PCL Construction unifies reality capture with DroneDeploy to deliver more value to owners

PCL Construction, the largest builder in Canada and a top 10 general contractor in the U.S., delivers complex commercial, civil and industrial projects across North America and Australia. 

As the company scaled its digital construction efforts, it turned to DroneDeploy to unify reality capture across ground and aerial workflows. By standardizing on one platform, PCL can now create consistent documentation, increase internal efficiencies and give owners long-term visual deliverables they can retain for record and potentially utilize for future construction endeavors.

The challenge: Fragmented tools and limited consistency

Before standardizing on DroneDeploy, PCL relied on strong point solutions like StructionSite – now DroneDeploy Ground – and other tools to manage reality capture. These tools served the teams well, but running separate systems for ground and aerial workflows added complexity over time. As projects grew in size and owners expected faster, more connected updates, PCL saw the opportunity to streamline operations under a single, integrated platform.

Documentation from traditional methods – manual photos, disconnected file storage, scattered platforms – often lacked clarity or traceability. RFIs took longer to resolve. And internal champions reported that prior vendors weren’t keeping pace with PCL’s evolving drone and data workflows.‍

“We have a really strong network of drone champions… and previous partners in the aerial space were not really catching up to PCL’s evolution in drone operations," said Alex Ramirez, Director of Construction Technology at PCL

The solution: A unified platform for aerial and ground capture

PCL made DroneDeploy the standard for both aerial and ground capture across its operations. Site teams use DroneDeploy Ground to capture and organize 360 photos, pinned to digital floor plans. This lets them track progress, document existing conditions and resolve questions with less back-and-forth. Consultants now have a variety of options for viewing progress, enhancing transparency and reducing the need for frequent site visits.

In addition to ground workflows, DroneDeploy’s aerial capture has transformed how PCL manages site visualization and inspections. DroneDeploy is now used to create site plans from a bird’s-eye view, giving teams and owners a clear perspective on how construction is progressing in relation to the overall development. PCL also uses drone flights to capture as-built conditions of slabs and utilities, providing critical data for owner hand-offs and future renovations. High-resolution façade inspections, which previously required costly scaffolding or zoom boom rentals, are now performed remotely – saving significant time and money. With DroneDeploy, consultants can review envelope conditions virtually, eliminating the need for physical site visits and accelerating closeout documentation.

The unified system is simplifying internal alignment. Once DroneDeploy was rolled out as a corporate standard, PCL invested in training, setup resources and champions across districts to ensure consistent use.

‍“Once one of our employees experiences the success of what a tool like DroneDeploy Ground can do for a project, they will carry it forward to the next project, and the next," Alex Ramirez said.

Benefits and ROI: Faster workflows, better project closeout

With one platform, PCL eliminated overlapping tools and manual documentation processes. Site teams now operate with less friction, field-to-office coordination has improved and RFIs can be resolved more quickly using site-linked visuals.

More importantly, DroneDeploy has improved PCL’s project deliverables. Clients receive organized 360 walkthroughs and aerial as-builts at handoff, enabling them to maintain their facilities and plan renovations with confidence.

‍“In many of our districts, it is standard practice to deliver an export of our 360 photo captures to clients at the end of the job. That gives them the ability to much more easily maintain their facility," Alex Ramirez said.

The shift to DroneDeploy also energized PCL’s field teams.

‍“With DroneDeploy Aerial, there was more excitement than anything else. People were like, ‘Yes, now we’re going to have a partner that will grow with us’.”

The bottom line: Owners trust what they can see

DroneDeploy has become a core part of how PCL builds and delivers its projects. With unified ground and aerial capture, every stakeholder – from trade partners to owners – gets clearer visibility into what’s been done, what’s next and what to expect at handoff. It’s not just about progress tracking. It’s about trust, clarity and long-term value built into every project.

‍“Once clients see what they can get – whether it’s a 360 capture or a drone flight that captures the whole essence of the site – they get super excited.”

Watch the full story on DroneDeploy Insider.

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