Drone Usage on Construction Jobsites Grows
August 20, 2026—
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) found that 36.1% of ABC contractor members who responded to a drone usage survey reported that they fly drones on worksites.
Other findings in ABC’s Drone Usage report include:
- Drones are most often used for site progress monitoring (80.8%), marketing and media (77.5%), and inspections and mapping (50%).
- Investment levels in drones vary widely, but 62% report investing between US$1,000 and $10,000.
- DJI manufacturers the overwhelming majority (97.1%) of ABC contractor members’ primary drones.
- The biggest challenges in adopting drone technology include regulatory and compliance issues (53.5%), training and staffing (43.4%), and limited use cases (37.4%).
- Nearly 75% of contractors surveyed are commercial contractors.
“In the ever-evolving construction technology landscape, drones are transforming how contractors monitor site progress, enhance branding efforts, and conduct inspections with unprecedented efficiency,” said Matt Abeles, ABC vice president of construction technology and innovation. “This ABC report details how ABC contractor members are embracing this innovation, yet regulatory hurdles and training challenges still limit broader adoption.”