11 ways drones are about to change the world (and…

11 ways drones are about to change the world (and delivery isn't one of them)

The future of drone delivery, perhaps the most talked about commercial use, is harder to predict because of the lack of regulation Getty

Drones are going to become an increasingly important part of many businesses – and not just for deliveries of Amazon orders, Google products and weed.

A study by Goldman Sachs has shown that drones have huge potential to revolutionise many different industries, from journalism to building work.

The most popular use case for commercial drones in the near future will be construction, where they will be used for surveying and mapping, the study found.

“UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) may become a key tool for surveyors by allowing improved measurement accuracy and faster work,” according to researchers.

Sales of drones used for commercial purposes are predicted to reach $20.6 billion worldwide, with about $11.2 billion generated by the construction industry.

“UAVs could quickly change the practices of surveying land for building sites. Drones can shorten a usually long process by producing 3D renderings of a property,” the research said.

Agriculture is expected to be the largest US end market for commercial drones and the second worldwide, generating $5.9 billion globally.

The benefits of using a drone on the farm include greater ability to monitor crop health and identify potentially problematic areas of the field.

In cinematography, drones are only predicted to generate $21 million worldwide, although Goldman Sachs predicts the drones could reduce demand for helicopters by cinematographers.

The future of drone delivery, perhaps the most talked about commercial use, is harder to predict because of the lack of regulation.

“Due to the inherent risk of operations close to people and the lack of regulatory clarity, we think delivery applications face significant regulatory and technological barriers,” the report said.

Owners of drones in the US will soon have to register their machines with the US Department of Transportation, as the federal government attempts to regulate the devices more tightly.