In this informative video, Angela Livingston from Pape-Dawson Engineers, a leading firm in civil engineering and LiDAR services, shares her extensive experience and insights. Pape-Dawson Engineers has been around for over 50 years, expanding their operations across various locations in Texas and Florida. Angela, with a strong background in photogrammetry, LiDAR, and GIS, explains how the company has integrated LiDAR technology into their workflows to enhance efficiency and accuracy in land development projects. The company now utilizes multiple UAVs and LiDAR scanners, including the Phoenix Recon XP, Ranger VUX, and Ranger Ultra, to cater to diverse project needs.
Angela dives into the decision-making process behind choosing specific LiDAR systems based on factors such as vegetation, site size, and project requirements. She explains the strategic use of both drones and helicopters for LiDAR data acquisition, depending on the project’s scope and environmental conditions. This flexibility allows Pape-Dawson to efficiently handle larger projects, such as wastewater treatment plant expansions, and significantly reduce time and costs compared to traditional terrestrial scanning methods. Angela emphasizes the importance of selecting the right tool for the job to achieve the best results.
The video also covers the crucial aspect of standardized workflows and data processing techniques that Pape-Dawson employs. Angela highlights how having a well-defined process ensures high-quality and accurate deliverables for engineering projects. She explains their method of using Phoenix’s Spatial Explorer and Inertial Explorer for navigation processing, followed by Terra Solid and MicroStation for point cloud fusion and feature extraction. This meticulous approach allows Pape-Dawson to maintain consistency and reliability in their data outputs, which is essential for supporting their engineers’ work.
Towards the end of the video, Angela expresses her appreciation for the support and collaboration with Phoenix LiDAR Systems, noting how their responsiveness to feedback has led to hardware and software improvements. She encourages viewers to reach out to her via email for advice on project collection and sensor selection. Angela’s expertise and willingness to share her experiences provide a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their engineering projects with advanced LiDAR technology. For those interested, Angela can be contacted through Pape-Dawson’s website or directly via email.
