DronesPlay a Key Role in Civil Engineering: Showcasing how Drones Boost Coastal Area Protection and Conservation by Taylor Engineering
Taylor Engineering Embraces Drones for Civil Engineering Projects
Taylor Engineering, a civil engineering firm based in Jacksonville, Florida, has been leveraging drone technology to revolutionize its approach to various projects since 2017. The firm's drone program, founded by William Warren, Staff Geologist and Remote Sensing Practice Area Leader, focuses primarily on civil engineering projects related to the water environment.
William Warren, the first Part 107-certified pilot on Taylor Engineering's payroll, leads the drone program. The firm's fleet consists solely of the DJI Phantom 4 Pro drones.
One of the key projects that benefited from this innovative approach is the DU-2 Offloading Project. Drones were instrumental in providing clear updates on the project's progress to the client, the Florida Inland Navigation District. They also helped monitor the contractor's offloading progress and document pre- and post-offloading site conditions. Aerial images were used to create orthomosaics with Ground Control Points (GCPs) to monitor the volume of material removed from the site.
Another significant project is the Fort Pierce Truck Haul Shore Protection Project, aimed at protecting the shoreline in Fort Pierce, Florida. Drones provided progress aerials for the project, which were used internally and for marketing materials. The St. Lucie County Erosion District was the client for this project.
Beyond these projects, Taylor Engineering's drones serve four major purposes: progress and monitoring, site mapping, topographic maps and stockpile volumetry, and marketing.
The role of drones in civil engineering extends beyond construction and the cases mentioned in Taylor Engineering's case studies. They are valuable tools in transportation and infrastructure surveying, bridge inspections, traffic studies and corridor analysis, topographical and site mapping for various projects, safety and hazard monitoring in civil works, lifecycle infrastructure monitoring with IoT integration, facilities management and asset modernization, indoor inspections and concrete repair applications, remote and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, and more.
One such case study is the Norriego Point Restoration Project, demonstrating the versatility of drones in Taylor Engineering's work. The firm has also established a Remote Sensing Practice Area for training remote pilots.
As drone technology continues to evolve, Taylor Engineering is poised to capitalize on its potential, enhancing safety, efficiency, data accuracy, and project management across the infrastructure lifecycle.
References: [1] DroneBelow. (2020). How Drones are Revolutionizing Civil Engineering. Retrieved from https://dronebelow.com/2020/02/17/how-drones-are-revolutionizing-civil-engineering/
[2] DroneDeploy. (n.d.). Drones in Civil Engineering. Retrieved from https://www.dronedeploy.com/resources/drones-civil-engineering
[3] Drone Industry Insights. (2019). Civil Engineering Applications of Drones. Retrieved from https://www.drone-industry-insights.com/civil-engineering-applications-of-drones/
[4] DroneDeploy. (n.d.). Drones in Facilities Management. Retrieved from https://www.dronedeploy.com/resources/drones-facilities-management
[5] Drone Industry Insights. (2020). Beyond Construction: Emerging Drone Applications in Civil Engineering. Retrieved from https://www.drone-industry-insights.com/beyond-construction-emerging-drone-applications-in-civil-engineering/
- William Warren, a Part 107-certified pilot, leads Taylor Engineering's drone program, which focuses on civil engineering projects related to the water environment.
- The firm's fleet consists solely of DJI Phantom 4 Pro drones and has been instrumental in projects like the DU-2 Offloading Project and the Fort Pierce Truck Haul Shore Protection Project.
- Drones serve four major purposes at Taylor Engineering: progress and monitoring, site mapping, topographic maps and stockpile volumetry, and marketing.
- Beyond construction, drones are valuable tools in transportation and infrastructure surveying, bridge inspections, traffic studies, topographical and site mapping, safety and hazard monitoring, lifecycle infrastructure monitoring with IoT integration, facilities management, indoor inspections, remote operations, and more.
- The Norriego Point Restoration Project is one example of the versatility of drones in Taylor Engineering's work, and the company has also established a Remote Sensing Practice Area for training remote pilots.
- As drone technology continues to evolve, Taylor Engineering is poised to capitalize on its potential, enhancing safety, efficiency, data accuracy, and project management across the infrastructure lifecycle, including fields such as environmental science, technology, and gadgets.
