Carrying out topographical surveys of hospitals, schools, water and sewage treatment plants with a drone is every bit as accurate as RTK GPS but it delivers a much richer and more quality assured data set to the client, all at a significantly lower price. For example, recently Baseline Surveys was awarded a contract to survey five schools by the Department of Education and Skills. The schools were in Blarney, Lismore, Cahir, Newtown and Waterpark in Waterford city. The contract required a topographic survey, a GPR survey on all underground services and a CCTV survey report to be provided. Baseline Survey's price was significantly lower than its competitors due to using its “Egret” drone to carry out the topographical survey part of the contract. For example, one of the schools, measuring over 30 acres with very detailed topography, was surveyed in less than ten minutes from the air. Co-ordinating and managing the GPR and CCTV subcontractors was a much easier task because all five sites were surveyed using a drone. For each sub-contractor specific maps were prepared showing services so that they could carry out their work. Traditionally surveyors would have had to wait to until they had completed each survey before the GPR or CCTV could commence. Another big time saving factor was that there was no need to return to site to provide extra survey information, which was beyond the original specification, and was required by the design team. With the drone, every square inch of each of the five sites was surveyed, so a lot of information was readily available which could be quickly supplied, such as cable stay positions, pipe outlets, electrical poles, heights, fence lines, heights of hedges and more. The deliverables were far more intuitive to read, as both the topographic and GPR surveys could be directly overlaid onto the aerial imagery in CAD. Further information on Baseline Surveys is available here. Alternatively, you can phone Paudie Barry on 086 2535285, or email him at paudie@baselinesurveys.ie