Drone LiDAR is changing the way engineers and surveyors capture terrain and infrastructure data. With drone LiDAR mapping, a LiDAR sensor mounted on a UAV collects millions of laser points per second, creating highly detailed 3D models. These survey-grade datasets give civil engineers and survey teams the accuracy they need for design, planning, and construction … Read more
The FAA has officially released its long-anticipated Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Part 108, introducing a framework to enable routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations in the U.S. National Airspace System. This represents a major evolution from the limitations of Part 107, expanding operational flexibility for commercial UAS operators, infrastructure inspectors, … Read more
Proposal Request and Flight Planning Most of our projects start with a request for proposal, typically with project extents provided in KML (Google Earth), DWG (Autodesk) or SHP (Esri) format. Once I receive the project scope, I: This stage sets the tone, we’ve already started thinking through logistics, access, airspace, and control strategy before a … Read more
When you fly drones in complex or shared airspace, one of the best ways to build situational awareness is by monitoring nearby manned aircraft. The Flightradar24 app or website is a common tool many of us use to easy to visualize nearby aircraft in real time, but what you see on the screen is only … Read more
I use RTK drone mapping every week to support engineering and land development survey projects. It’s fast, accurate, and efficient however I still use ground control on almost every project. RTK drone mapping is often marketed as a GCP-free workflow. And while that’s technically possible, it’s not how I operate. In this post, I’ll share … Read more
When most people think of drone mapping or mobile data collection, they imagine orthomosaics, point clouds, or LiDAR. But sometimes, the most valuable deliverable is visual: 360 imagery for public asset management. We use high-density 360 capture to support local governments and engineering teams with asset extraction, pavement documentation, and rights-of-way inventories. It’s a fast, … Read more
Drone mapping isn’t just pushing a button and waiting for a pretty orthomosaic — especially in civil engineering. Whether it’s topographic surveys, volume calcs, or as-builts, the demands are real, and the margin for error is slim. I’ve worked alongside civil engineering teams for years, collecting drone data that feeds directly into site design, grading, … Read more
Astro Mapping Package Review Link to video on YouTube here. Back home
Clients have been requesting no Chinese and more specifically, no DJI drones being used on their projects. We have been examining options for viable heavy lift sUAS. After kicking the tires on a number of platforms we settled on the Freefly Systems Alta X. The Alta X offers very good payload capacity, flight endurance, and … Read more