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

skilled trades mentorship
Why the Modern Data Center Is Forcing Communities and Policymakers to Rethink Infrastructure
April 21, 2026

Data centers have moved from largely invisible digital infrastructure to a highly visible source of public debate as artificial intelligence accelerates demand for power, fiber, and compute capacity. The modern data center is now being built closer to population centers to support low-latency services, bringing critical infrastructure into direct contact with residential communities for…

Read More
Inside the Spot Freight Shift: How Manifold Is Simplifying a Fragmented Logistics Market
April 21, 2026

The freight market is in the midst of a notable shift. With national tender rejection rates approaching 14% by the end of Q1, freight conditions have shifted back in carriers’ favor, often coinciding with increased activity in the spot market. At the same time, logistics teams are juggling an increasingly fragmented ecosystem of portals, emails,…

Read More
healthcare 2026
Healthcare’s 2026 Reality: Growing Workforce Gaps, Tiered Access, and the Rise of AI Support
April 20, 2026

Healthcare systems are entering 2026 under mounting pressure. A growing, aging population and rising disease burden are colliding with persistent workforce shortages—highlighted by projections that new cancer diagnoses in the U.S. will surpass two million this year alone. The stakes are no longer theoretical: delays in care, limited specialist access, and widening disparities are…

Read More
Mental Health Care
Policy, AI, and New Funding Models Are Reshaping Mental Health Care Delivery
April 16, 2026

Mental health care isn’t a new problem—but it’s finally being treated like an urgent one. After years of being sidelined, the cracks in the system are becoming impossible to ignore: overstretched clinicians, long wait times, and entire communities without consistent access to care. In the U.S., the scale is striking—more than one in five…

Read More