We live in a time when we can observe and process near real-time topography information at a reasonable cost, much cheaper than hiring a plane, helicopter or purchase satellite data on top of hours of software manipulation. From agriculture to construction site surveying, from environmental monitoring to urban planning, photogrammetry and mapping combined with available technology provides vital information to make accurate, informed decisions in near real-time.
Photogrammetry, the method of using photographs to make ground measurements, has existed as long as modern photography. Combine this science with current technology of drones, robotics and computer processing and you have an amazing tool to collect geographic data including three-dimensional models on-the-fly with amazing accuracy and efficiency. Christopher leverages specialized industry partnerships like PiX4D and Drone Deploy to process imagery and georeference the data at nearly instantly speeds.
Imagine knowing which tree in your orchard is dying or needs water based on infrared imagery overlapped with 3D mapping. Or defining the affects of a disaster using 3D imaging layered with urban planning maps. Or monitor migration patterns congruently with vegetation grown for environmental assessment. Armed with a degree in Geography, our lead cartographer and GIS analyst, Christopher, uses imagery taken from the field, collected by drones and robotic “probes” in the air and in the sea and layers them with existing mapping data within GIS software.