Watch an informative presentation on Drone LiDAR
At the recent GeoCue Tennessee Drone LiDAR Tour Stop, Jackson Rector, a LiDAR technician and Part 107 drone pilot for HMB Professional Engineers, delivered an informative presentation on the innovative use of drone LiDAR technology in various engineering projects. For those who couldn’t attend, we have recorded the presentation, available to watch in the player below.
HMB Professional Engineers
HMB Professional Engineers, founded in 1979, is a multi-disciplinary engineering firm providing a wide range of services including transportation design and planning, public utilities, water resources, environmental services, surveying, and more. Recently, HMB joined forces with Wiser Consultants, further enhancing their capabilities in roadway design and surveying. This partnership has expanded HMB’s in-house expertise and mobile LiDAR services, making them a leader in the infrastructure development community.
Adoption of Drone LiDAR Technology
HMB began exploring drone technology in 2019 with the purchase of a DJI Phantom 4 Pro, which allowed them to create orthophotos from scanned job sites. In 2021, they upgraded to the Trimble MX9 mobile unit and later acquired the TrueView 515 system equipped with a Hesai Pandar scanner and the DJI M300 drone. This integration of advanced aerial and mobile LiDAR technology has upgraded HMB’s data acquisition processes, enabling them to capture high-quality data quickly and efficiently.
I-55 Bridge Survey
One of HMB’s notable projects is the survey of the I-55 Bridge over the Mississippi River in Memphis, TN. This aging bridge posed challenges due to its movement and steel cage, which interfered with GPS reception. Utilizing the TrueView 515 system, HMB captured highly accurate and dense data, ensuring safety and precision. The innovative approach included adjusting the scanner angle to 90 degrees and custom-building landing gear to scan the low beam of the bridge, providing comprehensive data for future repairs.
SR 222 Bridge Survey The ease of deployment of HMB’s aerial LiDAR system proved invaluable for an emergency survey of the SR 222 Bridge. The system’s rapid deployment capabilities allowed HMB to conduct a thorough scan of the area in just a few hours. The detailed data collected enabled a swift and accurate survey, demonstrating the system’s efficiency and the team’s dedication to timely results.
KMBT Murfreesboro Municipal Airport Survey
HMB’s LiDAR technology has been instrumental in conducting approach surveys for airports, ensuring airspace safety around runways. During a recent survey of KMBT Murfreesboro, the team identified multiple obstructions in the approach path, including new utility poles that were too tall. The ability to pause and resume flights ensured flexibility and precision, highlighting the advantages of drone-based LiDAR surveys.
Future Prospects
HMB continues to evolve, expanding its use of LiDAR technology to calculate cut/fill quantities and inspect pipes. Their strategic adoption of LiDAR, supported by the TrueView 515 system and the expertise at Earl Dudley, has solidified their position as pioneers in geospatial data acquisition. The synergy between mobile and aerial LiDAR, complemented by traditional survey methods, enables HMB to deliver comprehensive and precise data crucial for infrastructure planning and design.
Thank you to Jackson Rector and the team at HMB Professional Engineers for sharing their innovative solutions and demonstrating the transformative power of drone LiDAR technology. We look forward to their continued advancements in the field.