Elevating the knowledge of construction professionals on the use of drones in construction
Project acronym: DRONE4BUILD
The project is part of the Erasmus+ 2025 programme, with Agreement No. 2025-1-DE02-KA220-VET000362152 of 6. 10. 2025, and will be implemented over 24 months in the period 1.12.2025-30.11.2027.
Project partners are:
Abstract-Technology (DE)
ISTITUTO PER L’ ISTRUZIONE PROFESSIONALE DEI LAVORATORI EDILI DELLA PROVINCIA DI BOLOGNA (IT)
FUNDACION LABORAL DE LA CONSTRUCCION (ES)
Knowledge and skills management centre K&S Skopje (MK)
PEDMEDE (GR)
Artemis Agraia Symvoyleutiki Anonymi etairia (GR)
BFW Berufsförderungswerk Bau Sachsen e.V. (DE)
Drone4Build is a project under Cooperation Partnerships in Vocational Education and Training.
The broader goal of the project is to bridge traditional craftsmanship with digital transformation, aligning with Industry 5.0 and the EU Green Deal.
Aiming to empower construction professionals with advanced digital and operational skills, the consortium of seven partners across five EU countries is developing a new training programme and online learning platform for using drones in renovation and retrofitting.
This will lead to the creation of a European Drone Competence Framework to guide future training and certification, while also building a strong network of skilled professionals across Europe, backed by planned pilot sessions under the “train-the-trainer” approach.
In the end, Drone4Build will deliver a ready-to-use curriculum, an open learning platform, and a community equipped for digital transformation – enabling workers and trainers to make the construction sector smarter, faster, safer, and more energy-efficient through the combination of drones, sustainability, and education.
Drone4Build has a dual aim, first to increase the use of digital technologies and especially drones in the construction sector, and second to upskill the construction workers in the field of digitalization. Integrating drones into training and drones act as a useful tool in building renovation and retrofitting. As a result, the Drone4Build blended training program will be developed to address these goals.
The project objectives designed to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound (S.M.A.R.T).The main objectives of Drone4Build are:
- Provide construction workers (EQF level 4-5) with the digital skills required to adopt οn the skills posed by digital transformation
- Adapt the training programs to address the emerging skill needs of the construction industry and ensure that professionals are prepared for future labour market challenges
- Design and implement a blended learning program focused on the application of drones in renovation projects
- Deliver capacity-building workshops to VET providers and trainers, equipping them with the knowledge and resources to teach drone technology skills
- Contributes to the modernization of the construction sector by enhancing the attractiveness of the industry
- Design a competence-based framework and a train-the-trainer model for this training
The activities implemented will be a strategic roadmap for the drone skills, the development of drone competency framework, the Drone4Build curriculum, open learning platform and training. The pilot testing of training will evaluate the effectiveness. Moreover, the trainer workshop will ensure the capability of trainers to conduct this training.
Activity 1. Digital Skills Ecosystem for Drones. To this context, the following objectives have been identified: the first objective is to create a strategic report outlining skills requirements for drones in the construction sector in order to shed more light on the gaps in digital literacy and the need for upskilling in advanced technologies, specifically for building renovation. In more detail to update the training needs of construction professionals in terms of digital skills linked with the use of new technologies and specifically with the drones.
Activity 2. Development of Drone4Build training programme
The basis consists of a targeted curriculum for construction workers about the use of drones on renovation projects. The objectives are to:
- a) design the Drone4Build curriculum and pedagogic methodology The curriculum will be designed based on the competencies identified in WP2, ensuring that the training is aligned with current industry needs and digital transformation trends in the construction sector.
- b) develop an open learning platform for the training To ensure that the training materials are easily accessible and scalable, an open learning platform will be developed, enabling workers to engage with the curriculum remotely and at their own pace. c) develop its educational material and assessment.
Activity 3. Pilot testing, delivery of training and train-the-trainer
This activity aims to contribute to the testing, delivery of training and development of trainers related to drones, as it is noted that there is a need for more skilled trainers in the themes of the construction sector . The core objective is the delivery of the training courses in the partner countries in a blended learning environment. The training courses will be carried out in partner countries (Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, North Macedonia) to ensure geographical coverage and inclusivity. National content will be developed to account for different regulatory requirements related to drones.
Activity 4. Industry Collaboration & Long term sustainability
The main idea is to connect the Drone4Build training with the construction industry sector as there is a gap between the training materials and their real use from the workforce. As a result, this WP main objectives are: to raise awareness about drone skills in construction and renovation and increase the visibility of the training by bringing together industry experts, SMEs, and policymakers to discuss integration challenges and opportunities
– to encourage innovation in drone applications for renovation and retrofitting through hackathons where construction workers/trainees develop solutions using drones
– to facilitate direct industry adoption of drone training by engaging construction companies, SMEs or companies dedicated to renovation and retrofitting to include the training into the companies operation and use it to upskilling their workers. Finally, to improve the effect and scalability of Drone4Build, a plan for the long-term sustainability of the project’s outcomes will be developed.
Main results of Activity 1 will be:
– Strategic report outlines skills requirements for drones in the construction sector. This report will include an analysis of existing skill gaps and upskilling needs based on the latest technological advancements and industry demands; define the most relevant competencies related to drone operation, data processing, and regulatory compliance.
-Report on stakeholders’ engagement workshops. These workshops are essential to validate the strategic report and also gather feedback from professionals of the sector, drone experts, academics, VET providers and industry representatives. The results of the workshops will be included in one single report and based on that the consortium will make any necessary changes to the strategic report if needed.
– Report on mapping drone-specific competencies to the European Digital Competence Framework (DigComp). The report will define the core competencies (technical, operational, regulatory, and safety-related ) required for drone usage in building renovation and retrofitting. Align these competencies with DigComp, ensuring that the skills being developed are structured, validated, and standardized for European VET programs.
Main results of Activity 2 will be:
-The Drone4Build curriculum which will be designed using a dedicated methodology for the definition of its Learning Outcomes such as the Bloom’s Taxonomy and it will follow a modular approach. By structuring a clear, modular curriculum that defines learning outcomes, content, and assessment methods.
-The open-source interactive online platform where all education material will be uploaded to enable blended learning.
Main results of Activity 3 will be:
– A capacity-building program aimed at trainers and teachers to develop proper knowledge and skills in the field of drones for the construction industry. The training will be designed based on the information collected in the framework of digital technologies and the needs and skills of the target audience as indicated in the drone skills roadmap. The training will be using insights from drones skills roadmap. The training will be designed to meet the learning objectives for drone specialized trainers, with interactive learning activities and practical projects that can also be carried out in a real context.
– Pilot testing and training implementation. The training courses will be designed based on the information collected in the framework of digital technologies and the needs and skills of the target audience.
– Delivery of training in a blended learning environment with at least 20 learners participated.
– A European Drone Trainer Competency Profile. A fact sheet to act like an occupational profile with all the necessary knowledge, skills and competences that the consortium will find through research and consultation by experts of the sector as well as educational experts.
The main results of Activity 4:
– Two industry roundtables in each country with the participation of construction experts, construction companies (large companies and SMEs) to disseminate the main results of the project and increase the visibility of training in the sector. Through these networking events will boost the development of the partnership of the training.
– One hackathon per country will be organized as part of exhibition events or skills alliances in the construction sector, specifically focusing on the use of drones for renovation and retrofitting projects.
-The establishment of industry partnerships for the training. The collaboration agreement with SMEs and construction companies will ensure that the training has lasting relevance and can be scaled beyond the project’s duration.
– Οne Long term sustainability strategy in order to ensure the further exploitation of the results