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, recognized March 15-21, celebrates the essential role surveyors play in measuring, mapping and understanding our world. LiDAR and drone-based technologies represent the next evolution of this profession, giving surveyors new tools that dramatically enhance accuracy, safety and efficiency. This year’s theme, “Celebrating 250 Years of Mapping America,” gives a nod to the surveyors that explored, documented and defined the land that became the United States. In honor of this special week, we connected with �鶹TV��վ Practice Team Manager for Survey Mapping & Geomatics Todd Harris and Geophysics Practice Team Manager and Project Geophysicist Ty Atmaca to learn more about Aerial LiDAR and drone geophysics technologies — how they work, the types of projects they can be used on, their benefits and more. 

While traditional surveying required crews to physically access sites and manually gather data points — often over multiple days or even weeks — LiDAR, or Light Detection and Ranging, now enables surveyors to capture millions of data points in a single scan, producing highly precise 3D models of real-world environments.

These advancements reflect the same core mission that National Surveyors Week celebrates —delivering reliable, precise and meaningful spatial information. Although National Surveyor Week highlights the heritage and importance of the surveying profession, LiDAR and drone-based survey technologies showcase how the profession continues to innovate, evolve and expand its impact today. The methods may have changed over the years, but the technology being used today enables surveyors to accomplish the same goal in a more efficient and arguably safer way.

• Safer: Today’s technology reduces the need for surveyors to enter hazardous or hard-to-reach areas like levees, bridge piles, unstable terrain or inaccessible industrial structures.
• Faster: Ariel and terrestrial LiDAR make it possible to collect data in days, as opposed to weeks or months.
• Smarter: LiDAR makes it possible to generate richer datasets that support better planning, engineering and environmental decisions.

Q: How did your background lead you into LiDAR data collection and drone-based surveying?  

Todd: I spent most of my career performing conventional surveys for transportation, commercial, industrial and residential projects — everything from right-of-way and boundary work to processing topographic data and supporting construction staking. Through that work, I frequently collaborated with the Advanced Measurements team, gaining experience with both aerial and terrestrial LiDAR capabilities.

In 2023, I earned my FAA Part 107 UAS license and completed LiDAR technician training, learning the full workflow from data capture to data processing to 3D model production across projects, including Federal Highway Administration bridge inspections, site development and topographic surveys.

Ty: My introduction to drone-based geophysics began in 2024 when our team was awarded a major project. That experience opened my eyes to the potential of drone geophysics, and I quickly became fascinated by the idea that you can fly a drone, apply geophysical methods and gain insight into what lies beneath the ground.

Motivated by that project, I earned my drone pilot license and began combining my geophysics background with drone-based surveying technologies. Since then, I have attended numerous drone geophysics conferences and presented several case studies highlighting �鶹TV��վ’ work.

As a geophysicist, it’s exciting to see how much capability drones bring into the field. They enable the efficient collection of high-resolution data and offer new ways to investigate the subsurface — approaches that were difficult or impossible to achieve using traditional methods alone.

Q: What do you consider the biggest advantages of drone-based survey technologies and LiDAR?

Ty: I have had the opportunity to present on this topic numerous times, and I always highlight that drone-based technologies offer several major advantages over traditional ground surveys. Most important, they significantly improve safety by eliminating the need for field staff to enter hazardous or hard-to-reach terrain. Drones can easily access areas that would otherwise be unsafe or inaccessible.

Drone surveys can also be conducted at ultra-low altitudes, enabling the collection of extremely high-resolution data with improved spatial density and stronger signal quality. This leads to better coverage and more detailed mapping of the surface and subsurface conditions. They are also faster and more cost-efficient, allowing projects to be completed more quickly while reducing the risk of property disturbance or damage.

Another important advantage is the ability to repeat surveys over time. This capability makes it possible to track landscape or subsurface changes and detect temporal variations that might otherwise go undetected. Overall, drone-based surveying allows rapid data collection and delivers high-quality results with quick turnaround.

Like any technology, drones have limitations. Weather, airspace restrictions and flight endurance can all affect operations. In some cases, the best outcomes are achieved by pairing drone surveys with traditional ground-based methods to achieve the most comprehensive results.

Todd: The most dramatic advantage of LiDAR is the speed and efficiency of collecting data. A conventional survey might collect approximately 2,000 points in the time it takes LiDAR to collect 500 million. Projects that previously required more than 10 days can now be completed in just two — one for data collection and one for processing. Large-area surveys that once took months are now finished in days.

LiDAR also excels in challenging or hazardous environments, such as levees, inaccessible dock/fender systems on major waterways, steep terrain, unstable ground or high-traffic zones. It reduces the need for crews to physically enter dangerous or hard-to-reach areas.

Cagatay “Ty” Atmaca

Q: What kinds of projects are best suited for LiDAR and drone-based surveying? Where has �鶹TV��վ applied this technology so far?

Ty: At �鶹TV��վ, our drone-based surveying program is particularly well suited for environmental and energy-related investigations. One of our primary applications is orphan well locating, where we use drone-mounted magnetometers, such as the IF1200A platform equipped with the MagArrow II system, to detect buried well casings and other ferrous infrastructure. This approach allows us to efficiently survey large areas and identify wells that may not be visible at the surface, helping agencies address environmental and safety concerns associated with undocumented or abandoned wells.

Another important application is methane gas detection. Drones enable rapid scanning of wide areas to identify potential gas emissions, which is particularly valuable for landfill monitoring, where detecting methane leaks and monitoring emission patterns are critical for environmental compliance and safety.

Drone-based technologies are also highly effective for landfill characterization and monitoring. By flying at ultra-low altitudes, we can collect high-resolution geophysical and spatial data to map site conditions, detect subsurface anomalies and support environmental assessments – all while improving safety, efficiency and coverage compared to traditional ground-based surveys.

By integrating advanced drone platforms like the IF1200A with the MagArrow II magnetometer, �鶹TV��վ delivers rapid, high-resolution data for projects involving orphan well detection, methane monitoring and landfill investigations.

Todd: Additionally, LiDAR is ideal for any project that requires high-precision spatial data and strong visual documentation. �鶹TV��վ uses LiDAR across a wide range of project types, from coastal protection and site development to agricultural fields, transportation corridors and landfills. It also supports applications like methane monitoring, orphan well locating, residential planning, stockpile measurements and structural analysis of existing facilities.

Beyond these applications, LiDAR is exceptionally effective for drainage analysis, where understanding terrain and subtle elevation changes is essential. By generating a digital terrain model (DTM), teams can proactively identify and address potential drainage issues before construction begins.

Q: Can you describe a recent high-impact project where LiDAR and drone technology made a meaningful difference?

Ty: One recent example involved a project focused on orphan well locating and methane gas detection in a remote, mountainous area. The client provided coordinates for a potential well site located at the top of a mountain — an unexpected location that initially left many of us skeptical that an orphan well would be present there.

After flying our drone equipped with a magnetometer, however, we detected a clear magnetic anomaly consistent with a buried well casing. The data allowed us to pinpoint the likely location of the well, and the client was very pleased with the results. It was a strong demonstration of how drone-based geophysics can reveal subsurface features that would be very difficult to identify through traditional methods.

Another impactful finding from the same project involved detecting a fully buried orphan well that was actively leaking gas. By integrating drone-based geophysics with ground-based geophysical surveys, we were able to accurately locate and confirm the well’s position. This combined approach enabled us to efficiently identify environmental hazards and provide our clients with clear, actionable information.

Todd: We utilized the aerial LiDAR system on an 850-acre site where the client planned to develop a 245 MW AI data center. Instead of the data collection phase taking months using conventional GPS technology, we gathered all terrain data in three days, processed and quality-checked the data in two weeks and delivered the surface (DTM) model to the client well ahead of schedule. The high level of detail captured by the aerial system clearly represented the numerous bluffs and drainage features across the property — features that would have been very difficult for conventional field crews to locate, access or traverse.

Q: Have you run into challenges using drone-based technology, and how did �鶹TV��վ overcome them?

Ty: One of the main challenges we encounter on drone-based projects involves site conditions, access limitations and permitting requirements. Many of the areas we survey are remote, environmentally sensitive or located near regulated airspace, all of which require careful planning before any flights can occur.

For example, during a project in Arizona, we needed to secure multiple permits and approvals before completing the survey. This included coordination with the local airport, military authorities, border patrol, the city and the landowner. Managing these approvals required extensive communication and detailed planning.

Despite the complexity, our team successfully navigated all requirements and completed the project. Experiences like this have strengthened our expertise in regulatory coordination and operational planning, enabling �鶹TV��վ to conduct drone surveys safely and efficiently even in highly regulated environments.

Q: Beyond environmental and industrial applications, where else has LiDAR proven valuable at �鶹TV��վ so far?

Ty: Beyond traditional environmental and industrial applications, LiDAR and drone-based technologies have also proven highly valuable for landfill investigations and geohazard studies. We frequently use drone platforms to support landfill projects, where high-resolution surface mapping and geophysical data can help evaluate site conditions, monitor changes over time and guide environmental management efforts.

We have also explored drone-based geophysics for lava tube detection. Lava tubes often produce measurable magnetic anomalies due to variations in the surrounding volcanic rock, and drone-mounted magnetometers can efficiently identify these signals across large areas. By flying at low altitudes and collecting dense datasets, drones offer a promising method for detecting and mapping potential subsurface voids, such as lava tubes.

Together, these applications demonstrate how integrating LiDAR with drone-based geophysical sensors can extend far beyond traditional uses, supporting innovative approaches to geological and environmental investigations.

Todd: On another key project, �鶹TV��վ supported survey control, geotechnical investigations, aerial LiDAR for design and aerial LiDAR-based earthwork quantity tracking for the development of a new nuclear power facility. Because the site is located within an 800-square-mile area managed by federal authorities, all unmanned aerial system (UAS) operations required extensive coordination to obtain flight permission. With numerous unmanned aircraft activities occurring within the restricted airspace, �鶹TV��վ worked closely with site representatives and pilots to maintain safe, compliant and well-coordinated operations throughout the project.