Survey Drones

Did you know that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or unmanned aircraft systems are the more formally known names for drones?

The invention of the first UAV could be traced back to 1783, when the first pilotless hot-air balloon was created, and that is because any powered aerial vehicle without a human operator aboard is considered a drone. Therefore, from a technical standpoint, drones have been around for decades, but modern drones started to be developed in the 1900s. As technology evolves, innovators have been improving the quality of drones, which allows a variety of industries to use them to improve their quality of work. Due to their capacity to quickly cover vast surface areas and provide access to difficult places, modern drones have gained a lot of popularity.

The exponential growth of technological innovation is causing rapid changes in the field of professional land surveying, and one of the new developments in land surveying technology is the use of drones. Survey drones have become essential tools because they allow surveyors to get their data quickly and accurately, which expands their services and helps reduce costs. Survey drones can be used for mapping and surveying due to their ability to fly over the ground and successfully carry out tasks for land surveys, 3D mapping, and topographic and photogrammetry surveys on large plots of land.

Surveyors must adhere to legal requirements and basic operating procedures, even as survey drone technology becomes more adaptable and accessible to users. Because of its influence, strong laws are implemented to preserve a secure environment.


 

Infrastructure Week, Day 3: Transit

Public transit is a staple of our nation that continues to grow yearly despite the fact that it remains neglected and radically underfunded. American transit systems carry billions of people a year via trains, commuter buses, ridesharing services, and more. These systems mainly provide transportation in urban areas and are also vital in many rural areas across the county. In the past few years, we’ve seen major train derailments, non-passengers killed in transit-related accidents, and damaged infrastructure as a result of natural disasters. The resilience of outdated, unreliable infrastructure is tested each day.

For us to receive the full functionality of national transit systems, we need not only transit vehicles, but sufficient infrastructure like traffic signals, train tracks, and roadways to successfully carry and guide these vehicles. However, with lack of funding, years of deferred maintenance, and aging infrastructure, our public transit systems continue to suffer.

At KC Engineering and Land Surveying, P.C. (KC), our civil engineering services include roadway and highway design, traffic engineering, lighting design, and other services that are utilized to maintain and improve transit operations. KC has provided construction inspection with a wide variety of tasks, including replacement of bridge and mounting tube railings, design assessment for rehabilitation of railroad bridges, and traffic calming and street lighting design near transit facilities.