Industrial Applications of UAV LiDAR

Who We Are

Jordan Rising Director of Flight & Technology

David Ilgenfritz Director of Operations

●  Connected with the sUAS (small Unmanned Aerial Systems) industry for 5+ years.

●  We have worked with multiple Utility companies across the country.

●  Corporate Headquarters in Hamilton, MT.

Who We Are

“Our mission is to provide exceptionally high quality data collection services while maintaining an impeccable

safety record.”

Overview

What We Will Cover ●  UAVs in Utilities ●  The Technology ●  Comparison of Technology ●  Workflow & Deliverables ●  Current Work

How many of you have worked with UAVs or looked to integrate them into your

operations?

?

UAVs in Utilities

Where are they being used?

●  Inspections ○  Thermal Inspections ○  Visual Inspections ○  HD Video

●  Surveying & Mapping ○  Aerial LiDAR ○  Photogrammetry

●  3D Visualization ○  Project Management ○  Environmental ○  Land

UAV Configurations ●  Multi-Rotor

○  Electric ○  Simple to fly ○  Payload capabilities: 15lbs ○  Flight time: 10 - 25 minutes

●  Single Rotor Helicopter ○  Electric or Gas ○  Advanced autopilot systems ○  Payload capabilities: 30lbs+ ○  Flight time: 45 minutes – 3 hours ●  Fixed Wing ○  Electric or Gas ○  Payload capabilities: 2 – 25lbs ○  Flight time: 5 – 20 hours

Survey Payload Options

●  LiDAR & Ortho Imagery ○  750,000 measurements/sec ○  Ortho Imagery Collection ○  10mm Precision ○  4cm Global Accuracy

●  Photogrammetric Cameras ○  12 – 40MP Cameras ○  Multiple Flight Lines ○  Simple to use ○  Intensive processing

Comparison

UAV Borne LiDAR

●  Advantages ○  Highly Accurate ○  Dense point clouds ○  Quick turnaround ○  Cheaper than manned operations

●  Disadvantages ○  Requires in-depth knowledge to operate ○  Takes skilled team to process ○  Complex and often expensive equipment

UAV Photogrammetry

●  Advantages ○  Easy to deploy ○  Good for simple projects ○  Cheap equipment ○  Budget friendly software (Pix4d)

●  Disadvantages ○  Difficult to map thin objects (lines, pipes,

structures) ○  Gathering ground points is difficult ○  Less predictable results ○  Lower accuracy

Workflow & Deliverables

Data Collection

Trajectory Processing

Control Processing

Raw Point Cloud

Classified Point Cloud

Additional Processes

Other Deliverables

Current Work

SDG&E FiRM Program

Current Progress ○  17 Miles of Distribution

Corridors Mapped and Processed

○  Oblique Imagery Capture

●  Project Background ○  As-Built Survey effort of 3200

poles located in the greater San Diego County

○  LiDAR Field Collection ○  Oblique Imagery Capture ○  Processing and GIS

Deliverables

Accuracy

Takeaways ●  Speed

○  We have the ability to be on-site within 2-3 days of mobilization.

○  Our UAV can map 15 miles in a single flight.

●  Accuracy ○  Averaging 5cm of Global Absolute

accuracy (standard is 15 cm) ○  80 ppm2 (standards document is 50ppm2)

Questions?