Independence Survey Team uses Innovative Drone Technology to Save Time, Money and Increase Safety

Advancements in modern technology can often be creatively incorporated into everyday business practices to increase productivity, reduce risk and provide incredible amounts of information in a shortened timeline. This is the case with Independence Excavating, Inc.’s recent acquisition of the latest in survey technology. Independence Excavating made a substantial investment in a small Unmanned Aerial System (eBee RTK), for the purpose of collecting aerial topography information. The eBee RTK, built by SenseFly, receives GPS information from a small base radio that is connected to a laptop. The eBee then flies a predetermined route and uses a camera to collect geo-referenced digital aerial images. Once captured, the images are downloaded and processed into a 3D point cloud. Millions of data points can be gathered in one short flight.

One project where our drone is making a substantial impact is on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Slope Remediation project in New Baltimore, PA. The eBee has been used to accurately track quantity information over the steep and densely wooded terrain on the 100+ acre site. The eBee has reduced a process that could take days when utilizing traditional methods down to a matter of minutes. This allows us to focus on cut/fill quantities by capturing the cut and fill areas simultaneously. Furthermore, having the ability to “see” the jobsite through the aerial photographs allows us to more accurately manage daily activities such as clearing, seeding or even the
quantity of protection fence installed.

Another important benefit is increased safety through the reduction of survey teams on the ground trying to measure around moving equipment or navigating steep or unstable slopes. As long as a well-chosen take-off location is selected, the survey personnel remain out of harm’s way.