Dive Brief:
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Proposed rules for the flying of drones by businesses fall short of allowing construction firms to use the miniature aircraft to survey large job sites, according to Equipment World magazine.
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The proposed regulations include a requirement that the drone operator must be able to see the device—without the aid of binoculars or cameras—while it is flying, which could prove difficult if it is gliding over a construction site that isn’t visible in its entirety from any one point. That provision would also mean drones could not be programmed to fly a specific route if the path would take the unmanned device out of the operator’s sight.
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Ground-bound operators might have to follow the drone by driving beneath it as it flies, the magazine suggested.
Dive Insight:
Still, the proposed rule clears the way for contractors who run smaller sites to use drones for security and surveillance, and to monitor crews and the progress of jobs. Drones also are expected to make easier work of inspecting bridges and monitoring traffic.