AP was quick to embrace the use of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS), or drone technology, to assist with project surveying. AP has two licensed SUAS pilots and has several drones capable of assisting project managers with obtaining survey data for projects.
AP’s newest SUAS system is a DJI M210 that can carry a payload of 5 pounds and several remote sensing units. When used with our Topcon base stations and PPK software, AP’s SUAS team can capture high resolution images and digital terrain models (DTM) for project sites and is especially useful for obtaining survey data for terrain that is difficult or dangerous to access.
AP uses the Pix4D software suite to develop point cloud models that can be tied to traditional ground survey data to give the design team accurate and georeferenced terrain information. This approach can reduce the amount of surveying time required on the project and allow for more accurate and detailed plans to be developed, often resulting in lower bids and lower overall project costs for AP’s clients.
