Drone capturing digital twin of highway for enterprise GIS integration

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Drone surveying a suburban development site for land use permitting
LiDAR Scanning
News Updates

May 9, 2025

How drones accelerate permitting for land development

Drone mapping is helping developers streamline due diligence, environmental studies, and planning approvals. With faster, more accurate site data, land development projects can move through permitting faster—reducing holding costs and giving teams a competitive edge. Introduction  Permitting is one of the most time-consuming phases in land development. Before a shovel hits the ground, developers must submit detailed site plans, topography, floodplain data, and environmental documentation. Traditional surveys can take weeks—delaying design and increasing costs. Drone-based mapping is changing that. With aerial data captured in hours and processed in days, teams gain a real-time view of the land and a head start on permitting deliverables. Delays in permitting often stem from missing or outdated data. Engineers may lack current elevation models, while planners need clear visuals to evaluate drainage or tree coverage. In many municipalities, permitting timelines are strict—but data quality determines how smoothly a plan is approved. Re-submissions or corrections can cost weeks. That’s where drone surveys shine: they provide high-resolution maps and models that feed directly into planning applications, engineering designs, and environmental reports. Drone workflows for land use and entitlement Modern drone platforms can generate orthomosaics, digital elevation models (DEM), and even tree counts using AI. These outputs are directly usable in planning workflows—from site feasibility and conceptual layout to preliminary engineering and environmental analysis. Data can be imported into AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or ArcGIS, enabling tight coordination across civil teams, architects, and planners. Benefits  With drone data, developers are reducing permit prep time by up to 40%. One Florida firm reported shaving three weeks off a subdivision application by submitting drone-based topography early. Agencies appreciate the clarity of aerial maps, and consultants get to design with better context. In addition, digital records from drones support future audits, adjustments, or plan revisions. Drone mapping is becoming a core tool for land developers looking to move faster and smarter. From site selection to permitting to final design, aerial surveys provide the clarity and accuracy needed to reduce risk and accelerate timelines. For any project on a deadline—or a budget—this is a strategic edge that’s hard to ignore.

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Commercial drone flying beyond visual range over infrastructure
News Updates
Inspection

May 9, 2025

New FAA drone rules to unlock BVLOS operations in 2025

New FAA BVLOS rules will eliminate many waivers and allow long-range drone missions by default. This change opens the door for inspections, deliveries, and mapping at scale—if your team is ready to meet compliance standards. Introduction  The FAA is finalizing rules that will allow beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations without a case-by-case waiver. For drone programs in construction, utilities, and logistics, this is a major shift. With Part 108 expected by 2025, teams can plan long-range inspections and delivery routes with fewer regulatory barriers. But how can companies prepare now to take advantage of this moment? Until now, BVLOS drone missions in the U.S. required special waivers, limiting scalability. These restrictions made it hard to use drones for inspecting pipelines, surveying roads, or delivering goods over long distances. In 2024, lawmakers directed the FAA to formalize BVLOS rules, which are expected to replace waivers by 2025 (source: dronelife.com). This means operators must understand new requirements to remain compliant and competitive. What FAA Part 108 means for enterprise drone programs  FAA Part 108 will likely define the conditions under which BVLOS flights are allowed without special waivers. This could include new requirements for detect-and-avoid systems, pilot training, aircraft reliability, and flight risk assessments. For businesses, it means more predictable operations and fewer administrative delays. Infrastructure inspections, corridor mapping, and delivery routes will all benefit from these new permissions, provided that drones and operators meet the criteria. Once BVLOS rules are live, companies can scale drone operations across states and project types. Infrastructure firms could survey hundreds of miles of roads or pipelines without breaks. Logistics providers could launch drone delivery services in suburban or rural areas. Faster approvals and fewer restrictions will lower costs and make automation easier to deploy. Time reduced from 2 weeks to 2 days (waiver vs. planned ops)   Accuracy improved from spot-checks to full-route coverage  Cost savings of ~40 % on repeat missions  The upcoming FAA BVLOS rule is a pivotal step for the drone industry. With Part 108 on the horizon, forward-looking companies should audit their systems, train pilots, and explore how autonomous flight can add value. The future of scalable drone operations is nearly here.

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