CASE STUDY: Climbing Rocks for Fun Only

摘要

Rock climbing, extreme hiking, diplomacy, and ingenuity are not typically included in tenders' requirements for aerial survey projects. For many projects around Las Vegas, Nevada, however, physical and mental agility sure come in handy. Consider the Kyle Canyon Water District (KCWD) for example. Sitting atop Mount Charleston about 35 miles from central Las Vegas, the canyon starts 6,200 feet above sea level and stretches up to 8,000 feet. Such extreme elevation poses a significant challenge for surveyors in finding enough adequate flat areas to set aerial targets. Epitomizing this is the case of a 350-mile route survey needed to plan future infrastructure for the Las Vegas Valley. Sections of the project run through land owned by Nellis Air Force Base, requiring surveyors to use creative diplomacy in obtaining access to the land to set ground control. Such circumstances can derail aerial survey projects if photogrammetry companies can't find suitable solutions. Las Vegas-based AeroTech Mapping, having faced similar difficulties in the past with its standard aerial photography approach, chose to upgrade its airborne technology with a solution that Leo Torres says not only elevated its service portfolio but turned those previous challenges into revenue opportunities.