uav + surveying
completed six-level parking deck, completed stores, and living spac- es,” said Thomas Wilson, director of Drone Operations and creative specialist for Aerial Buzz and the UAV pilot for the winning video.
Here at Civil + Structural Engineer magazine it has been amazing to witness how quickly UAV and drone applications have become integrated into the AEC industry, with many firms either hiring or partnering with FAA-certified pilots and video production teams to produce dynamic marketing materials, document project phases, and create 3D models. The amount of interest and content related to UAV has grown so fast that we created a focused section of our website and print magazine on the topic (www.csengineermag.com/category/uav- surveying/). A drone video contest was the perfect excuse for us to get a look at some of the work that our industry is doing. So we created the Engi- neering Drone Video of the Year Award (EDVY). The stakes were high with a $500.00 prize for the winner of the award. And it came as no surprise the level of quality of all the submissions. Aerial Buzz, a division of Spiracle Media (www.spiraclebuzz.com) based out of Charlotte, N.C., claimed the award with their dynamically produced video packed with a variety of aerial angles overlooking the features of the Atherton Mill site. Aerial Buzz worked with Engineer- ing Consulting Services (ECS) to document and produce the video. “It is unique to work with a firm that is trying to maintain the character of the property while adding to a vibrant part of the city. I thoroughly enjoyed flying around the tall brick South End chimney and classic railroad line. My favorite part has been watching the property grow from the bare ground, to columns and structures in place, to finally a 2018 ENGINEERING DRONE VIDEO OF THE YEAR AWARD The winner and finalists of the first annual Engineering Drone video of the year award give their thoughts on the rapidly changing UAV industry By Donovan Brigham
The changes I've seen We had a chance to ask Wilson and the other finalists how the industry has changed since they first became involved and where they think it will be in the next five years. “I started in April 2012 with a Phantom 2 with a three-axis gimbal and a Go Pro camera. Fast forward eight versions later and I’m fly- ing a Phantom 4 Pro. Since 2014, DJI has manufactured three types of Inspires, three types of Mavics, two types of Matrices, the Spark, and most recently, the Mavic Air. The drone field is certainly saturated when it comes to drones available for purchase,” said Wilson. ERO Architects began using aerial drone videos over three years ago. “We bought the equipment to highlight the construction status of our buildings as they go through each phase of their progress until they are completed for the final owner to move in. We have seen more videos produced now with aerial drone shot perspectives. They are becoming as common as a shot with a camera on a tripod,” said Brian Godinez, principal and chief marketing officer for EROArchitects.
The next five years There is agreement among the finalists that Federal AviationAdministra- tion (FAA) regulations will be changing. “There is a big push to get the FAA to be less strict on flights over people and to allow flights beyond
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csengineermag.com
may 2018
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