Integrating Value Engineering into Earthworks with Drone Surveying
Earthworks is one of the largest cost drivers in any housebuilding project. Value Engineering demands efficient handling of this phase—and drone surveying is the most effective way to achieve it.
What is Cut and Fill Analysis?
Drone Surveying creates digital surface models (DSMs) that quantify the exact volumes of material to be cut or filled. This level of detail allows for optimal earth-moving plans that reduce double-handling and avoid under- or over-excavation.
Optimising Function and Reducing Cost
Accurate earthwork planning supports efficient foundation design, improved drainage, and reduced rework. These directly improve cost-function ratio, aligning with the core of VE.
Implementation Strategy
To maximise benefit:
Conduct pre-start drone surveys
Overlay site models with engineering plans
Run progressive surveys to monitor changes
These steps enable early correction, saving both time and money.
Case Study: £180K Saved
A regional housebuilder used Drone Surveying to refine their cut-and-fill strategy, resulting in reduced muck-away and better stockpile management. The project avoided unnecessary plant hire and programme delays, yielding substantial savings.
Conclusion
Drone Surveying transforms earthwork surveying into a strategic advantage for housebuilders seeking to integrate Value Engineering principles.
I have worked with DRONE SURVEYING for some years now, from checking a boundary of new land to auditing earthworks. The use of drones on our sites is now standard; we monitor progress and calculate cut and fill via the online software as our sites progress.
The use of regular mass data collection and the latest drone technology and practises will without doubt save us time and money on our sites.
We use DRONE SURVEYING on all of our sites to support our cut and fill strategy, with regular surveys and their cutting-edge software, we are able to manage our sites much more effectively.
Having now worked with DRONE SURVEYING engineering solutions for a number of years, their services have proven to be invaluable conducting our volumetric surveys, progress videos and cut and fill support. The drone data platform has allowed us to get the best from the data with full support and training provided from the DS team
The drone data helps us to make quicker and smarter key decisions to ensure we have budget and time control on our projects. Having monthly surveys on our sites ensures we keep full control of all earth movements.
Using aerial imagery from drone surveys helps us anticipate errors or mistakes in the next stage of development instead of waiting for work to start on the ground. This proactive approach has saved us hundreds of thousands of pounds; a reactive approach can be costly
DRONE SURVEYING’s nine-strong team includes specialist drone operators based in the North, Midlands, South-West and South-East enabling us to survey construction sites across the country, often at short notice. We are fully compliant with the regulations set by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and are in regular contact with them to ensure safe and legal operations.
Our team includes experts who are available to provide ongoing support to assist you in analysing and interpreting the survey data to make informed decisions for your project, often acting as an extension to your in-house team.
