Revolutionising Construction with Drones : How Sarah Constructions is Pioneering Innovation at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre

At Sarah, innovation means embracing new technologies and thinking differently to deliver smarter, more efficient and with high-quality outcomes. A prime example of this is how our team working on the Adelaide Aquatics Centre Redevelopment is taking innovation to the next level.
By leveraging cutting-edge Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools and integrating the transformative capabilities of drone technology, we’re streamlining workflows and achieving unprecedented levels of precision.
Imagine a pre-mapped flight path, capturing 600 high-resolution images in just 18 minutes. This data is then seamlessly integrated into a 3D model before you’ve even finished your morning coffee.
But why invest in drone technology? Drones are reshaping the construction landscape. Here’s a look at how they’re saving time, cutting costs, and improving quality, one project at a time.
As-Built Services Verification: Leveraging Technology for Precision
By putting in the upfront effort to model our key services packages with exact geolocated positions, we’ve unlocked a new level of precision in project delivery. Using cutting-edge tools, we integrate these detailed models with point cloud data generated through photogrammetry and drones. This integration allows us to verify the as-installed positions of services against the design model with remarkable accuracy.
No system is immune to human error, including during installation. However, this process adds a crucial layer of quality assurance, enabling our team to pinpoint discrepancies—like minor misalignments—and address them before critical successor activities, such as pouring a structural slab. By identifying and rectifying these errors early, we ensure the integrity of the project while minimizing rework and delays.

We’re streamlining workflows and achieving unprecedented levels of precision
Optimizing Site Logistics with Advanced Planning Tools
By integrating a crane into the model environment alongside the fabrication-quality structural steel model and drone-generated point cloud, our site team has elevated crane lift planning to a whole new level. This approach not only serves as an excellent visual aid but also delivers significant time and cost savings. We can confirm the crane fits seamlessly into the proposed area while ensuring the crane pad base preparation is executed efficiently getting it right the first time.

Bridging the Gap Between Office and Site with Point Cloud Technology
For many office-based consultants, visiting a construction site can feel like an elusive task, with packed schedules often leaving little time to step into the field. Yet, the curiosity about the build sequence of landmark projects like the Adelaide Aquatic Centre remains strong. Fortunately, thanks to point cloud technology, consultants and contractors involved in this once-in-a-lifetime project have access to invaluable data that bridges this gap. This technology not only enhances site logistics but also serves as a powerful educational tool. Within head offices, detailed point cloud models have been used to present the construction sequence to employees, offering them a clear and immersive understanding of the project’s progress. By bringing the site to the office, this innovative approach fosters collaboration, deepens project insights, and ensures teams are aligned at every stage of construction.
