DroneView Technologies Empowers Aerial Data Solutions Through Trusted Partnerships - Insights from Jason Heywood

The importance of aerial topographic mapping for large projects, particularly in the renewable energy sector, is easy to understand. These assets are utilized to inform project decision making, assess risk, gauge progress and ensure quality control. Additionally, the benefits connected to long-term performance of infrastructure and the surrounding environment can open up countless opportunities for preventative maintenance.

However, not all maps are created equally, and the difference between an aerial topo that gives an engineering firm exactly what they need to make plans versus one that is almost what they need can lead to project delays in the present and future. That’s why the approach DroneView Technologies takes is centered on providing topographic mapping and geospatial solution services tailored to the unique requirements of its clients across the United States, ranging from drone surveying services in California to aerial LiDAR mapping support in Florida.

This understanding extends beyond providing mapping products for a given renewable energy project or high-accuracy drone surveying for land developers. It’s something that Jason Heywood, President of DroneView Technologies, understands on multiple levels. He works with clients to assess those different needs and define how DroneView's extensive network can support those requirements, highlighting how trust and understanding are essential elements of any geospatial data acquisition project.

Maximizing the Benefits of Aerial Mapping

An ASPRS Certified Photogrammetrist, Heywood has over 25 years experience providing aerial mapping services for clients throughout the United States. He excels in resolving complex issues through the application of geospatial technologies which has been recognized as invaluable insight across various projects, all of which connects to DroneView's core value proposition.

*Jason Heywood alongside an example of one of the many types of products delivered by the DroneView Technologies team.*

“Aerial mapping is primarily our service line,” Heywood said. “We’re focused on large sites requiring aerial topographic mapping. That's where we fit in best, because a lot of our clients are surveyors. They have support for these types of projects in-house, but they know we can help them with those larger projects or complex projects that are simpler for them to outsource to us because they know they’ll get what they need faster and sometimes even better than what they can do.”

One example of this type of project is a 20,000-acre renewable energy site. The survey team working this site might have an in-house drone program, but partnering with DroneView Technologies to utilize their manned aircraft can significantly accelerate data acquisition. However, DroneView Technologies is also involved in projects that are 15 acres or even 5 acres and can provide support when internal survey capabilities are either limited or being utilized elsewhere.

Because DroneView’s survey capabilities are so deep, Heywood mentioned how their level of support can vary depending on the need. Some projects may require specialized technologies like Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) or mobile LiDAR, which the team can support. Selecting the appropriate sensors and technologies is crucial for each project's success, which is an essential element of any project Heywood is involved with. Some smaller projects may only need a simple topographic map but DroneView Technologies can provide tailored support for a wide range of projects, including ALTA surveys, As-built surveys, PLS-CADD and more.

‘We’re heavily involved in the renewable energy and electric transmission and distribution sectors right now, but evolving national and state renewable energy goals are reshaping the landscape for land surveyors,” Heywood said. “It’s meant that the type of work that land surveyors might take on or manage themselves is now coming over to us, and that’s partly because we get them whatever they need as a deliverable but also because they know we’re not limited to drones or manned aircraft or any specific capture method. If it’s a fit for mobile, that’s what we’ll use. Same for a drone or manned aircraft. We can support whatever makes the most sense, depending on the scope of the project.”

The main reason DroneView can support this type of variety across the United States is because the organization has created a trust network of aerial imagery and LiDAR data acquisition partners. This network leverages experience across a variety of industries and applications, all of which is connected to a larger sense of trust and expertise that impacts people, projects and processes.

The DroneView Difference

The full-service aerial mapping and geospatial services that DroneView provides aren’t unique in terms of their capabilities. Organizations large and small offer similar services, but the difference all comes down to the approach, technologies and people that DroneView Technologies can uniquely provide.

“You can go to just about any aerial mapping firm with a project and they’ll give you a solution, but they’re not always going to talk about why that solution is the one they’re recommending,” Heywood said. “They’ll tell you about the sensor they want to use, but is that because they own that sensor? Or is their timing based on where the sensor is currently located and when they can get out to your project? We can cut through all of that because of our trusted partner network, so you know the acquisition is done with someone that's local and that’s been vetted.”

While the data processing is done by the internal DroneView Technologies team, this trusted network is what allows Heywood to make decisions based on what’s best for a given project, as opposed to what’s most accessible. Others will push a project toward a specific technology or timing because that's what they have available or local, but the trusted partner network removes those limitations. This external expertise is further enhanced by an internal team of ASPRS Certified and Licensed Photogrammetrists, LiDAR Professionals, CAD Technicians, and GIS Data Analysts, who are dedicated to supporting these projects.

“If you're working with a drone company, are they ASPRS certified?” Heywood asked. “Do they understand remote sensing and GIS in a way that makes sense to professional surveyors? It’s similar questions for anyone working with manned aircraft. Do they know how to plan the flight in the way that gets the product in the most efficient way? Can they meet the specs? It’s the same with LIDAR professionals. We have all of that in house.”

Heywood mentioned that a recent project saw the DroneView Technologies team complete a BIM project that required scanning some interior features at a large industrial facility which utilized a trusted partner to provide a client with the asset they needed. Additionally, Heywood recently worked with an engineering firm that had the aircraft but not the sensors they needed to capture the info they wanted. They were able to sort out an optimal solution given the technology and requirements.

That experience speaks to what it means to go beyond the technology, because systems like the ones from RIEGL or Teledyne Optech are incredibly powerful tools, capable of achieving sub-centimeter accuracy under optimal conditions. However, getting the most out of these tools is all dependent on the person using them. That’s why collaborating with individuals and teams who have a proven track record in capturing and delivering high-quality data is crucial.

DroneView's approach is rooted in traditional photogrammetry principles, further setting the company apart from other providers. This approach has enabled expansions into BIM, PLS-CADD, as well as truly unique approaches to mobile LiDAR, expanding their range of technological capabilities. However, the true differentiator for the company is related to something that has little to do with technology.

“Our experience, our network and the relationships that we have are what sets us apart, but it’s more than that,” Heywood said. “When someone comes to us with a problem, we can put the team together to solve it. Exactly what that team looks like is always going to vary, but the experience on those teams makes all the difference when it comes to how this data is acquired and delivered, helping our clients make enhancements to their workflow and improve productivity.”

Have a question for Jason? Get in touch with the DroneView team or connect with him on LinkedIn to ask.