UAS  Services at DGL Consulting Engineers

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In the civil engineering industry Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, have been used in a variety of capacities for many years. Recognizing the value drone technology could provide for our clients and the efficiency it could provide for our team, DGL formulated a plan to grow an in-house UAS Program to assist our clients.

The use of a drone is one of the best ways to observe and track an active or future construction site, a structure, and many other civil engineering projects. Used in concert with conventional methods we believe it can provide a greater understanding of many different project types.

We believe many of our existing services can benefit from the use of UAS. 

  • Site Analysis for preliminary design

  • Survey through photogrammetry

  • Terrain Modeling

  • 3D Mapping

  • Roadway Assessment

  • Traffic Studies and Analysis

  • Bridge and culvert inspections

  • Inspection of existing building structures

  • Construction Inspection

  • Project observation and updates

  • Streambank and steep slope access

  • Georeferenced Aerial imaging

  • GIS/Mapping Applications

  • ALTA Surveys

  • Urban Planning

Our UAS Program

After flying a number of missions in 2021 and building on our experience throughout 2022, the use of a drone has become a dependable tool for many of our departments including traffic and safety, site and facility development, and particularly our survey department who uses it primarily for mapping services. At DGL we have implemented a pilot program to train key employees in various departments on the use of drones to bring a fresh perspective on their use and increase the overall value to our clients. Not only will the program encourage the skills necessary for individuals to earn their FAA license, but it will provide an internal network to maintain compliance with the ever-evolving rules and regulations pertaining to UAS.

Our team of Professional Surveyors and a Licensed Pilot has given presentations at the Ohio Transportation Engineering Conference (OTEC) and the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) workshops regarding the use of UAS in comparison to conventional surveying methods for the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry. They discussed DGL’s case study wherein conventional, scanning, and UAS survey methods were compared. The presentation also included the pros and cons of various survey methods.

Our Philosophy

We have found that it’s more time and cost-effective for an established surveyor, engineer, or inspector to become an FAA licensed drone pilot than for a drone pilot to become a surveyor, engineer, or inspector. Further, we believe there is a greater impact on the projects and clients we serve for industry professionals to conduct the drone flights to help ensure that the necessary standards and client objectives are met. In the majority of cases, building on the training, education and practical experience of our professionals creates greater value for our clients and that is why we have been working to develop a program that continues to offer our clients the best service possible.