Surveying technology has come a long way since its inception thousands of years ago. Plumb bobs and measuring ropes might have served the Ancient Egyptians just fine, but today’s surveyors are able to do so much more with technology.
Today, BL’s project teams utilize the latest in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to create detailed maps of project areas and maintain data that is easily transferable to our clients. GIS application tasks include spatial analysis, geoprocessing, predictive and suitability modeling, database accumulation, and implementation. Our GIS technicians work closely with the project team to develop unique solutions catered to the individual needs of our clients.
At BL, we’ve found two new innovations in particular that have significantly increased our capabilities when it comes to surveying tasks – UAV and 3D laser scanning.
UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, aka “drones”) allow our survey teams to acquire imagery and locations for large areas in a relatively short period of time. In addition to saving time and effort, UAVs keep our surveyors safer. Surveying can be a dangerous job, especially when surveying remote or undeveloped areas (our surveying equipment includes a canoe for a reason – not everything is easily accessed before construction). Safety is a big priority for BL, so being able to produce the same high quality and detailed maps as always but in a safer way is a huge asset for us.
The images captured by our UAV pilots can be used to create high-resolution photogrammetry as well as develop geo-referenced orthomosaic maps of project sites. When coupled with GPS and set ground control points, the images captured can then be referenced to a real-world coordinate system, capable of being reproduced infinitely.
We use UAV technology for a variety of project applications, including existing conditions mapping, DTM and contour development, volume computations, and as-built documentation as well as infrastructure inspection, utility line/facility inspection, and project timeline monitoring. BL has its own team of licensed UAV pilots, who together have successfully completed over 500 UAV flights.
3D laser scanning has also been significantly impactful on our surveying and GIS capabilities. 3D laser scanning provides a fast and accurate way to acquire physical measurements of existing infrastructure with a higher level of detail than traditional survey methods. The data we capture with laser scanning can be used for a wide variety of applications including 2d/3d digital modeling, as-built documentation, and quality control. Existing scan data can be collected for many types of structures, including existing buildings, both interior and exterior, mechanical piping, transmission towers, electric and gas facilities, bridges, roads and highways. The technology is ideal for hard-to-access areas and where mapping of complex detail is required.
3D laser scanning is able to create a detailed point cloud and an exact replica or model of a location, structure, or even object. This allows our engineers and architects to really get a sense of the 3D space of a project. For example, our energy team is able to take 3D models of the individual electrical components of say, a substation, compare it to the 3D model of the substation and then figure out where they fit best. BL has invested in Leica Geosystems equipment, including Leica MS60 Multi-Stations and Leica CS20 Controllers, which further expanded our 3D scanning capabilities. Additionally, the BL Survey department has been partnering directly with Leica Geosystems for a number of years by providing critical insight, improvement recommendations, and design specifications for product improvements. These latest products are the direct result of that collaboration. We helped to develop the next generation level products that we as customers have envisioned and have come to desire for performance to help meet the increasing demands of our client and projects. So while BL makes an effort to invest in technology like UAV and 3D laser scanning, our dedication to the profession and technological advancements go even further. Our employee owners are directly helping to drive our profession forward, and we couldn’t be more proud.