Drone (sUAS) Photography and Mapping

Drone (sUAS) Photography and Mapping

With nine FAA certified sUAS 107 remote pilots on staff, GdB is leading the surveying and mapping industry by embracing drone technology. Low altitude photography, combined with our high-order ground control, creates accurate, orthorectified aerial imagery and point clouds. These products enter GdB’s CAD workflows to create traditional topographic maps and they can be hosted on our GIS servers for our clients to access via the web.

sUAS technology has had a huge impact on land surveying, and it enables us to provide data that was previously only available through large scale operations. The types of jobs that are now able to be accomplished due to the increased safety for field staff cannot be understated. Through Drone services, GdB staff can now work safely on the side of high traffic roadways, creeks, river beds, and construction sites to gather survey data and imagery that would have previously put staff in high risk situations. GdB’s staff of land surveyors and certified remote pilots are well versed in current FAA regulations governing airspace, and uniquely qualified to provide accurate 3D data. Our rich surveying history can give you piece of mind, that the deliverables you receive have been rigorously analyzed for the quality you expect from land surveying services.

GdB offers the following sUAS/Drone Services in addition to traditional Land Surveying Services:

• 3D Point Clouds
• Topographic Contour Data
• Volume Reports and Visualization
• Geo-referenced orthomosaics
• Custom web applications to view imagery and progress.

Projects

Avon Central School District

Monroe County Water Authority

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Monroe County Water Authority

New York State Thruway Drone Survey
Town of Le Roy, Genesee County, NY

GdB was tasked to collect Topographic Data and Planimetric features for a 500′ stretch of the New York State Thruway in the town of Le Roy, NY.

At GdB, the safety of our employees is paramount, so in order to complete this task and provide the accuracy required by the client, we opted to use Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) to produce low altitude photogrammetry. GdB Staff worked closely with the New York State Thruway’s Regional Permits and Traffic Divisions to ensure that all safety measures and necessary permitting requirements were satisfied.

In order to produce high quality survey grade topographic maps, GdB first needed to set Aerial Targets and establish the Horizontal and Vertical location using traditional GPS techniques. This was all done while staying off of the well-traveled highway. Once Aerial Imagery was produced, it was processed together with the Aerial Target GPS locations to produce a digital 3D point cloud for feature extraction. A high-resolution geo-referenced orthomosaic photo was also produced.

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Avon Central School District

Phase I & Phase II
Town of Avon, Livingston County, NY

GdB was hired to provide a full topographic and utility survey to assist with the engineering and design of new site improvements. A detailed topographic and utility survey along with drone photography was performed for two separate areas (Phase I and Phase II) within the Avon Central School District Property.

Phase I survey limits encompassed approximately 2,200 linear feet of the Clinton Street bus loop and access road. Phase II survey limits included approximately 2.5 acres surrounding the existing bus garage, parking lot and access roads. Elevations and grade breaks were captured at 50-ft intervals to produce contour mapping at 1-ft intervals. Topographic features including existing structures, roads, driveways, curbs, sidewalks, fences and visible evidence of underground and overhead utilities were located while on site.

Any standalone trees located within the survey limits over 4” in diameter were located and described by size and species. Any vegetated, brushy and wooded areas located within the limits were outlined. Additionally utilities located in the field were compiled and mapped with utility records requested through Avon CSD and the Dig Safely New York Service.

A sUAS (drone) was utilized at the completion of the project to capture site photos for the client. These images were used to create a geo-referenced orthomosaic that was provided, along with the digital images, for their use during the design process.