Tracking construction progress remains one of the most time-consuming tasks on a jobsite — often requiring superintendents to spend hours coloring drawings, chasing updates and consolidating reports. A new tool from DroneDeploy aims to change that.
The company has announced the launch of Progress AI, an automated system that uses visual data from drone flights and 360-degree walkthroughs to generate detailed progress reports within minutes. The platform analyzes field conditions using vision-language AI — technology that understands both images and text — to deliver objective, real-time insights on what work has been started or completed.
Progress AI supports aerial and ground-level capture data, delivering percent-complete breakdowns by trade and location without requiring BIM models or scheduling software. Reports can be accessed via desktop, voice commands, or chat, eliminating the need for manual documentation or drawn-out coordination meetings.
Replacing Manual Processes with AI-Powered Insight
Most construction teams still rely on paper plans, field logs, and informal walkthroughs to track daily progress. High-end software solutions exist, but they often require complex integrations, specialized training and steep costs — making them impractical for all but the largest jobs.
Progress AI targets that gap by offering a lightweight, scalable alternative. It requires no BIM model setup or credit-heavy software packages. Users simply walk or fly the site, upload the captured imagery, and receive visual heatmaps and structured insights showing work-in-place status — often within the same day.
The system is already being used to:
- Validate progress for pay applications
- Identify schedule risks and trade conflicts
- Improve coordination between teams
- Increase visibility across job portfolios
Voice-Accessible and Scalable for Projects of Any Size
One of the platform’s most unique features is its conversational interface. Superintendents and project managers can ask questions like, “What did our drywall crew complete this week?” and receive instant, image-backed responses based on the latest site data.
Progress AI is built on DroneDeploy’s proprietary dataset, which spans billions of square feet and includes aerial imagery from across construction, energy, infrastructure and agriculture sectors. The AI learns continuously, improving in accuracy as more data is captured and processed.
Real-World Use Cases
Project teams testing the platform during beta reported significant gains in efficiency and visibility.
- One superintendent cited a framing issue caught early using the tool’s walkthrough review, preventing rework.
- Another team used it to coordinate trades by identifying lagging crews in near real time.
- Remote documentation specialists noted the ability to check in on dozens of projects without setting foot on-site.
