Enter corridor planning inputs
Example data table
| Scenario | Length (m) | Lanes | Width (m) | Area (m²) | Adjusted capacity (flights/hr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material transfer between two towers | 800 | 1 | 13.80 | 11,040.00 | 26.40 |
| High-rise supply corridor | 1,200 | 2 | 26.80 | 32,160.00 | 57.73 |
| Large site perimeter route | 1,800 | 3 | 39.80 | 71,640.00 | 84.00 |
Formula used
Lane operating width = Drone span + (2 × lateral clearance)
Corridor width = (Lane count × lane operating width) + ((Lane count − 1) × inter-lane separation) + (2 × edge buffer)
Protected height = Operating height band + (2 × vertical buffer)
Area = Corridor length × corridor width
Volume = Area × protected height
Theoretical capacity = Lane count × (3600 ÷ dispatch interval)
Adjusted capacity = Theoretical capacity × efficiency × (1 − reserve factor)
Recommended concurrent drones = Ceiling((travel time ÷ dispatch interval) × lane count)
These formulas provide planning estimates for construction logistics. They do not replace aviation approvals, local safety rules, or site-specific operational risk reviews.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the one-way corridor length between the launch point and the delivery point.
- Set lane count, drone span, and the horizontal clearances needed for safe separation.
- Add the operating height band and vertical buffers that protect the corridor envelope.
- Input cruise speed, dispatch interval, efficiency, reserve factor, and shift duration.
- Select Calculate Corridor to show results above the form.
- Review width, area, volume, travel time, capacity, and concurrent drone demand before exporting CSV or PDF reports.
Frequently asked questions
1. What does this calculator estimate?
It estimates corridor width, protected height, footprint area, protected air volume, one-way travel time, hourly capacity, shift throughput, and concurrent drone demand for construction delivery planning.
2. Why is lateral clearance entered per side?
Each drone needs free space on both sides for maneuvering tolerance, navigation drift, and obstacle avoidance. The calculator doubles that side clearance inside each lane width calculation.
3. What is the difference between inter-lane separation and edge buffer?
Inter-lane separation spaces adjacent lanes from each other. Edge buffer protects the outside edges of the full corridor from cranes, facades, hoists, and site boundary intrusions.
4. How is adjusted capacity different from theoretical capacity?
Theoretical capacity assumes ideal dispatching. Adjusted capacity reduces that figure using operational efficiency and reserve factor, giving a more realistic planning number for daily construction logistics.
5. Can this replace an aviation compliance study?
No. It supports planning and scenario testing only. Airspace permissions, drone regulations, weather limits, emergency procedures, and local site risk controls still require separate review.
6. What does recommended concurrent drones mean?
It estimates how many drones may occupy the corridor while sustaining the entered dispatch interval. This helps planners size fleets, controllers, charging points, and operational supervision.
7. Should I use one-way or round-trip distance?
Use the one-way corridor length between departure and delivery points. If you need round-trip analysis, calculate each direction separately or double the shift demand externally.
8. When should I increase the reserve factor?
Increase it when weather, congestion, payload variability, battery swaps, or inspection holds are likely to reduce practical throughput. Higher reserve factors produce more conservative capacity estimates.