Air Space and Subsurface Analysis Survey - UAV Technology Mapping for Airport Obstructions
By Cyn Whitfield, Senior Marketing Specialist
Airport owners and operators are fast seeing the advantages identifying vegetation in their airspace using non-intrusive mobile LiDAR and UAV photogrammetry. This proactive measure helps to optimize the flight approach minimum altitudes and enhances visual operations from the tower by identifying the need for tree topping or removal that otherwise could impair operations.
Airport obstructions are any structure, object of natural growth, existing condition, or use of land, which obstructs the airspace required for the flight of aircraft in landing or taking off at an airport or which otherwise increases the risk of danger to aircraft operations. LiDAR directly measures the height and density of vegetation making it an ideal tool for airports to monitor glide slope elevations at the end of runways in a data-centric environment.
This fall, TREKK used airborne photogrammetry mounted on a UAV to fly in and around the Nevada Municipal Airport (KNVD) serving southwest Missouri. This technology allowed for efficient surveying to spatially reference the location and elevation of the tops of the trees and overgrowth within runway glide slopes without disruption to 24/7 airport operations. This provided airport managers and engineers with a rehabilitation profile of current and possible future clearance issues 499 feet above ground level (AGL) in a measurable drawing to identify obstructions.
Detailed analysis is important for maintenance adhering to state licensing requirements compliant with FAR Part 77, which allows the FAA to identify potential. aeronautical hazards in advance thus preventing or minimizing the adverse impacts to the safe and efficient. use of navigable airspace. Corrective actions and planning lead to larger approach areas and an enhanced ability to detail what constitutes an obstruction, keeping approaches clear of vegetation.
“Our staff understand the safety and security requirements of agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration,” said TREKK’s Survey Service Lead, Michael Klasing. “TREKK team members also have appropriate safety credentials that allow us to perform the work without disruption to airport operations.”
TREKK has provided traditional topographic and mobile LiDAR survey, civil/site design, and construction inspection on a number of aviation projects around the region. This work has included both airside and landside features such as ground service equipment storage and hangars, deicing facilities and runways and aprons for rehabilitation, expansion and pavement analysis.