Project Summary

The goal of this project was to provide a local construction company with accurate ground contours of a lumberyard to design improved stormwater drainage. Using a small unmanned aerial system (sUAS), more commonly known as a drone, Hoyle Tanner collected aerial photogrammetry data and created topographic contours and other site-related features for the approximately 7-acre site. The deliverables included individual, still high-quality photos and a point cloud generated 3D model of the topographic and manmade features of the site.

Utilizing GPS based ground control to tie the imagery to ground elevation, the sUAS was flown at 150’ altitude in 20 minutes resulting in 720 high resolution photos that were further processed to create 3D imagery with approximately 0.5’ contour data accuracy. That data was also imported into computer aided design software for further site analysis and design development to improve drainage and eliminate rutting issues. By utilizing the sUAS for conceptual design, the construction company was able to significantly reduce the survey time required for the project.