How Are Drones Used to Increase Efficiency and Expand Capability?

Drones fill a variety of roles that complement the services we offer:

• Planning figures/exhibits: Aerial drone photos combined with specialty processing software assists in the production of hi-resolution orthomosaics, increases the ability to document existing conditions, aids in creating CAD base maps from aerials, and generates contours accurate enough for planning level documents. Field work that previously would have taken several days using traditional GPS equipment can now be collected with a drone in several hours.
• Construction Documentation: Drone imagery allows the efficient capture of construction progress. Paired with specialty software, repeating specific flight paths on regular intervals allows for time lapse video creation and construction documentation for easy comparison of site progress.
• Base Mapping: One of the biggest advantages of utilizing drones is in conjunction with GPS topographic surveys.  Flying a site after survey with ground control points (GCPs) allows staff to process images with a higher level of accuracy.  Images can be incorporated into a high-resolution orthomosaic in correlation with survey data to help eliminate extra site visits and also document existing conditions should concerns of damage arrive during construction. The images allow operators to see damaged asphalt or concrete extents, drainage issues, and marked utility lines.

• Volumetric Surveys and Topography: Drones paired with specialty software are also utilized to generate a 3D point cloud model of gravel piles allowing the determination of volume for each individual pile within the project site.  Great West has provided volumetric surveys with our GPS equipment in the past, but incorporating drones has equated to greater efficiency and safer survey of gravel piles.  We recently used drone technology to survey all gravel pits of a Montana County in a single day versus five to six days using traditional GPS equipment. Through the use of specialty software, we are also able to generate surface contours from the 3D point cloud.

Can Drones Help You?

Drones are another tool to provide the value our clients have come to expect from Great West Engineering. As drones are utilized as specified above, we continue to evaluate new ways to deliver more for less through utilizing technology.  An emerging usage is the documentation of flooding events.  With spring upon us we are not far from runoff and heavy spring rains that typically produce flooding. Many cities and counties have been impacted by flooding and have utilized FEMA disaster programs to help rebuild.  Identifying the full impacts of a flood event can be challenging, but the ability to quickly fly over a flood in progress is invaluable to help quantify the impacts on a community and give a high resolution flood extend boundary for high water events.

To find out more about how we can utilize emerging technology to assist your community, contact us today!