Commercial drones have become increasingly important across a wide variety of industries due to their versatility, efficiency and ability to perform tasks that would otherwise be challenging, dangerous or, oftentimes, expensive. Here are some key reasons why commercial drones are important:
Experienced construction company seeks enhanced efficiencies through the use of drones
Dan Williams Company is a highway construction company based in Central and West Texas that has been in business for more than 30 years. Raul Garcia has been in the surveying industry for nearly a quarter of a century and leads the company’s surveying department in Central Texas. Dan Williams company wanted to invest in a commercial drone to help streamline workflows and improve efficiencies among its small surveying staff.
“The Ranger Pro increased our ability to capture data and the ability to do it better…We can turn around projects faster
than we normally would.”
Enter the Ranger Pro
During the summer of 2023, Dan Williams Company purchased its first commercial drone – the Ranger Pro by WISPR Systems. One primary reason the company chose to go with WISPR Systems is because its products are made in the U.S. – in fact in the heart of the Delta right in Mississippi.
Dan Williams Company also needed to invest in a drone option because of its contracts with the State of Texas that need enhanced technology and capabilities in its large projects.
“We had been discussing internally the acquisition of a drone for our own purposes, and we were, in a way, forced to get into the game through one of our state contracts,” Garcia said.
Efficiency mean saving both time and money
The Ranger Pro made a quick and immediate impact with Dan Williams Company. In early 2024, the organization received a bid to reconstruct about a mile-long road. The only problem was that the contract didn’t include any designs or surveys leaving the team in a predicament. Using just a photo of the road with few markings on it, Dan Williams was to demolish the road, rebuild it, and make it nicer and wider.
The traditional work process would have included sending a crew to do a comprehensive survey of the road, which can take several days to compile. Then, there are several days needed to process and design the final product.
“With the Ranger Pro, what would have taken two weeks worth of work took two days,” Garcia said. “We collected all of the topographic information on the road, and with the Ranger Pro, it only took a couple of hours. We bring down the drone, download the data and obtain not only a very detailed 3D photo of the project, but we’re able to utilize that information to create a better, improved road.”
With a small surveying staff, it’s imperative that Dan Williams Company uses its team and resources efficiently and strategically.
“The people that we have working for us are smart, but very efficient,” Garcia said. “The Ranger Pro and the ability to capture all this data without us having to hire a second crew fits perfectly in the culture of what we do at Dan Williams. The technology is really what it comes down to with Ranger Pro – we can do things more efficiently.”
Plus, the Ranger Pro gives Dan Williams Company an advantage over its competitors who don’t have similar drone technology readily available at their fingertips.
“When customers are aware that we have this technology, it allows us to be more competitive, and the finished project will be of equal or more superior quality than we promised because of the Ranger Pro’s technology,” he added.
Support to meet and exceed customers’ needs
When discussions with WISPR Systems began, Garcia said Dan Williams Company had a lot of questions and was new to the drone industry.
“Everybody who was involved in the sale of the equipment was extremely helpful, extremely knowledgeable, and more than anything, dedicated to get us flying and doing what we’re supposed to do,” he said.
While there were a few minor issues that arose early on after the purchase of the Ranger Pro, Garcia said that, “the truth of the matter is that from day one, when we were having issues, WISPR has been responsive. They have listened to us and tried their best to the best of their abilities, and I can say that WISPR and our dealer have helped us get to where we need to be.”
“The entire drone operation was completely new to us,” Garcia said. “It’s not just flying and getting the job done – there is an ecosystem of steps. We had to learn the process and what was required. We needed to go from knowing nothing to producing something.”
About Dan Williams Company
As a recognized leader in heavy highway constructions in the Central and far West Texas market, Dan Williams Company performs a wide array of construction: grading, drainage, bridges, flexible pavement and rigid pavement. Our experience, staff and equipment enable us to accept projects of all sizes and scopes. Dan Williams Company has partnered with and has been contracted to perform work with the state, counties, cities and private management agencies.
About WISPR Systems
Founded in 2016, WISPR Systems strives to manufacture reliable and affordable U.S.A. commercial Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) with turnkey payload options for commercial operations. WISPR Systems supports various industries with our drones such as surveying, mapping, telecommunications, utilities, public safety and much more.
As a Mississippi-based enterprise, we take great pride in upholding the traditions of hard work and innovation that have defined our state for generations. This cultural foundation empowers us to craft cutting-edge solutions for our customers and adapt to the ever-evolving technological landscape. WISPR Systems thrives in Mississippi, recognizing that our employees are our most valuable asset, embodying the enduring strength and ingenuity of this remarkable state.
With world-class training and support, owning one of our WISPR Systems American-made drones means years of productive and well-supported flying.