercial field, China, with its DJI company, leads 70% of the market, followed by smaller companies in Europe and the United States.

One of the first obstacles we face is formalizing the new industry and creating simple and reliable legislation that ensures the operation of these devices within safety standards, respecting people’s privacy, and the sovereignty of countries.

For me, as a civil engineer with almost 40 years of experience in the construction sector, combining this expertise with new technology is very enriching. Undoubtedly, drones will become increasingly necessary and useful in this field.

In the upcoming blogs, I aim to share my vision on what lies ahead for these devices and their impact both in my profession and in the daily lives of thousands of people. I look forward to sharing more…