Join host Chris Breedlove as he welcomes back Calvin Rikard, public safety specialist at Duncan -Parnell and former South Carolina Highway Patrol collision reconstruction expert, for a critical discussion about ground control points (GCPs) in drone surveying and documentation.

What You'll Learn:
✅ The shocking reality of how inaccurate drone data can be WITHOUT ground control points
✅ Real case studies from major incident investigations (including a train crash and fatal collision)
✅ The difference between ground control points and check points
✅ Best practices for GCP placement and collection
✅ Why the "3x accuracy rule" matters for your final deliverables

https://www.duncan-parnell.com/public-safety/public-safety-solutions

Ever wondered how drones are transforming the way we inspect bridges?
In this episode of Your Drone Questions Answered, host Chris Breedlove sits down with Dr. Joe Burgett from Clemson University to explore the role of drone technology in bridge inspection.

What You'll Learn:

✅ Why bridge inspections are federally mandated and critical for public safety
✅ The difference between routine inspections and detailed inspections
✅ How drones eliminate the need for dangerous "Snooper trucks" and keep inspectors safe
✅ Two different approaches: expensive enterprise drones vs. multiple affordable units
✅ Real challenges of flying under bridges (GPS loss, wind, wildlife, fishing lines!)
✅ The future of digital twins for comprehensive bridge documentation
✅ How South Carolina DOT trained their entire bridge inspection team

Connect with Joe:

Joe's Bio: https://www.clemson.edu/caac/about/facultybio.html?id=1805

SCiDUC: https://www.sciduc.org/

Join host Chris Breedlove as he explores how drones are revolutionizing coastal environmental monitoring in Maine with Will Kochitzky, Assistant Professor at the University of New England.

Key Topics Covered:

• Centimeter-scale mapping accuracy for coastal change detection
• Pre and post-storm documentation for FEMA applications
• Maine's proactive sea level rise legislation (1.5 feet by 2050, 3.9 feet by 2100)
• Equipment recommendations: DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise with RTK for photogrammetry
• Inspired Flight 1200A with YellowScan Mapper for LiDAR applications
• Seasonal monitoring strategies to capture winter storm impacts
• The importance of relative vs. absolute accuracy in environmental monitoring

Episode Links:
https://www.une.edu/people/will-kochtitzky

https://iceandclimate.org/media/

https://www.une.edu/magazine/2024-edition/mapping-and-revitalizing-maines-coastline