Costain is to expand the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on its development sites.

The 'drones' have typically been used on several contracts for a variety of uses, including inspecting existing structures and surveying large areas with standard cameras or specialised measurement devices.

Peter Slater, Costain's Aerial Solutions Manager, said the company has been investigating where the technology can deliver projects "more efficiently and safely".

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"One of the main drivers of the work comes down to taking people out of hazardous environments," he said.

"In addition, improvements in speed, efficiency and payload make this a technology with high potential.

"We're speaking to industry leaders in the UAV technology space and getting them to understand our needs and our customers' needs. We have working relationships with a number of suppliers and will create a framework agreement with sector-specific suppliers that can cover a range of requirements.

"The technologies involved can become obsolete quite quickly. On top of that, the regulatory environment governing their operation will continue to undergo some notable changes."

(LM/MH)