Mapping
Mapping
Media Advisory: Webinar on Drones for Geospatial Technology, Dec. 6
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 5, 2017
Contact: Tom McMahon, tmcmahon@auvsi.org, (571) 255-7786
Washington's Walla Walla County introduces UAS
According to the Union-Bulletin, UAS will now be a part of the operations of Walla Walla County, Washington.
In its debut, the county's new UAS, which is constructed mostly of “high-tech Styrofoam” and has a wingspan of approximately five feet, was used to perform an aerial survey of Whitman Drive for a planned bike-pedestrian pathway.
Mapping the Future: How Drones and Geospatial Technology Are Changing How We See the World
The ability to gather accurate data and images efficiently and economically has drastically improved how companies and individuals map their holdings and surroundings. Drone missions can gather data and images once only available via satellite. Increased availability has led to more markets investing in mapping capabilities, as they recognize the benefits of accessing clear and accurate renderings.
Calspan acquires UAS for aerial surveying, LIDAR mapping, and 3D photography
A company named Calspan has announced the acquisition, modification, and certification of a long-range, fixed-wing UAS, which will allow the company to “enter emerging markets that service public utilities and government agencies.” The company will use the UAS for aerial surveying, LIDAR mapping, and 3D photography.
In addition to acquiring the UAS, Calspan, which provides research and testing services in the aviation and transportation industries, has also obtained the necessary licenses and approvals from the FAA that enable commercial UAS operations under CFR Title 14 Part 107.
Vanilla Aircraft's VA001 UAS completes five-day flight
Vanilla Aircraft's VA001 UAS recently completed a historic flight, as it flew for a little over five days for a total of 121.4 hours.
After taking off on October 18 from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility, the UAS began its long endurance test flight, and landed safely 5.1 days later, with three days of fuel remaining on board.
Vanilla Aircraft says that the flight is the “longest flight for an ultra-long endurance unmanned aircraft system that has the capability of carrying a payload of significant size weight and power that can meet or exceed military and commercial requirements.”
Premium Inspection and Testing Group acquires LandBros Aerial
Premium Inspection and Testing Group has acquired a Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based industrial UAS services provider called LandBros Aerial.
Through the acquisition, Landbros Aerial’s services and capabilities will be integrated as a specialized department within an Operating Division of Premium Inspection and Testing Group called Capitol Ultrasonics LLC.
LandBros Aerial will keep its current leadership.
“LandBros is excited to bring our strengths to the Premium Inspection and Testing Group team and continuing to stay at the forefront of the industrial drone market,” says Danny Landry, President of LandBros Aerial.
Michael Baker International purchases Altavian Nova UAS
A global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, Michael Baker International has announced that it has expanded its growing UAS fleet with the purchase of an Altavian Nova fixed-wing UAS.
The company says that the UAS, which can fly up to 90 minutes and cover 600-800 acres in a single flight, will be used to conduct “aerial inspections and mapping of large sites or during inclement weather conditions.”
UAS used to map damage done to Holiday Beach, Texas by Hurricane Harvey
In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi—commonly known as the Island University—used UAS to map Holiday Beach, Texas.
The map, also known as an “ultra-high resolution ortho-mosaic image,” was created using the data collected by the UAS, and it is available on the school's website.
“Disaster sites are not easily accessible due to debris and other obstacles, so we’re hoping that collecting ultra-high-resolution aerial maps from UAS can significantly help,” says Dr. Jinha Jung of the Island University's Department of Engineering and Computing Sciences.
CompassDrone unveils CIRRUAS program for public safety uses
The Elbert County, Colorado, Sheriff’s Department will be one of the first departments in the country to participate in CompassDrone's Complete Incident Response Recovery Unmanned Aerial System (CIRRUAS) program, which is designed for public safety applications.
Based in Centennial, Colorado, CompassDrone, which provides UAS mapping consulting services, says that the CIRRUAS program is mainly designed for accident reconstruction and crime scene mapping, but it can also be used for search and rescue and reconnaissance operations as well.