Surveying and Mapping with Drones

In this PDH or CE course the attendee will see why surveying and mapping professionals have taken such a keen interest in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology. Gathering info from the sky has been an approach that’s been utilized for a long time now, but the costs associated with traditional manned aircraft makes the endeavor extremely expensive. UAVs offer a cost effective alternative with far more flexibility in terms of being able to get into the air quickly and without as much logistical support.

What’s more, UAVs can improve data collection accuracy and efficiency, optimize a workflow while also enabling the production of cost-effective turnkey DSM’s whenever they’re needed. Simply put, UAVs can make it far easier to gather the info needed to create maps by reducing costs and simplifying the image-capturing process. However, right now the application of drones in the field is very much a niche endeavor, and that is mostly due to FAA restrictions. Most of the people doing UAV-based mapping are doing things that would have been on the fringe of what was already being done, because that’s the only work that can be done by professionals, even if they’ve received their 333 Exemption.