cording to Reid, was the backwards flight through the building. To accomplish this shot, Reid and his father had to work together, first planning the correct site lines, then giving audible feedback as the shot progressed. It was this creativity in blending short technical maneuvers with long creative shots that impressed judge Vincent Haldy during the judging process. Judge Will Anderson also took note of this ability, calling it, “seamless.” In addition to demonstrating breathtaking skill and control in shooting the video, Hu’s entry demonstrated the power of drones to highlight the humanity and necessity of engineering projects. Panelist Caitlin Burke noted Hu’s storytelling ability, saying that the video has the ability to “inspire young people, and women, to enter the industry or become drone pilots.” “After the Mudslide” certainly stands as a testament to the multiplicity of uses for drones within the AEC industry. While drones and other UAVs are capable of performing complex and intense tasks that are vital to sectors such as infrastructure and agriculture, they are, at the same time, capable of revealing a very human element that is often lacking in discussions of projects within the AEC industry. Reid Hu’s video and capacity for storytelling offer a glimpse of the power for drones to open a new pathway into the industry. Watch the winning video and visit Reid's website if you are interested in working with him to create a video of your own project.
a powerful final video. This technical skill is evident in numerous places throughout the video, but perhaps nowhere better than when the drone is flown backwards through the beams of the house. Reid credits his use of FPV drones for this ability to navigate tight spaces and create stunning shots. FPV in this instance means First Person View, meaning Reid’s drone has a small camera mounted on the front. This small camera transmits real time images to the drone operator, giving them direct control of the flight. This also means that FPV drones, according to regulations, cannot be operated without hav- ing another pair of eyes on the drone. For this video, Reid employed his father as the visual observer. Their work on this project consisted of first planning the video. This ensures not only clean, effective shots, but also the safety and security of everyone working on the project. According to Reid, after the planning was done, he “went for it.” Although several shots took multiple attempts, the most difficult, ac -
LUKE CAROTHERS is the Editor for Civil + Structural Engineer Media. If you want us to cover your project or want to feature your own article, he can be reached at lcarothers@zweiggroup.com.
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july 2021
csengineermag.com
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