View of Point Cloud
Overview
Unmanned drones have quickly become instrumental in the survey and engineering world, and Livingston Engineering is again at the forefront of these technologies. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without a human pilot aboard. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS); which include a UAV, a ground-based controller, and a system of communications between the two.
There are many uses for an UAS and many industries can benefit from their use. Surveying with drones is an efficient way to cover a large area of land with precision. Land that would be inaccessible or dangerous on foot can easily be reached and measured with a drone. Building and structure inspections can be costly and time consuming using previous technology but may be an excellent application of this technology.
Technology continues to evolve the UAS market. In 2016, laws were put in place which require a FAA license for commercial use of UAVs. Livingston Engineering has several licensed UAV pilots to allow usage on various sites. We believe drones are one more tool for the professional surveyor to provide the client exactly what they want.
Results
UAVs can produce more than just a pretty picture. For surveying, a drone is another option for data collection. Along with corresponding software, it can produce “point-clouds” with enough detail to produce a 4D model to sub-centimeter accuracy. Surface modeling and volume calculations are common requests for a UAV. Sometimes a time-progression for a development is a very useful tool for construction sites and large developments. Livingston Engineering utilizes drones as another tool to assist our projects are completed with efficiency and accuracy.