Heights 2025 Archives
Ready, Set, Modernize
The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is modernizing the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) in the United States. The modernization involves significant updates to the official reference frames and vertical datum used across the country, affecting the entire geospatial industry. The ASPRS NSRS Modernization Working Group prepared this article to help prepare the geospatial industry for the upcoming changes.
A Green Light for Shoreline Mapping
Capturing the four distinct elements of shorelines and coastlines often entails using two, three, or more separate systems. Zones of offshore, nearshore, the shoreline, and uplands, captured with separate systems, are stitched together—not always seamlessly. The zones represent a single ecosystem, and the latest approach captures it with one system.
Fresh Specs That Are Lifting the UAV Game
The latest UAV technologies released in the first quarter of this year seem to be bucking the trend of white-washed main frames and disappearing control buttons commonly seen in the last five years. Instead, the current crop of drones is gaining more advanced robotic payloads, as well as imbibing unconventional shapes that allow for better functions.
Micro-Drones Moving into Commercial Operations
Micro-drones, those that weigh less than 250 grams, are popular with recreational UAV flyers for several reasons. They are relatively inexpensive, with models starting at under $500. Additionally, the 249-gram-and-under category requires no FAA registration, nor do they fall under the remote ID (RID) regulation.
Now, with the aid of sophisticated flight planning and automated control software, micro-drones are tackling commercial operations such as construction monitoring.