​The kind of construction we're seeing post-COVID-19 looks very different from pre-pandemic construction; delays in supplies, staff shortages, and designing for a post-pandemic world have all left their mark. But one area of construction that can be altered to fit the needs of the community is the construction of assisted living communities. COVID-19 has been particularly harmful for some of the most vulnerable people in our society, especially seniors and other members of assisted living facilities, and our construction practices can and must reflect what we've learned about fostering safer environments.

What will post-COVID-19 construction of assisted living communities look like, and how can assisted living projects change to create safer and more functional environments? In this article, we'll explore the future of these vital communities. While civil engineers can’t easily address many of the issues that have affected assisted living communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, what they can do is consider what design features can be put in place to make assisted living communities safer.

1. Assisted Living Communities Should Be Easily Accessible for Vehicles and People.
Designing and building effective transport networks, including roads suitable for heavy goods vehicles, means assisted living communities are more easily able to:

• Transfer critically ill patients to hospitals when appropriate.
• Receive shipments of PPE and other supplies.
• Allow families to safely visit or take residents home when appropriate.
  
  

Creating safe ways to receive goods that minimize infection spread could be critical, too. Parking facilities that allow people to exit their cars while maintaining a suitable distance from other visitors or staff may also help.

2. Safer Walkways Inside and Out
We have learned much about the importance of social distancing to protect against the transmission of COVID-19 and other illnesses. It makes sense, then, to create spaces that allow them to walk down corridors or along pathways without having to squeeze past other residents, visitors, or staff. This may mean that  design teams have to consider revising designs that use narrow corridors to save space or that fail to prioritize safe, outdoor connections between buildings.

3. Creating Communities 
Keeping seniors safe doesn’t mean isolating them further. In fact, that only compounds the problem, as the impact of loneliness and isolation on mental health cannot be overstated. An alternative to this is to create communities of small campuses that are all connected safely — a type of senior village where residents can come together when it’s safe to do so, but return to comfortable, distanced, and safe lodgings whenever they need or want to. This model would move away from shared rooms in a traditional nursing home-style building to a series of small neighborhoods connected to decentralized dining hubs, healthcare centers, and other essentials and utilities.

4. Embracing Alternative Materials
Designers of assisted-living communities can also consider moving away from traditional construction materials to those that are easier to clean or are naturally resistant to pathogens such as viruses. Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that the virus responsible for COVID-19 can survive for up to three days on stainless steel and plastic. On alternative surfaces, such as copper, the virus dies after four hours. Copper, bronze, and brass have natural antimicrobial properties, helping limit not only the spread of coronaviruses but other potentially dangerous pathogens such as E. coli. Other options include antimicrobial paints and coatings for repeated touch points such as door handles. These finishes create surfaces so abrasive at a microscopic level that they literally rip pathogens apart.

Of course, civil engineers and architects have to consider cost and weight when looking at alternative materials. Hopefully, as research continues into the best ways of making living areas more resilient to infection, more alternatives will become available for anyone designing and planning assisted living communities. In the meantime, civil engineers can take the time to look at the reasons viral infection was so prevalent within senior living communities. In doing so, they can create life-saving solutions for new assisted living neighborhoods to ensure those issues aren’t replicated in the future.

Consult Engineering Surveys & Services for more information on the transforming world of post-COVID-19 construction for assisted living and beyond.

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Image Credits: Freepik @Creative Commons

​Sustainability is no longer a buzzword, but a serious consideration across a broad spectrum of industries — including construction and civil engineering. Sustainable site planning and sustainable design of projects is a major concern for many civil engineers, with a good number of them leading the charge when it comes to breaking ties with the traditional.

Current challenges include the conservation of local wildlife or protected species of plants, making buildings or communities healthier, and rendering towns and cities viable for all citizens — not just those who drive cars. So, how exactly are our forward-thinking civil engineering teams embracing sustainable design as we move into the future? Let’s explore five trends in sustainable site planning that will only continue to grow.

1. Sustainable Site Selection
Sustainable site planning starts with a site selection process that’s kind to the environment, the local community, and everyone who is going to work on the site. Ensure that construction won’t encroach on protected areas. Check for large bodies of water and decide if it will be safe and sustainable to provide buffers for these, or if the potential environmental impact of dealing with these will be too high. Avoid building across green fields, which may be hot spots for biodiversity. Also, consider the transport links. While people are working on-site, how easy will it be for them to get there, and are there green options for transport available? Sustainably-minded civil engineers start by choosing a site that’s going to ensure their project has a low carbon footprint while providing the necessary benefits to the local community.

2. Alternate Mobility Community Planning
Streets are no longer just for cars. They’re for whole communities, and modern civil engineering teams are taking that into account when community planning or creating utilities for towns and cities. Planning concepts like Complete Streets encourage the thought process that pedestrians, joggers, cyclists, and people with a range of physical abilities all have the same right to enjoy their living space as those with cars.

This way of thinking has led to a focus on safety, including the introduction of safer, narrower roads with better crossing facilities. Accessibility is also increasing, with lower curbs often installed as standard, plus additions like tactile paving slabs to indicate crossing areas. Civil engineers are also including more footpaths to access green spaces such as parks and gardens. Encouraging people to leave the car at home is healthy not only on an individual level but for the local and wider community, too.

3. Focus on Green Spaces
Civil engineers might work with conservationists and landscapers from an early stage in projects, in order to either create or preserve green spaces around buildings and communities. Not only are green spaces attractive and great for the mental health of residents and workers, but they improve air quality and can even improve water quality by preventing the excessive runoff of chemicals into local water supplies. In some states, walking or cycling trails purposefully combine rural and city areas in an attempt to highlight and maximize the use of local green space.

4. Low-Waste Projects
One way that developers and design teams are leading the charge in sustainable design is by planning carefully to ensure the effective use of resources. This doesn’t just mean the construction materials, although that is a serious consideration. For example, ensuring wood comes from managed forests is a way to make sure the project has a lower carbon footprint. But other considerations include the use of water and power, how workers will travel to the construction site, and the logistics of transporting materials. Civil engineers may also consider construction methods and the vehicles or equipment the construction teams will use throughout. Mindful planning of the whole project can keep waste to a minimum and create less potential pollution.

5. Designing “Healthy” Buildings
Research in neuroscience shows that everyone is affected by the buildings they live and work in. Mass urbanization has led to a scarcity of variance in modern construction and design, which may lead to declining mental health when residents or employees don’t have rural areas to spend time in. Mental health is a serious concern that’s starting to be taken more seriously, even in the world of design professionals. It’s possible to start thinking about buildings that are not only ideally suited to their purpose, but to the people who live and work in them. Techniques to improve mental health may involve the right acoustic insulation in busy or noisy areas, plenty of natural light through the effective placement of windows and skylights, and variation in aesthetics both inside and outside buildings to keep minds stimulated.

As the world continues to change, sustainability in civil engineering will become even more evident and innovative. Design in construction and infrastructure is an industry with a huge environmental impact, so civil engineers who work toward making it more sustainable are potentially changing the world — for the better. Contact Engineering Surveys and Services for more information or a consultation.


Image Credits: Unsplash @Creative Commons

As civil engineers and community planners see an increasing shift away from siloed suburbs towards livable, walkable communities with a strong sense of cohesion and identity, they are presented with the challenge -- and opportunity -- to embrace new strategies in community planning and zoning. In this article, we'll explore seven strategies for combating urban sprawl and creating modern communities that work for businesses and residents alike. 

1. Interconnected Shared-Use Trails
Multi-use trails are a critical part of smart growth infrastructure to connect community spaces within and around the suburbs. Without an extensive trail system, residents must choose between walking or cycling on the road and driving.

Trail systems encourage walking, bicycling, and other environmentally friendly modes of transportation. They foster safe travel experiences by expanding the space between cars and other traffic.

In addition to a connected trail system, livable suburbs can implement one or more of these strategies to promote walkability:

• ​Improve sidewalks
• Plant trees near streets
• Add crosswalks and signals
• Reduce speed limits in suburban areas

2. ​Mixed-Use Development and Zoning
Urban sprawl can increase the distance between homes and commercial properties, making neighborhoods less walkable. Civil engineers can enhance the livability of communities by developing land for mixed use. Mixed-use development can take many forms, including:

• Live/work: Structures that combine residential spaces with commercial or manufacturing spaces.
• Main street commercial: A revitalized downtown with retail, residential, food and beverage, and civic areas in a walkable format.
• Historic urban: Converted or retrofitted buildings that offer ground-floor commercial and upper-floor residential opportunities.
• Lifestyle center: Commercial shopping centers that house services and food and beverage locations near residential areas.
• Vertical: New structures that include upper-floor housing and ground-floor commercial locations.
• Horizontal: Interconnected structures that incorporate both commercial stores and housing.
• Complete neighborhood: A compact, planned neighborhood that positions many or all daily needs within walking distance of homes.
  
  

The specific features vary, but all of these mixed-use strategies seek to combine commercial and residential properties. Easy access to community centers, shopping opportunities, and other spaces create a more convenient walking experience.

Unfortunately, zoning issues often limit the ability of civil engineers to implement these strategies. Federal policies, local regulations, and other restrictions may need to be discussed and worked around before you can plan a mixed-use development. Partner with consulting engineers, like our team at Engineering Surveys & Services, to navigate these regulations.

3. Distinctive Community Features
Every community needs an identity to give its members a sense of pride and cohesion. Modern community planning will seek to highlight and celebrate existing community features, or create a sense of shared identity and culture in new developments. 

In some instances, distinct community features are shared by every property in a suburb; in others, various properties are tied together by a single structure or other distinctive feature. For example, a particular architectural style can turn a group of buildings into an iconic neighborhood, but so can a central, iconic commercial building.

Consider restoring historic buildings or looking for unique cultural or ecological features as the cornerstone of your suburb development. Revive or create an identity for a community to encourage new residents and new companies to move into the area.

4. Sustainable Transportation Options
Pedestrian-friendly suburbs offer opportunities to enjoy local parks, restaurants, and other amenities. To create a livable suburb, however, you need to connect this microcosm with the greater community.

Public transit is an opportunity to connect suburbs with each other and the downtown area. Quality public transportation includes these features:

• Affordable fares
• Timely transportation
• Convenient stops
• Accessible designs
  
  

Cars discourage communal travel. Accessible public transportation encourages eco-friendly solutions and gives non-drivers an opportunity to travel safely and efficiently.
Underground subway routes may not be a practical public transportation option for your specific suburb, but consider a bus or tram service. Hybrid and electric transportation continues to reduce the amount of fossil fuels used to operate a public transit route.

5. Predictable and Equitable Development
Development needs to be predictable and equitable to reach all community members. Look for ways to avoid excluding members of your planned suburb or suburb development project, particularly those who are at-risk or already affected by accessibility issues. For example, a historic urban structure may not have the ramps, elevators, and interior dimensions required for ADA accessibility, so you must incorporate these features into the development process.

Smart-growth community planning solutions must be carefully weighed in light of many different groups. Consider how to create an accessible neighborhood for all individuals of all abilities.

This can include features like wheelchair access to all community spaces and equitable development across income levels. It can also include affordable transportation options for residents who don’t drive. Some developments are inequitable due to unequal amounts of air pollution, so part of the development strategy should be to reduce air pollution in disproportionately affected areas.

6. Participation in Planning
Even a perfectly designed community project won’t succeed unless it’s accepted by those living in the suburb. Don’t move forward with a civil engineering project until you’ve allowed residents to weigh in and participate in planning the development.

Invest heavily in participation from local community members. A beautiful park, stunning apartment complex, or mixed commercial street needs to be designed with a specific community’s goals and vision in mind. Otherwise, it may not be used or may not be the best development opportunity.

7. Incorporate Land Features
Identify unique ecological features early on in your development process. Land features can help promote a community identity on their own or alongside historic structures.

In the past, swampland, woodland, fields, and other land features were quickly removed to make additional space. The result of removing these features was often urban sprawl and limited walkability.

Instead, consider incorporating more biodiversity and natural habitat in your suburb. This includes green spaces, but also rivers, streams, and other water features.


Learn More About Livable Suburbs
A livable and walkable suburb is a nuanced yet worthwhile community planning goal. Contact Engineering Surveys & Services to discuss your goals in providing local residents and stakeholders with livable, walkable solutions for their existing neighborhood or planned development.


Image Credits: UnSplash @Creative Commons
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​Complete Streets is a community planning concept that moves away from developing roads primarily for cars and other vehicles. Adopters of the Complete Streets method accept that people of all ages and abilities use streets, including those who bike, walk, and wheel. That means taking a whole new approach to civil engineering and designing communities with streets that work for everyone.

How is this change in mindset affecting community planning and the civil engineers who work on designing and building modern communities? Here are five examples of how civil engineering might have to change to incorporate Complete Streets policies.

1. Balanced Infrastructure Design
Today’s civil engineering teams don’t need any additional expertise to take on Complete Streets-based projects. What they do need is to take a more balanced and fair approach to creating an infrastructure that works for everyone. That might mean adjusting the way they create utilities or involve extending and lowering curbs or designing roads with slow vehicle lanes.
An important change for many civil engineers is to engage with communities to find out what is important to them. That means listening to all members of the community, not just leaders and heads of local businesses, to ensure the consideration of everyone’s needs for safety, health, and wellbeing.

2. Developing Communities Around Safer Roads
One of the key reasons Complete Streets exists is to make roads safer for everyone — including vehicle drivers. Infrastructure that prioritizes vehicular transport may create a more hazardous environment for all members when combined with communities full of pedestrians and cyclists.
According to Smart Growth America, in a recent three-year period there were more fatal car and pedestrian collisions nationwide than in the previous three decades. Complete Streets policies in towns like Durham, NC and Pittsburgh, PA, have led to safer street design, safer crossing options, and safer ways to access public transport through better-designed bus stops.

3. Increased Accessibility
Older towns and cities were designed and built without a good understanding of people with varying abilities and mobility needs. Today’s towns must be accessible, and that means civil engineers working with communities to understand their needs.
Road diets reduce the number of vehicular lanes and increase walkways and safe crossings. Beyond this, crossing signals suitable for blind and deaf people, and tactile paving on crossing areas, can all help make towns and cities more accessible.

Designing a community to be accessible for the least able makes it accessible for everyone, for many years to come. Engineering Surveys & Services strives to  provide accessible solutions that are built into the infrastructure of the community, rather than tagged on as an afterthought.

4. Merging of Rural and City Areas
Several local municipalities adopted Complete Streets policies that have allowed them to make effective changes to increase safety, and also to make the city and the rural landscape more accessible. Engineering Surveys & Services worked closely with Columbia Public Works to develop Mid-block Pedestrian Crossings. Areas that potentially had dangerous pedestrian crossings were now safe locations that enabled pedestrians to cross streets safely and efficiently. 

Engineering Surveys & Services coordinated with MoDOT, the city of Columbia, and Columbia county to plan and design roadways to Battle High School. The roadway was widened and new signals were installed to ensure the safety of the students and to provide drivers with an optimal site for pedestrians near the school. 

In Texas, several local municipalities adopted Complete Streets policies that have allowed them to make effective changes to increase safety, and also to make the city and the rural landscape more accessible. One change in North Richland Hills was to tie the existing bike trail system into new cycle lanes within the city limits. The city roads became safer, and cyclists could integrate the city into their bike ride organically.

Similarly, in Fort Worth, civil engineers have created a hiking and biking trail that runs right out of the city, improving the opportunities for people to stay active while linking the town to the surrounding landscape. Community planning will no doubt include more concepts like this moving into the future.

5. Creating Connected Communities
In many towns and cities, it’s become the norm to connect areas via vehicular routes, leaving pedestrians and cyclists to make circuitous journeys to their destinations. Complete Streets works to connect important destinations such as schools, libraries, parks, and employment centers for all citizens — not just those who drive.

In Huntsville, AL, temporary safety projects demonstrated the potential benefits of Complete Streets policies. Prompted by unfortunate car crashes involving pedestrians, measures included giving the town a road diet and restoring those missing connections. New signals, lane changes, and a thorough engagement with the community helped transform Huntsville and make it safer for everyone.

Complete Streets isn’t without its challenges. As a concept, it takes away space for cars and other vehicles, which some in the community will always oppose. However, as community planning becomes more focused on people instead of business or budgets, expect Complete Streets policies to become the norm.

If you’d like more information about how Complete Streets is transforming civil engineering and community planning, get in touch with Engineering Surveys & Services (ES&S) today.


Image Credits: Unsplash @Creative Commons

​On Thursday, June 24, the African American Heritage Trail committee hosted a dedication ceremony honoring Clara Miles, the founder of the Miles Manor neighborhood. 

Clara Miles was an African-American woman and advocate for abolishing segregation in Columbia. Her dream of having equal rights for her family and the African-American community inspired the Columbia Fair Housing Ordinance, a law which prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, gender, and disability in the housing market. 

In 1959, the Miles Manor Subdivision was established and provided Black families with the opportunity of home ownership. This initiative made it significantly easier for African-Americans to find housing prior to and after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. Clara Miles partnered with Engineering Surveys & Services to design the neighborhood’s infrastructure. Together, they were able to bring their shared vision to life, which future generations have since benefitted from. 


History of Miles Manor

In the 1950s and 1960s, African-American families in Columbia, and across America, were having trouble finding quality housing. In an effort to find a solution for their community, a group of ten Black families got together to build their own neighborhood in Columbia. This initiative was led by Clara Miles, whose inspiration came when she saw a $75,000 house while on a drive with her husband. Miles could not buy this house, but instead found a 30 acre plot of land for $20,000. She and some friends pooled their money together and bought this land, which would later become the Miles Manor subdivision.

Miles faced multiple obstacles when trying to build the new neighborhood. In addition to a lack of interest from builders and loan agents, the land was next to the old Columbia Sewer Treatment plant and the families could only reach it via an access road. 

The group of Black families approached Jim Reed at Engineering Surveys & Services in hopes that he could help them develop the neighborhood. During a time when many people didn’t want to be associated with an initiative benefiting minorities, Jim Reed saw potential in the project. As a result, in the 1970s, six more families moved into the neighborhood. The population of Miles Manor then grew, and it slowly started to evolve into an established community. A grocery store was soon built nearby and the sewage treatment plant was removed from the area, making it more livable for residents.

Partnership with Engineering Surveys & Services

Jim Reed and Clara Miles shared the same belief that everyone should have equal access to quality housing, no matter their ethnicity or socioeconomic status. Engineering Surveys & Services worked in various stages of the building process throughout the 1960s. In total, they completed two subdivision plats, as well as designing roads, sewers, and water mains. They also provided bid and construction phase services to keep the project on track. 

The lasting impact of Miles Manor

Many of the families of Miles Manor’s original founders still live in the neighborhood. Their goal is to foster a thriving community for future generations. We are proud to have contributed to such an important project during a time of racial injustice. For more information, contact Engineering Surveys & Services today.

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​Image Credit: Picture from the event

Dennis Heckman, P.E is a licensed Professional Engineer with more than 30 years of Civil Engineering experience as the state bridge engineer, structural resource and project manager, structural designer, and construction engineer.

His skills include: 

• Big companies team leadership
• Management of large and complicated projects 
• Asset management
• Policy decisions
• Structural design
  
  

ORGANIZATIONS:

• AASHTO Committee on Bridges & Structures (past vice chair of T-3)
• Transportation Engineers Association of Missouri (past vice president)
• American Council of Engineering Comp. (fmr judge for Eng. Excel Award)

HONORS & ACTIVITIES: 

• Graduate of Leadership Missouri – Missouri Chamber of Commerce (2015) 
• University of Missouri Civil Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni 
• Participant in 26th US – Japan Bridge Engineering Workshop (Sept. 2010)

From highways and municipal buildings to bridges and airports, if you are planning a major construction project or site development, you will need to engage the services of the best engineering firm to be sure of the success of your project. But getting the best engineers for the job can be quite challenging if you don't know what to look for. Knowing how to sort through competing bids and companies eager to secure a contract to find the firm with the best combination of experience and expertise can make all the difference in bringing your project in on time, on budget, and on target with your plans. In this article, we’ll explore the top criteria to evaluate in choosing a civil engineering firm for your next project.


Do you need civil engineers?

Any project extending beyond minor interior renovations can require a professional civil engineer. Choosing an engineering firm is an essential step that greatly determines the outcomes of your project, from budgeting to design and solutions.

Civil engineers will help you accomplish these critical steps:

• Design a complete project that takes into account utilities, grading, roads, wastewater, and stormwater systems.
• Get the best knowledge concerning your project by working closely with other experts such as architects and contractors.
• Observe safety standards while sticking to your unique project goals and specifications.
• Obtain all the necessary approvals and permits from the relevant local, state, and federal authorities.
• Ensure compliance with all regulations, codes, and zoning ordinances.
• Assess, prevent and mitigate environmental issues, including water pollution, problem soils, as well as other critical issues such as watershed and ecosystem conservation.

To enjoy these and many more benefits of engaging civil engineers, you will need to pick and work with the best civil engineering firm for your project. Here are five qualities to help you identify the best civil engineering partner for your next project:


Working experience

Choose a civil engineering team that has put its knowledge and skills to the test in similar past projects. Theoretical understanding and the necessary certifications are important, but without practical skills honed through years of hands-on experience on the job, they are not enough.

Experience comes to the fore in many beneficial ways. A civil engineering firm with extensive experience is more likely to produce well-designed drawings and specifications compared to less experienced companies. This leads to more accurate bids from contractors, better communication among stakeholders, reduced total project cost and fewer changes along the way.


Responsiveness

This factor is a must-have for any engineering firm you want to partner with for complex, expensive projects with many moving parts. Look for a firm that will respond to your calls quickly, as the more involved a project is, the greater the likelihood that issues and unforeseen challenges will arise.

Responsiveness is essential for many reasons. Imagine if the zoning regulations were to change, or the contractor bails. If you can't get hold of your civil engineering partner on time, you will have to bite your nails as the project schedule begins to lag.

A highly responsive engineering firm also ensures transparency in the progress of your project. Such an engineering firm will provide regular updates on budget, design, and milestones in the course of the project, helping you to know that everything is on track.


Land use and regulation expertise

Your next project requires an engineering firm well-versed in land use and regulations. The firm should be familiar with the standards, codes, and review processes that regulate construction and land use in your area. Absent this knowledge, you may be liable to safety, zoning, and environmental violations which can prove costly for your company.

An engineering firm with land use and regulation expertise will help you avoid fines, punishments, and heavy losses. A deep working knowledge of these areas includes understanding protected ecosystems, wildlife, soil, wetlands and floodplain violations, and more, thus protecting you from major fines and the potential of negative publicity or damage to community relationships.


Their creativity

The best civil engineering firm for your next project should have a creative edge over other firms that enables them to combine technical know-how and innovative designs to produce out-of-the-box solutions.

A truly creative civil engineering firm can recognize and adhere to established practices while constantly looking for ways to improve. Working with a visionary firm that chooses the best proven, traditional solutions and enhances them with cutting-edge innovations can mean the difference between a mediocre outcome and a project that exceeds your expectations. 


Credentials and certifications

While it may seem obvious, it’s still important: your civil engineering team needs proper training, certification, and insurance for the job. It is perhaps the first factor you should look at before shortlisting the engineering firms that meet your requirements.

Always be sure your civil engineering partner holds the relevant permits, licenses, and any other credentials they need to operate legally and safely, and offer high-quality work. Request proof of the certifications and insurance, and check out reviews or references from their past clients.
 

Final word

Choosing the best civil engineering firm for your next project doesn't have to be a complicated affair if you know what to look for. Check out their credentials, responsiveness, and experience before you partner with them, and you’ll have the peace of mind that your project is in good hands. For more information, contact Engineering Surveys & Services today.  


Image Credit: Freepik @Creative Commons

​Drones are essentially unmanned aircraft, suitable for seeing places it could be tricky for humans to get eyes on without technological assistance. Technically known as UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), drones are rapidly becoming a tool of civil engineers and surveyors for a variety of reasons.

Various types of drones are in use in the construction industry. These range from multi-rotor drones, very familiar to most people, to fixed wing drones, which appear much sleeker and work more like a conventional airplane. Adding drone technology into your civil engineering toolbox could be a way to work faster and smarter — for better results.


Topographical Observation

Drones, particularly fixed wing drones, are ideal for mapping the topography of a large area. Drones can fly high enough to get a widespread view of an area, but can also descend much lower than conventional aircraft. This means they’re not necessarily affected by cloud cover, which can prevent an airplane or helicopter from taking effective footage or photos.

Aerial mapping with a drone does require a drone pilot with specialized knowledge, which is still much more cost effective than any type of conventional aircraft. Using a drone for aerial mapping is also faster and, if there’s an area you need more detail on, simple enough to repeat specific sections of mapping. Plus, drones can take aerial photos of such high quality that detailed 3D models of the terrain can be created using the data provided. This allows for an even better understanding of the land and how the project could fit into the existing landscape.


Miniaturized Scanning Equipment: LiDAR and More

LiDAR, short for Light Detection and Ranging, is a laser technology that’s fast being adopted in a variety of civil engineering projects. It allows for accurate and speedy measuring of distances on the project site, making it invaluable for surveying purposes. Drones can now be fitted with miniaturized LiDAR sensors, boosting their accuracy and overall usefulness as a surveying tool.

A drone is no longer limited to taking photos. It can provide detailed digital information including LiDAR, ultra-high definition video, or even thermal imaging. As sensors and scanning equipment are made lighter and require less power, the uses of a drone for scanning project sites will continue to increase.


Building Surveys

If your project site includes existing buildings of any type, it’s certain that you will require access to the roof to review if there are any defects or other concerns. Roof access can be a complicated matter. Even where roofs are perfectly safe and strong, they may be inaccessible, or it may simply be too time-consuming or costly to send multiple human surveyors up to gather data.

Drones for building surveying can take a range of aerial shots of buildings, allowing surveyors and civil engineers to collect rich data about the potential construction site without having to set foot in the building. Drones can be programmed to take automatic shots from a variety of angles, or from different altitudes, to help engineers understand exactly what’s going on with the building in question.


Increased Safety

Drones can access areas in which it may be unsafe to have foot traffic. As we’ve already seen, where existing buildings are in place, drones can access high rooftops or take a look at external walls or piping that would be difficult to access without highly specialized lifting equipment or scaffolds.

If there is an environmental concern, such as the risk of a toxic plant, or a possible air-pollution issue, a drone can enter the area and take necessary scans or video footage. This allows surveyors to complete their work as efficiently as possible, without ever putting anyone at risk.

Once construction starts, drones can also increase the safety of the site via remote monitoring, quickly capturing and recording construction progress, and providing detailed documentation of conditions, all while being operated from a safe location. 


Reducing Costs

From the previous points, it’s clear that by using drones to scan and survey sites, significant cost savings can be achieved...being able to access sites without expensive equipment or safety gear. The ability to  understand the conditions and topography of a site without hiring an airplane or helicopter also reduces the financial burden on a project.

InnoSurv is the key to implementing technology in civil engineering in such a way that everyone benefits. Drones are evolving and adapting quickly to the needs of the industry, and smart surveying services implement drones alongside a range of other methods for the best all-round results. Feel free to get in touch for more information on how drones and other technologies provide accuracy and efficiency you can count on.


Image Credit: Africa Surveyors News @Creative Commons

​Innovation has been the driving force of our business from the day of its inception. Building on our heritage of nearly 70 years as an active and engaged member of the greater Mid-Missouri community.

We want to thank all the clients, partners, colleagues or friends of Engineering Surveys & Services for helping make our 2021 open house celebration a great success!

We appreciate your support!

​Light Detection And Ranging, or LiDAR, is a technology for measuring distances by using a laser to reflect off of objects. LiDAR is increasingly finding application in civil engineering projects, as the technology is far more accurate and faster in determining distances between objects than human surveying teams walking across a project site.

How does LiDAR work?

Though not exactly new, as it made it to the surveying and engineering worlds in the mid to late 1990’s, you may not be entirely familiar with this versatile mapping technology which can be utilized while moving or from a stationary position. It uses drones or unmanned aerial vehicles, or remote sensing instruments mounted on ground-based platforms, to perform photogrammetry – collecting millions of elevation points in minutes. The data collected from the reflections of lasers compiles into several 3D environments such as images and point clouds, thus providing an accurate representation of objects in the area of concern and, if visible, areas within range of the detection device.

Civil engineers find numerous advantages from the use of LiDAR. The gathering of precise orthophotos and 3D representations by drones and remote sensing instruments mounted on the ground makes it possible for the critical spatial data for engineering projects to be ready in a matter of hours and not weeks! The gathering of stationary and terrestrial data is done by individual positions. These are tied together to get 100% of the area of concern to achieve an accuracy and precision of 1/16th to 1/8Th of an inch.

Here are some additional ways in which LiDAR is improving efficiency and accuracy in civil engineering projects:
​
Delivers accurate surveys

As a civil engineer with a focus on project effectiveness, you know that it is crucial to take a thorough and precise survey at the beginning of every construction project. LiDAR inspections can help you survey the terrain and any existing manmade features that will remain or be removed as you set up the project and determine if the land will need any leveling or alteration. The accuracy of plans for the project depends on the accuracy of this inspection.

LiDAR provides more precise representations of the terrain than traditional photogrammetric technology. That technology works by taking scans of multiple photographs and/or laser reflections, which it then stitches together using various algorithms that suit the accuracy and precision needed. This output, unlike traditional methods of data collection, will ensure all data is collected since LiDAR picks up everything. This eliminates the need for return trips to gain additional data or forgotten data.
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When this technology is used in projects during the construction process, money can be saved. Cost savings are accomplished when the amount of rework is reduced as installations of floors, beams, HVAC and MEP can be tracked. Shown below are actual savings on past projects illustrated by data captured during construction.

 
​Enhances safety at civil engineering projects

The safety of everyone working at the project site is paramount. You do not want any problems to arise during the project that could potentially harm people on or near the construction site. LiDAR can help you to spot potential safety issues such as ingress/egress, aerial lines, etc. When combined with drone technology, LiDAR can provide various types of 3D options along with precise measurements of all areas within or visibly surrounding the site in a short time so that you can analyze, detect, and most importantly eliminate potential hazards at the site.

The project site may be too big for humans to walk around, checking for faults, or the place may be too dangerous. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, more than 4,095 dams across the U.S. are of questionable safety and structural integrity, requiring the use of LiDAR technology to inspect them.

Helps in project simulation and analysis

Collecting LiDAR data enables you to create a realistic 3D projection of the terrain surrounding your construction project. The 3D representation is so accurate and real that you can use it to make a precise simulation of the construction project, fully integrated into the existing territory.
You can then test the project for such factors as how the sunlight will be shining down on it so you can determine window sizes, shape, and position. Consequently, LiDAR reduces the chances of rework in the project, which always is quite expensive. We have helped clients go from the traditional 8-10% rework costs of a project reduced to 1-2%!

Faster than human surveyors

LiDAR is faster than human surveyors. Having humans move from one end of the project to another can be quite time-consuming, especially if on massive engineering project such as dams, bridges, airports, or huge buildings for housing factories or large offices.

In just a few hours, the lasers would have done their part, presenting representations of the terrain
and the project in 3D. Humans would likely have taken weeks and sometimes months to complete a thorough inspection of the site. It also means that you can complete the project within the given timeline since the onsite survey time is reduced significantly when using LiDAR.

Helps in maintenance and repair of equipment on the project

LiDAR technology has also helped improve civil engineering projects' accuracy and efficiency by enhancing maintenance and repair activities at the construction site. LiDAR scans can come in handy when it is important to locate potential areas or systems that require repair. This includes high-risk areas, such as under a bridge or on high rooftops, where drones can safely capture footage for analysis.

You can also use LiDAR scans to gauge the progress of the project. Use the 3D images and simulations of the project's current state to compare them with the projected job progress to see if the project is still on track. They can also help you to identify any potential issues that may arise as the project progresses.

Since LiDAR is so much faster than other technologies, it is possible to employ this technology regularly or at every stage of the project. LiDAR technology helps civil engineers and other personnel at project and construction sites enhance the efficiency and accuracy of civil engineering projects. It is faster, more accurate, and helps improve safety, since you can send a laser beam where a man used to go!

​If you need more information about LiDAR or would like to explore how it might apply to your project, please contact us.