UAV Survey and Mapping Company Obtains 3.3-Mile Approval on DoD Project

Censys Technologies obtained Beyond Visual Line of Sight approval for Architecture, Engineering, Constructions, Operations, and Management (AECOM), maintaining the company's 100% BVLOS waiver approval rate.

The infrastructure consulting firm aids designers, engineers, environmentalists, and construction specialists in their efforts to map and survey projects in the making. Their record of approval is vital to keeping  timeframes and schedules as planned, important considerations in construction when projects involve a litany of moving parts to maintain an efficient building pace. 

The Censys AECOM team plans to use their newest waiver for a wide area mapping project for a Department of Defense project over a nearly 20 square mile plot of terrain. The waiver's approval allows the remote pilot-in-command to fly within a 3.3 mile radius during the job, which the company says will enhance the  per-flight ROI by 700%. Without BVLOS permission, the pilot would be required to stay within 1.25 miles of the drone at all times, requiring a greater frequency of repositioning, travel, and unneeded stops. 

"With each approval, our waiver team becomes more confident about writing complex waivers," said Matt Nanney, remote sensing manager in AECOM. "In terms of waivers, 2021 is the tip of the iceberg for us." Censys CTO and waiver specialist John Lobdell said the waiver required highly specific expertise in drafting the request. "This approved waiver pushes the boundaries," said Lobdell. "It gives the RPIC more mission capability in a large area compared to other waivers we have gotten approved." 

FMI: www.censystech.com