All posts by Juan B. Plaza
Mapping the Surface of the Ocean?
It is crucial that we keep accurate maps of the ocean’s shorelines, but when my company got a request to map the ocean’s surface 50 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico, my initial reaction was: Why? Isn’t the ocean just the ocean that far out? There aren’t any geographic features or elevation changes. It’s...
Drones in Construction
For decades the construction industry didn’t change much-and then UAV technologies came along Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones, as they are commonly called, are mostly electric-powered aircraft, which do not require a pilot onboard and are used to perform tasks that are either too dangerous for humans to do or too expensive with other...
Digital Twins Concept in a World Ruled by GIS
Digital twins bring together elements of the geospatial professions, resulting in smart cities of the future The concept of digital twins is not new in manufacturing and mechanical processes that can be monitored and, if necessary, rectified. But what is a digital twin? A digital twin is a computer-generated exact replica of a physical object...
2022 and the Promise of Expanded UAV Operations
What needs to happen over the next 12 months for the promise of flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) to become a reality? Well, actually, quite a lot. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) needs to relax the rules for unmanned aviation and the industry needs to prove that current technology, such as detect and...
Affordable GNSS: Post-Processing Kinematic in the Cloud
In 1990 I had the privilege to work with a group of pioneers in Canada in the early development of land surveying techniques using a revolutionary new technology known as global positioning system or GPS. Back then, there was only a handful of satellites and the availability of a workable constellation that would allow for...
Riegl Officially Opens New Headquarters
On November 18th and under a persistent Florida drizzle, Dr. Johannes Riegl cut the ribbon that officially opened their new North American headquarters for business. Attended by over 150 people, Dr. Riegl and his son Johannes Riegl Jr., presided over a well-orchestrated and masterfully executed opening gala at the new Winter Garden, FL location. The...
