Bi-Weekly Construction Progression Photography Contracts
Construction projects are won and lost in the details — and the details change every day. Bi-weekly construction progression photography creates an unbreakable audit trail that protects contractors, satisfies owners, and streamlines closeout documentation. This guide explains how recurring drone contracts work, what they cost, and why they pay for themselves many times over.
Why Bi-Weekly? The Cadence That Matches Construction
Weekly flights are overkill for most projects. Monthly flights miss too much. Bi-weekly hits the sweet spot: frequent enough to capture structural changes, utility placement, and envelope progress, but spaced enough to show meaningful deltas between flights. After dry-in, most projects scale back to monthly to maintain documentation without unnecessary cost.
What’s Included in a Progression Contract
A standard Wet Dog Drones progression contract includes the following deliverables on every flight:
- Orthomosaic: geo-referenced 2D map of the entire site, delivered as GeoTIFF and web-viewable JPEG
- 3D model: photogrammetric mesh and point cloud for volume comparison and design overlay
- Timeline comparison: side-by-side or overlay comparison against the previous flight and the baseline
- Executive summary: one-page PDF with key metrics, progress percentage, and annotated highlights
- Raw photo archive: all capture images with EXIF metadata, organized by flight date
Contract Structures
We structure progression contracts around project duration and site complexity. Typical models include:
| Contract Type | Best For | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Retainer | Ongoing multi-site operators, property developers | 6–12+ months |
| Project-Based | Single commercial or infrastructure build | 3–18 months |
| Milestone Triggered | Projects with irregular schedules or seasonal holds | Variable |
Value Over Time: The Compounding Effect
The value of progression photography compounds with every flight. Flight 1 establishes the baseline. Flight 3 catches a utility conflict before concrete is poured. Flight 6 documents a safety incident from the correct aerial angle. Flight 12 provides the marketing team with an 85-second time-lapse for stakeholder presentations. By closeout, you have a complete visual archive that simplifies punch-list verification, as-built documentation, and warranty defense.
Insurance and Dispute Protection
Insurance carriers and sureties increasingly ask for documentation of site conditions and progress. Bi-weekly orthomosaics provide date-stamped evidence that can reduce premiums, accelerate claims, and satisfy bond inspectors. In dispute scenarios — weather delays, differing site conditions, or contractor default — the flight archive is an objective third party that doesn't take sides.
Scaling Back After Dry-In
Once the building envelope is closed and major earthwork is complete, the risk profile changes. Most contracts scale from bi-weekly to monthly at dry-in, maintaining documentation through interior finishes and final site work without the cost of frequent exterior flights. This "tapered cadence" keeps the archive complete while respecting the project budget.
Getting Started
Every project is different. We recommend a scoping call to review your project schedule, site complexity, and deliverable needs. From there, we draft a contract with clear flight dates, deliverable formats, and escalation procedures for weather or airspace delays.