Propelling: How Drones and 3D Mapping are Remodeling Building Design

 


Mapping is much different than it was even just a few years ago. Three-dimensional models are the new standard, improving upon the traditional two-dimensional renderings and blueprints.

Drones are a big part of this revolution and are giving everyone from architects to surveyors unprecedented access to landscapes, structures and worksites. Irene Kwan, Microdrones‘ Sales Manager for Southeast Asia, joined Propelling to explain how construction companies and municipalities are taking a new look at the way things have been done in the past.

“Traditionally for urban planning, it is carried out in two dimensions. So mostly, they have the experts there and they do the planning based on their feelings and their experience. But there is the problem, that we don’t actually know how accurate it is,” Kwan said.

Accuracy is important in any business decision but especially when mapping out entire city landscapes. Drones are providing this accuracy and, when coupled with technology like augmented reality, can give professionals complete immersion into a space. This level of precision is unprecedented and is opening new insights into the best use of land, materials and budgets.

In southeast Asia specifically, this accuracy can be lifesaving. Many areas in the region are prone to flooding and natural disaster, so it is crucial that public office holders have exact routes mapped out for citizens. Drones are helping to identify vulnerabilities in cities that would have previously gone unnoticed until was too late.

Listen to Kwan explain how three-dimensional modeling can be applied to urban sprawl, land development, virtual reality, emergency management and even some incredible Hollywood special effects.

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the AEC Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @AECMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

beauty
Building Beauty for Real Women: Why Brands Must Focus on Longevity, Not Hype
March 25, 2026

Walk into any beauty aisle—or scroll through your feed for five minutes—and it’s clear the industry is obsessed with what’s new. New formulas, new trends, new “rules.” But for many women, especially those who’ve been using makeup for decades, the question isn’t what’s new—it’s what actually works. And increasingly, the answer isn’t coming from the…

Read More
Physician
Fixing the Physician Experience: Why Advocacy Is Healthcare’s Next Frontier
March 25, 2026

Physician burnout has become a defining challenge in healthcare, with research showing that a substantial portion of clinicians—anywhere from roughly a quarter to over half—experience emotional exhaustion, driven more by systemic pressures like administrative burden and reduced autonomy than by individual resilience alone. As healthcare systems face growing staffing shortages and rising patient demand, the…

Read More
career
From Starting Over In A New Country To Reaching The C-Suite: A CFO’s Career Comeback
March 25, 2026

Global mobility is reshaping the modern workforce, with millions of professionals relocating each year in pursuit of opportunity, stability, or growth. Yet behind the headlines of talent migration lies a quieter, more difficult truth: restarting a career from scratch—even after years of success—is far more common than people expect. In fact, many skilled immigrants…

Read More
AI in school
How AI is Changing the Safeguarding Landscape
March 24, 2026

This episode of “Safeguarding in Focus,” hosted by Sam Eustace, features Lucie Welch, an expert in primary education and safeguarding from Services for Education. The discussion centers on how AI is transforming the safeguarding landscape in schools, exploring both the risks and opportunities presented by this rapidly evolving technology. Key takeaways: Schools must address…

Read More