(Photo above courtesy of Real Geographics)
Local business-to-business technical services company Real Geographics has been granted FAA 333 exemption #14341 to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for commercial purposes in the public airspace. The company is adding the powerful capabilities of UAV-based mapping to its 12-year practice of technical consulting in geographic information systems.
“After two years of preparation, we’re very happy to be able to provide aerial film, photography, and advanced UAS mapping capabilities in a legal and safe way. A lot of industries are becoming familiar with what UAVs can do for them, but end up stumped without the proper FAA authorization,” said Justin Healy, GIS Manager, owner of Real Geographics.
“With our 333 exemption in place we can finally give our clients access to the incredible value of UAS without the potential legal or liability concerns that come with an unauthorized commercial operator.”
Low-elevation aerial mapping and data collection is a new trend in engineering, planning, and environmental science, and in industries as varied as video games, insurance, and law enforcement. Applications include reality capture, terrain modeling, volume measurements and orthophotography.
While more traditional methods of aerial data collection are appropriate for very large areas, UAV mapping is practical for as few as 20 acres and allows coverage of over 500 acres per day with a single aircraft. UAVs also enjoy advantages of rapid deployment, short turn-around times, and unique operational abilities in places where traditional aircraft are restricted.
Real Geographics was founded in 2003 by Justin Healy, a GIS professional with over 16 years of experience in spatial data collection, analysis, and display. The company serves planners, engineers, and environmental scientists with GIS technical support, project management, and custom data collection. The company also partners with local aerial cinematographers and photographers to offer professional video and photographic documentation services.
