Aerial Surveying: Unscrambling the Truth Behind Those Low-Flying Aircraft
There is a niche service offering in the aviation industry. It is known as aerial surveying. For those that aren’t glued to every aspect of aviation or geospatial data they may be alarmed when they see a low flying aerial survey aircraft flying loops all day long over their neighborhood with weird sensors and lasers attached to the aircraft.
Aerial Survey Conspiracy?
Recently, Reddit was on fire with posts about flights taking place in Florida. Concerned citizens were alarmed by green lasers shooting at the ground at night time. This particular instance was likely just LIDAR being used which is neither a laser or a sensor but is made up sensor components. Other redditors questioned who really was hiring these flights out and if it was a way for China to gather intelligence!
Typically, whichever agency is requesting aerial surveys to be conducted will reach out to the press to issue announcements to the public to inform them of the upcoming flights and why theyre going to be happening.
Instead, these flights no matter how beneficial they are have rather boring backstories. NOAA will utilize aerial survey aircraft to conduct studies on seafloor erosion. Utilty companies will conduct aerial surveys to find optimal paths for transmission lines. Municipalities will order aerial surveys to monitor growth.
Types of Imaging Sensors Used in Aerial Surveying:
- Medium & Large Format Cameras: These capture high-resolution optical images of the ground. They come in various sizes, with larger formats offering superior detail.
- Multispectral Sensors: These capture data across multiple wavelengths of light, useful for vegetation analysis, land use classification, and more.
- Hyperspectral Imaging Sensors: Even more advanced than multispectral sensors, these capture data across hundreds of wavelengths, providing incredibly detailed information about the composition of the land below.
- Thermal Infrared Cameras: These capture thermal images, which can be helpful for identifying underground features, monitoring industrial facilities, and even searching for people.
Non-Imaging Sensors:
- LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging): LIDAR systems use laser pulses to measure distances and create highly accurate 3D models of the terrain.
In addition to the main sensors, several other pieces of equipment are crucial for a successful aerial survey:
- Positioning Systems (GPS/GNSS): These provide accurate location data for the sensor measurements, ensuring everything is properly geo-referenced.
- Flight Management Systems: These help the pilot navigate precisely along the planned flight path for efficient data collection.
- Gyrostabilized Mounts: These mounts keep the sensors stable despite the aircraft’s movements, ensuring sharp images and accurate data.
It’s important to note that the specific equipment onboard an aircraft will vary depending on the type of survey being conducted. For instance, a project focused on mapping power lines might prioritize high-resolution photography, while a survey for resource exploration might utilize LIDAR and multispectral sensors.
- Relative Accuracy: This refers to the accuracy of measurements within the data itself. For example, if a building shows doors that are two meters apart in a 3D model, and that matches the real building, it has high relative accuracy.
- Absolute Accuracy: This refers to how closely the data aligns with its true position on Earth. Even with high relative accuracy, the model might be slightly misplaced on a base map if absolute accuracy is lower.
General Accuracy Ranges:
- Without advanced techniques: A basic drone survey without high-precision GPS correction or ground control points (GCPs) might offer accuracy in the range of 2-3 meters horizontally and 6-9 meters vertically.
- With advanced techniques: Using RTK/PPK GPS, high-quality cameras, and GCPs, surveys can achieve centimeter-level accuracy on all axes.
Aerial Survey Company in Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama is home to not only the NASA Space & Rocket Center but it also is home to Randigo LLC which is affiliated with MakeSafe and RevolutionFlight. A company with an extensive fleet of aerial surveying aircraft. Attached to this post is a catalog of all of their aircraft. They own and operate 33 aircraft in total for aerial surveying flights. The typical airplane they utilize is the CESSNA 208B.
Among the larger players in the aerial survey flight game are the following companies:
Cooper Aerial Surveys:
Sol Aerial Surveys:
NV5:
Aerial Surveys International:
Williams Aerial & Mapping, Inc.:
GeoTerra, Inc.:
