xyHt - February 2024

SUR VE YI N G AN D M APPING, EL E VAT ED

FEBRUARY 2024

GIS SURVEYING GNSS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Scanning the remains of a Romanian castle helps preserve the country's cultural heritage and the literary myth of Bram Stoker's character

INSIDE 14 GPS: The Next 50 Years 24 MAPPS’ View from Above 26 Drones in School

CONTENTS

FEBRUARY 2024 xyHt [ISSN 2373-7018 (print), ISSN 2373-7735 (online), CPC CPM No. 41437548] is free upon request to qualified subscribers in the United States. The Canadian subscription rate is US $20/year. The International subscription rate is US $40/ year. Periodicals postage paid at Frederick, MD and additional post offices. xyHt is published 10 months a year by xyHt LLC, 6 N. East Street, Frederick, MD 21701.

POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to: xyHt Subscriptions, 6 N. East Street, Frederick, MD 21701. Send Canadian changes of address to: Box 697 STN A, Windsor, ON N9A 6N4, Canada. For advertising, editorial, or other information, write to xyHt LLC, Inc. or call 301-662-8171.

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Looking Forward

By Jeff Thoreson

6 LOCATED

FEATURES

MORE

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12 Questions and Answers

Incoming NSPS president Davey Edwards talks with xyHt’s Linda Duffy about solutions for the geospatial labor shortage.

MAPPING MARTIAN WATER GPS-FREE NAVIGATION

22 Scan Off

MONITORING PLASTIC FROM SPACE NEW PRODUCTS/NEW SOLUTIONS

GPS: The Next 50 Years

As the pioneering satnav program celebrates half a century of success, it must overcome setbacks to its modernization plans in order to pull off a new era of global PNT leadership

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GIS SURVEYING CE GNSS INTELLIGEN ARTIFICIAL

VAT ED

Almost every product you buy has been through extensive reviews in publications and online. That hasn’t been the case for laser scanners— until now.

24 A View from Above

In a new feature, the MAPPS organization talks about how the trade association has changed the geospatial industry and what it’s looking forward to accomplishing in the near future.

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26 Drones in School

STEM education is preparing the next generation for technologyrelated jobs that didn’t exist 20 years ago. This offers new opportunities for young people who have grown up in a connected, computer-savvy world.

e n castl mania age of a Ro ral herit ter remains 's cultu ac ng the country Stoker's char Scanni ve the er am es Br pr of helps y myth e literar and th

INSIDE t 50 Years : The Nex 14 GPS View from Above PS’ 24 MAP in School nes 26 Dro

ON THE COVER: Chindia Tower is the

remaining dominant feature of the castle of Vlad the Impaler, a Medieval ruler of Wallachia (Romania) upon whom literary experts believe Bram Stoker based his character of Dracula.

Scanning Dracula’s Castle When Romania set out to digitally preserve its cultural heritage, it made sense to do extensive lidar scanning of the castle of Vlad the Impaler in the city of Târgovişte, which may be the origination of the character Dracula.

30 Maps as Art

Ever wonder what ocean the water from your neighborhood drains into.

For some people in North America, the answer might surprise you.

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Looking Forward Why We Still Print Magazines

By Jeff Thoreson

IT USED TO BE THAT EDITORS OF MAGAZINES like this would receive communication from readers via the post. If you wanted to send me a note you had to type it out, neatly tri-fold it, legibly address an envelope, lick a stamp, and take it to the mailbox. A few days later, I’d read it.

Just a few minutes ago I got the modern form of communication from reader Adamu Bala who lives in Nigeria. It took just an instant to travel the 5,500 miles across the ocean from him to me, and I was happy to hear from him.

Adamu was one of xyHt’s 23 Young Professionals to Watch in 2023, and he wanted to update me on what has happened to him since. His list was lengthy, highlighted by things like receiving first prize for best creative project at the China-Africa Youth Innovation competition; being appointed secretary of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) Task Force on International Trends and Future Geospatial Information Ecosystem; and being appointed as the International Admission Ambassador of the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan. In all he listed a dozen good things that happened to him in 2023 after being named to our list of young geospatial professionals to watch.

February 2024 Volume 11 Number 1 Publisher Editor-in-Chief

Jeff Thoreson jeff.thoreson@xyht.com

Director of Sales and Business Development

Chuck Boteler chuck.boteler@xyht.com

Creative Director

Ian Sager ian.sager@xyht.com

Accounting and Classifieds

Angie Duman angie.duman@xyht.com

Circulation

subscriptions@xyht.com Phone: 301-662-8171

Editor, Located

Jeff Salmon jeff.salmon@xyht.com

Editor, Field Notes

Eric Gladhill eric.gladhill@xyht.com

Contributing Writers

Marc Delgado Linda Duffy George Galdorisi Mack Kowalski Brian Raber

Copyright © 2024 xyHt magazine. Printed in U.S.A. No material may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material, the accuracy of information supplied by manufacturers, or opinions expressed by contributors.

I sent him back a note—which also got across the Atlantic in an instant— congratulating him and thanking him for staying in touch. I hope others on our previous lists have had similar success.

Partners and Affiliates

It’s good that communication these days is so efficient, but it’s better that the old paper magazine still carries weight. I’m not sure Adamu would have had the same success without our old-school way of publishing.

Our recent reader survey confirmed that most xyHt readers still prefer to hold a magazine in their hand. Digital magazines and other forms of communication can be cumbersome and difficult to read, or easily deleted or ignored, especially on phones where everyone is gravitating these days.

For me and our readers, we still prefer to lay on a comfortable sofa, nice glass of wine nearby, and flip pages to soak up information the way it has been for centuries.

Shawn Dewees shawn.dewees@xyht.com

THE

IMAGING & GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION SOCIETY

Enjoy our classic form of communication.

JT

­– JT

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Send your Located items to located@xyht.com

Located

Compiled by Jeff Salmon

Mapping Your World | UAV/UAS | Space | New Products

Mapping Martian Water THE DISCOVERY OF WATER ICE (AS OPPOSED TO CARBON DIOXIDE ICE) on Mars will prove to be a great boon to the exploration and eventual colonization of the Red Planet. Water obviously can be used for drinking and, through hydrolysis, making hydrogen rocket fuel. The more water Mars explorers can mine, the less they need to bring with them.

Getting access to this water, however, is complicated. The Martian atmosphere is less than 1 percent the pressure at sea level on Earth. This makes liquid water unstable on the Red Planet and will vaporize unless it’s frozen. But water ice on the planet’s surface is only stable at high latitudes that are far too cold for astronauts and robots to survive.

This is where the Subsurface Water Ice Mapping project (SWIM) project comes in. SWIM endeavors to map water ice frozen within the subsurface in the mid-latitudes, where landing would be possible. These regions are far enough

toward the pole for water ice to be plentiful but close enough to the equator to avoid the coldest temperatures on Mars.

SWIM combines mapping data from several NASA missions, including the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), 2001 Mars Odyssey, and the now-inactive Mars Global Surveyor. The project mapped the area from the equator to 60 degrees north latitude.

SWIM is led by the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona, and managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. The University of Arizona in Tucson operates HiRISE, which was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., in Boulder, Colorado. JPL, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, manages MRO for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

Top Searches @ Google Maps

Carlson Introduces Handheld 3D Scanning Solution

GOOGLE MAPS, THE POPULAR MAPPING PLATFORM, SHARED ITS TOP LIST OF PUBLIC ATTRACTIONS that users worldwide searched the most last year. The top spots for the 2023 list included the whimsical Park Güell in Barcelona, Spain, and Central Park in New York, the biggest urban park in the U.S. Meanwhile, for culture-watchers, the top searched items included two of the most-important museums in the world: the Louvre in Paris and the British Museum in London. To celebrate Google’s 25th birthday, the company also released an interactive map that shows interesting search trends within the U.S., sorted state-by-state. Explore the map here: https://about.google/ stories/local-year-in-search-2023/ —Marc Delgado, marc.delgado@xyht.com 6

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CARLSON SOFTWARE ANNOUNCED THE RELEASE OF SCAN3D, its simple, fast, and accurate 3D handheld scanning solution for iOS and Window.

Offering the perfect complement to drone photogrammetry and other traditional scanning methods, Scan3D provides point cloud information for those impossible-to-view spaces such as the edges of buildings and areas obscured by overhangs or trees.

The Scan3D workflow provides a simple and affordable path to add Scan3D point cloud data to other clouds, creating more complete, more accurate, and more useful scans and finished CAD deliverables. An example workflow would begin with a photogrammetry drone flight to capture most of a site, processed to a point cloud in Carlson PhotoCapture.

GPS-free Navigation System Wins NASA Prize NAVIGATING SAFELY IN GPS-DENIED LOCATIONS CAN BE A CHALLENGE. But the company Skyline Nav AI is offering a novel solution. By combining computer vision algorithms and 3D lidar, the American technology firm believes it has cracked the problem of mobility in spaces with limited or zero GPS connections on Earth and even on the Moon.

And NASA has taken notice. It named the company one of the seven winners of the 2023 NASA Entrepreneurs Challenge Prize. Skyline Nav AI successfully pitched its technological solution in building a “visual, inertial, and additional sensor platform that can be used for positioning

and navigating on the Moon, Mars and other celestial bodies.” The winning team received the $85,000 prize plus the chance to meet investors and the possibility to work with NASA in the future —Marc Delgado, marc.delgado@xyht.com

Wildfire Preparedness: UP42 and OroraTech Facilitate Geospatial Data Access UP42, A GEOSPATIAL DEVELOPER PLATFORM AND MARKETPLACE, AND ORORATECH, a provider of space-based thermal intelligence, have signed a partnership agreement to grant easy and fast access to global high-resolution thermal-infrared imagery. OroraTech delivers low-latency, global coverage, near-real-time thermal data products.

OroraTech, the first of its kind to join UP42's growing marketplace of nearly 80 data and processing partners, provides valuable insights to customers during unpredictable events through its newly launched thermal sensor, FOREST-2. Via UP42’s marketplace, the company offers data products including, on-demand tasking for near real-time data access from anywhere in the world with 400km coverage and 200m resolution daily and access to an ever-growing archive of thermal imagery for past event analysis.

Phase One’s P5 Payload for UAVborne Engineering Surveying THE P5 SENSOR IS PURPOSE-BUILT FOR UAVS, IT’S COMPACT, LIGHTWEIGHT—less than 700 grams, and power-efficient, perfect for portable and user-friendly mini fixed and transitional UAVs. Eliminating geometric distortion through meticulous calibration and boasting a 100 percent accurate capture timestamp with mid-exposure triggering, P5 ensures data accuracy without compromising speed. Choose from 35mm and 80mm lens options for maximum coverage and minimal noise, achieving an exceptional 0.5-centimeter accuracy. Its advanced 128 MP image sensor guarantees low Ground Sample Distance (GSD) and blur-free images, while the electronic global shutter ensures high performance in any conditions.

Stonex’s New XFLY Lidar Solution THE NEW STONEX XFLY SERIES INTEGRATES A HIGH-PERFORMANCE INERTIAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM (INS) with a 24MP camera and lidar for point cloud generation. Different customers’ needs can be met by the choice of Hesai lidar XFLY120, XFLY300 or other sensors. The processing platform contains a Wi-Fi interface, an embedded cellular modem for RTCM corrections, data logging software, and a gigabit Ethernet network.

Equipped with a high-performance INS, it delivers clean point clouds even at high altitudes; up to 200M AGL. As a small, lightweight, and lowpower system, it allows users to fly longer, adapting to the needs of any project. The post-processing software provides fully automatic point cloud generation.

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EVENTS GeoWeek February 11-13 Denver, CO Geo Connect Asia 2024 March 6-7 Singapore Xponential April 22-25 San Diego, CA

Tech Solutions to Monitor Plastic Trash from Space THE GERMAN EARTH OBSERVATION AND SOFTWARE COMPANY, EOMAP, was one of the three winners of the CASSINI Prize for Digital Space Applications. The CASSINI competition focuses on commercial spacebased solutions that can help detect and remove plastics, microplastics, and other litter from the oceans and waterways.

EOMap was recognized for its ‘Eyes on Plastic’ web map that can scan plastic pollution in rivers and coastal areas by combining data from Copernicus satellites, on-site live cameras, and crowdsourced information, almost in near-real time. The other noteworthy awardees include SciDrones, which uses UAVs and advanced Artificial Intelligence tech to scan for plastics, and Geomatys, which leverages meteorological and oceanographic models to predict where plastics tend to drift in the oceans. All three winners received the same amount of 950.000 euros from the European Agency for the Space Program (EUSPA).

— Marc Delgado, marc.delgado@xyht.com

Geospatial World Forum May 13-16 Rotterdam, Netherlands Esri User Conference July 15-19 San Diego, CA Commercial UAV Expo September 3-5 Las Vegas, NV Intergeo September 24-26 Stuttgart, Germany Trimble Dimensions November 11-13 Las Vegas, NV

USGS Publishes New Topobathymetric Data Powered by CZMIL SuperNova THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS) AND DEWBERRY, a privately held professional services firm, has published a new topobathymetric lidar dataset for the Potomac River. The Potomac River flows from the Potomac Highlands in West Virginia to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. The lidar survey was conducted for USGS’s 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), with stakeholders including the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science Center (EROS), National Geospatial Program (NGP), and Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC) programs, as well as the

Interstate Commission on the Potomac River (ICPRB).

Using the Teledyne Optech CZMIL SuperNova lidar system, Dewberry surveyed 55 miles of the Potomac River from Hancock, Maryland, to Shepherdstown, West Virginia, acquiring a total of 12.5 square miles of submerged topobathymetric lidar data. The project deliverables included a 3D point cloud and seamless topobathymetric Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) for that section of the river.

Trimble Partners with HALO Trust for Landmine Clearance in Ukraine TRIMBLE AND THE TRIMBLE FOUNDATION FUND HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE HALO TRUST, the world's largest landmine-clearing non-profit organization, to help expand its demining operations across Ukraine. The Foundation Fund directed grant focuses on strengthening the HALO Trust’s capacity to locate and remove landmines, unexploded ordnance, and other

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explosive hazards from civilian areas to create safer communities. In addition, the Trimble Foundation Fund grant also enables HALO to support the Ukrainian national authorities to plan and coordinate landmine clearance activities by streamlining the mapping and data flow from the operational teams in the field to the national database.

Internship Program Aids Seabed 2030 Project

TCARTA MARINE, A GLOBAL PROVIDER OF HYDROSPATIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, has delivered three major satellite derived bathymetry (SDB) data sets to The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 project. Students in Canada participating in a 2023 summer internship program created the SDB products for the entire coastline of Madagascar, Newfoundland, and two Canadian Arctic research areas.

TCarta co-sponsored the first-of-its-kind SDB Internship in cooperation with Seabed 2030 and the Marine Institute (MI) of Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada. Held at the MI Ocean Mapping facility in St. John’s, the program instructed six undergraduate and two graduate hydrography students in the use of SDB processes, satellite Earth observation platforms, advanced sensor systems, and artificial intelligence for seafloor mapping.

RIEGL’s New VUX-18024 Airborne Lidar

Leica BLK2GO PULSE wins CES Award

THE NEW RIEGL VUX-180 IS A LIGHTWEIGHT AND VERSATILE AIRBORNE LASER SCANNER offering a 75-degree field of view and an extremely high-pulse repetition rate of up to 2.4 MHz. These features, combined with an increased scan speed of up to 800 lines per second, make the RIEGL VUX-18024 perfectly suited for high-speed surveying missions and applications where an optimal line and point distribution is required.

The RIEGL VUX-18024 makes use of RIEGL’s unique Waveform-Lidar technology, allowing echo digitization and online waveform processing. Multi-target resolution is the basis for penetrating even dense foliage.

LEICA GEOSYSTEMS HAS BEEN NAMED A CES 2024 INNOVATION AWARDS HONOREE for the Leica BLK2GO PULSE. The CES Innovation Awards is an annual competition honoring outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products across 29 product categories.

The BLK2GO PULSE is a new first-person laser scanner that combines cutting-edge lidar sensor technology with the original Leica BLK2GO form factor. It provides customers with a rapid, simple, and intuitive firstperson scanning method, controlled with their smartphone, that delivers complete colorized 3D point clouds instantly in the field. Leica, a leader in digital reality solutions combining sensor, software, and autonomous technologies, is part of Hexagon.

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Mapped: The Heating of U.S. Homes WELL INTO THE WINTER OF 2024, WE WONDER “JUST HOW DO WE KEEP WARM?” Joshua Stevens at Maps.com has answered that question by developing a map of the U.S. showing all the heat sources by region.

Most homes rely on natural gas for heat, but oil, propane, electricity, and wood are also common. Understanding why certain homes and areas use different fuel sources is a matter of geography. The interplay of who, what, and where is on full display in this map that shows the dominant fuel source

for home heating by census tract. This analysis is based on data from the American Community Survey completed in 2021.

Viewing the map, one can notice distinct regions that are dominated by each fuel source. The Northeast and Alaska are reliant on oil, while much of the Southeast heats homes with electricity. The Midwest is a battleground between propane and natural gas, and pockets of wood-reliant regions are more common toward the west coast.

Two Companies Collaborate to Advance Drone Thermal Mapping TOPODRONE, A SWISS BASED DESIGNER AND MANUFACTURER OF HIGH-PRECISION SURVEYING EQUIPMENT, recently completed its research and development and released a new drone thermal mapping solution. TOPODRONE PT61 camera can perform detailed surveys and deliver thermal orthomosaic maps obtaining accurate 3D models.

The new photogrammetry solution was initially developed in collaboration with AGROWING upon a request of a large enterprise client from North America and has been adjusted to a wider use of drone surveyors. It is a camera with 61 MP resolution and built-in thermal imager, and RGB lenses with different focal lengths, built-in GNSS module and IMU, as well as API for integration with any UAV. The combination of the PT61 camera with AGROWING’s multispectral lenses enables TOPODRONE to provide the camera as a dual-purpose RGB/ Multispectral solution. Using the PT61 camera with AGROWING’s Quad lens, the camera provides 10 multispectral bands of 12 MP resolution each along with the IR band.

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Personnel Moves

How the NSPS is working to tap new sources to expand the surveying labor pool

In an interview with xyHt’s Linda Duffy, NSPS president-elect Davey Edwards, shares information about ongoing NSPS initiatives intended to alleviate shortages of qualified workers in the survey profession. Edwards is survey director for Baseline | DCCM.

W

hat would you say is the biggest challenge facing the surveying profession today?

The biggest challenge is hiring qualified professionals as we see a higher level of attrition due to aging and other factors. Surveying is evolving into a profession that needs more technical support and relevant training.

We’ll always have licensed individuals, but there is a role for paraprofessionals who can complete projects up to a certain level, similar to the partnership between a doctor and a nurse practitioner. In surveying, the transition is exciting because there is a range of opportunities depending on your interest.

How is the educational system adapting?

The Education Committee at NSPS has developed the Certified Survey Technician (CST) Program to offer a career path with standardized curriculum and exams. Every individual can level up to Level IV CST through exams, which makes them more marketable for field and office positions.

The two-year programs at local community colleges teach students the technical knowledge required to pass the CST exams so

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they can start working right away. They also provide the foundation needed to pursue a four-year degree program and licensure.

What is being done to encourage the younger generation to enter the surveying profession?

We’re reaching out to students in junior high and high school to raise awareness about surveying. A great example is at Klein Collins High School in Klein, Texas, where M’Lee Brooks, the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Counselor for the geospatial program, has formed a partnership with Lone Star College-Montgomery. Students can enroll and earn up to 60 hours of community college credit (the equivalent of an associate degree).

They can also graduate high school with a drone pilot’s license and a CST Level I if they pass the exam, which starts them on the path to a paraprofessional career. NSPS is helping standardize a national program and is promoting it to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) to encourage counselors to talk to students about surveying as a career option.

Besides encouraging young people to enter the

surveying profession, is NSPS recruiting from other sources?

Yes. Our current president, Bob Akins, has been involved in the surveying profession for more than 40 years after serving his country in the Army as a surveyor. Bob is working with Raymond Amador, Jr., the Military Program Manager at SAM, LLC, to create a civilian career path for military personnel coming out of various armed services with survey experience.

How does the experience of former military personnel apply to surveying?

The majority of personnel being recruited already understand how to read maps, how to layout construction sites, and how to collect data needed for engineering. We’d like to work with the Department of Defense to get these people qualified through the CST Program.

When they come out of the military, we know what skills they have and where they would fit into a surveying company.

Surveying provides a good quality of life for ex-military as civilians, and they can help fill the void in our labor pool.

What other groups would benefit from the NSPS CST Program?

We think the CST Program could also help set standards for tribal surveyors on reservations. You don’t have to be state licensed to survey on reservations, but if land is sold by the trust to a private owner, the property description must meet state standards. The CST Program is recognized nationwide and would establish qualifications for tribal surveyors.

Technology is changing so quickly we must focus on education and awareness from junior high through college to build a supply of qualified paraprofessionals and licensed surveyors. With the initiatives currently being put in place, I feel we’re moving in the right direction. 

Linda Duffy is president of Apropos Research, an independent market research firm that provides market research and marketing communications services to the geospatial and remote sensing community.

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The GPS L5 signal can improve aviation safety and vehicle fuel efficiency, as well increase location accuracy without augmentations.

GPS FINDS ITS WAY

INTO THE FUTURE

As the pioneering satnav program celebrates half a century of success, it must overcome setbacks to its modernization plans in order to pull off a new era of global PNT leadership

By Marc M. Delgado, PhD 14

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year is often considered a long time in the world of technology. So, if there was a sure-fire formula for staying relevant in our fast-changing digital world, it would look exactly like what the Global Positioning System (GPS) has achieved in the last five decades.

Since the approval of the original project (named NAVSTAR) by the U.S. Department of Defense in 1973, up to its eventual authorization for civilian use in 1983, the GPS as we know it has served more than a billion people worldwide. This astounding number of users can be attributed to the countless industries that the first satellite navigation technology itself fostered over the years. From surveying to construction, agriculture, finance, transportation, communication, and other critical services, our modern economy hums along due to the position, navigation, and timing (PNT) signals provided by the GPS. Dr. Bradford Parkinson, the "Chief Architect of the GPS” at NAVSTAR, foresaw the potential uses of the technology from the very beginning. He once said in an interview that he drew sketches of the future applications of GPS such as in a car navigation sys-

tem, in semi-automatic air traffic control, as well as in wide-area vehicle monitoring.

A few years later these products eventually became real. Thus, for their pioneering satnav work, Parkinson and colleagues James Spilker, Hugo Fruehauf, and Richard Schwartz received the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering in 2019.

Although initially designed for military use, the GPS has now become an essential part of today’s civilian world. According to a report by RTI International, an independent research institute, the U.S. private sector alone has gained $1.4 trillion worth of economic benefits since the GPS was made available to the public. Such is the dependence of the country to GPS that losing it would cost the economy $1 billion per day, reckons the authors of the paper.

Aside from the potential economic impact, a GPS blackout would also affect the country’s defense activities and those of its allies. That’s why for more than two decades, the U.S. government has been supporting the modernization of the GPS program not only to continuously provide accurate and secure GPS signals to the public but also to maintain the country’s leadership over the use of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) in an era when other nations have already started operating their own similar satnav programs.

With so much at stake, the U.S. Army decided to handover the GPS program to a separate military division to effectively consolidate all of its space activities under one organization. Thus, in 2021, the now 50-year old satnav system saw its transfer to the U.S. Space Force, the newest branch

One of the recently launched GPS 3 satellites in space. (Image courtesy of GPS.gov)

of the Armed Forces and the world's first space force. The responsibility to operate the GPS program and oversee its modernization was moved from the Air Force to the Space Force’s Space Systems Command. Last year, the U.S. Congress earmarked $1.8 billion to fund the Space Force’s core satnav activities, including the operation of GPS’s two main segments: space (the constellation of GPS satellites) and ground control (the command centers that control the satellites).

DECADES IN THE LEAD

Launch of the latest GPS 3 satellite in January last year from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. (Image courtesy of Lockheed Martin)

Out of the two segments undergoing modernization, it is the space section which has had a clear head start.

Way back in 2005, the very first modern GPS satellite capable of transmitting a new civil signal (called L2C) was successfully launched into orbit and ushered in a new era of location-based services.

L2C is a very special GPS signal designed for the civilian commercial market. It delivers faster signal acquisition and

greater operating range even when receivers are under a tree canopy or indoors. Such capability was developed just in time when the demand from portable mobile devices including smartphones, vehicle navigation systems, and survey-grade GNSS receivers was growing.

Today, the L2C signal is estimated to generate $5.8 billion of financial returns as GPS further drives the advancement of new markets and services. The enormous economic value that GPS technology brings has surely made it harder for us to think of a future without a dedicated civilian satnav utility that can support various commercial activities.

However, not all of the current 31 satellites in the GPS constellation are fitted with the L2C civilian signaling capability. The space segment right now comes from four different generations of satellites, each with its own technical capabilities and design lives. Six satellites launched between 1997 to 2004, for example, are still operational in space and can only transmit older and non-L2C legacy signals, consequently depriving modern users of the full spectrum of GPS capabilities. These satellites are

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already operating beyond their designed lifespan of 7.5 years and are fortunately on the chopping block under the latest GPS satellite acquisition packages.

The satellite modernization program dubbed as the GPS 3 (or Block III), and its sequel GPS 3F (Follow On), will replace the legacy GPS spacecrafts with up to 32 new satellites. These new satellites will not only have a longer operational lifespan of 15 years, but they will also carry payloads that have more advanced satnav signaling technologies. Aerospace company Lockheed Martin is manufacturing the new satellites, 10 of which are already built.

Aside from offering three times better signal accuracy, the new GPS satellites will provide security with up to eight times improved anti-jamming capabilities. A new civilian-grade signal called the L1C will also be transmitted, and it will offer powerful signals for civilian users even in densely built-

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up urban areas. The L1C will also be compatible with other GNSS, including Europe’s Galileo and Japan's Quasi-Zenith, making the satnav signals even more robust in these regions.

Another modern feature to look out for in the new GPS 3 satellites is their modular design, which will allow flexibility for integrating newer components during repairs and upgrades, effectively making the new GPS satellites future-ready.

WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM A MODERN GPS

Upgrading the PNT signals transmitted by the modern GPS system will definitely benefit everyone, much as its previous legacy iteration has sustained various sectors for the last decades.

But the higher accuracy offered by the new GPS 3 satellites will surely have a more positive impact in industries such as land and marine surveying projects, cadastral surveying, and mapping. The

surveying profession was one of the first GPS-based markets that expanded in the 1980s at a time when the availability of satellite signals was limited, thus any improvement on GPS technology right now will make the surveying sector grow and improve even more.

Also worth anticipating is a boom in industries that require centimeter-level accuracy for their day-to-day operations. Robust GPS signals will benefit auto-steering and manual machines in the agriculture, forestry, and mining sectors, while also positively improving the measuring and monitoring devices used in the fields of construction, energy, and transportation.

For example, there is a growing niche in the structural monitoring of roads, bridges, and dams, which require high accuracy GPS receivers to detect the slightest structural deformations.

Vehicle navigation is also expected to improve, especially with more GPS satel-

lites in orbit that can support safer turnby-turn routing, even in urban areas where GPS signal degradation is strong due to the signal interference and attenuation caused by tall buildings and other infrastructure.

Another positive effect will be felt in traditionally GPS-poor areas (mountains, seas) with the introduction of new search and rescue payloads in all the new GPS 3F satellites. Distress signals relayed to GPS ground stations will make it possible to receive prompt emergency response for all civilians as the new GPS 3F satellites connect for the first time to the Cospas-Sarsat system, the world’s largest satellite-aided search and rescue (SAR) initiative.

Last but not the least, the GPS 3 navigation payload has a new digital payload design ensuring flawless atomic clock operations.

Data communication networks, power utilities, financial systems, or just about any industry that uses GPS to timestamp their transactions, will benefit from this advanced timing feature.

ised improvements and increases in PNT performance.

But the GAO report reveals that the modernization of the ground control segment is held up by “challenges to software development, schedule compression, and training” consequently bogging down the modernization schedule. The release of a working OCX segment on the ground needs to catch up with the launch of GPS satellites in space.

Meanwhile, other nations are developing their own GNSS at a relatively rapid pace. China’s Beidou, which started its development only in 2000, now has 56 orbiting navigation satellites with the latest one successfully launched in May last year. Europe has also strengthened its own GNSS facility with the release, also last year, of the Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) which can deliver an accuracy of 20 centimeters using advanced real-time positioning corrections.

Moreover, Galileo is also the first global satellite constellation to offer worldwide search and rescue capability. Users are also looking forward to the full activation of the Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA), which Galileo is developing to prevent GNSS spoofing attacks. It is now in its last stage of testing.

PLODDING ALONG

With all these developments in the GNSS community, the Space Force remains confident that the setbacks will be fleeting, at least for the space SETBACKS DESPITE PROGRESS segment. Six GPS 3 satellites have When the GPS modernization already been sent into space, with program was approved in 2000, the latest one launched from the it included not just updating the Cape Canaveral Space Force StaGPS satellite constellation but tion in January of last year. Other also improving the other imremaining satellites are in their portant segment operated by the final testing stages awaiting the Space Force: the ground control Space Force to decide their launch system. This part of the program, dates. And as for the OCX ground however, has been suffering delays segment, fresh funding might be according to last year’s report by able to help it catch up, especially in the U.S. Government Accountthe face of a growing constellation ability Office (GAO). of new GNSS providers.

The 10th GPS 3 satellite under construction. (Image courtesy Since 2010, the Defense So, while these delays are unof Lockheed Martin) Department has been running fortunate, it is also important that the modernization of the ground the new GPS system is built right control segment through the GPS Next Further delay in the OCX roadmap to provide the best PNT services. ModernGeneration Operational Control System also affects the functional transmission izing such a complex global utility requires (OCX) program. This includes a series of of another useful GPS civilian signal, the time, and for a technology that arguably upgrades not just on the control software L5. This radio band can improve aviation invented the future, the lesson of the past but also on the hardware components in safety and vehicle fuel efficiency, as well 50 years seems to be that it's always better all the ground control monitoring facilities increase location accuracy without augto work slowly but surely. ■ worldwide. mentations. Although it is already being While legacy GPS satellites can be broadcasted from several GPS satellites, monitored by the currently existing ground the full diffusion and use of the L5 control stations, the newer and more signal is still considered pre-operational Marc Delgado, PhD, is a GIS specialist who advanced GPS 3 spacecrafts will require the until the OCX-capable ground stations crisscrosses continents teaching GIS in Asia, latest OCX in order to deliver the promare completed.

Europe, South America, and Africa.

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Preserving the World’s

CULTURAL HERITAGE

Ruins of Vlad the Impaler’s medieval fortress and royal court in Targoviste landmark, Romania.

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Scanning the ruins of a castle in Romania will help preserve the country’s past and the literary myth of Dracula

By Jeff Thoreson

W

hen the Institutul Național al Patrimoniului (National Institute of Heritage) in Bucharest, Romania, undertook the project to digitally document the nation’s cultural heritage, the starting point was obvious—in Transylvania at Dracula’s Castle.

Of course, Dracula was a fictional character so his Transylvania castle would, therefore, be fictional as well. Or is it?

Some literary scholars argue that Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel is based on Vlad III, the Voivode (military prince) of Wallachia, which is now part of modern Romania. Known as Vlad the Impaler, he was both a national hero of Romania as a vaunted protector of his people and a sadistic and brutal military leader who impaled his enemies—both foreign and domestic—and left them to die on stakes. He was the second son of Vlad Dracul who was ruler of Wallachia in 1436 so Vlad III was known as Dracula—and now you know the connection to Stoker's bloodthirsty character.

Vlad’s castle and home in Târgovişte, a city in south-central Romania, lies along the Lalomita River, in the Transylvanian Alps, 50 miles northwest of Bucharest. Târgovişte was the capital of feudal Wallachia in the late Middle Ages, when Vlad ruled.

Romania’s National Institute of Heritage connected with Global Digital Heritage, a not-for-profit private research and education organization dedicated to documenting, monitoring, and preserving the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

“In the face of an increasingly hostile world, a global landscape where conflict, natural disaster, climate change, pollution, and industrialization are destroying our shared heritage at an accelerating rate, we provide 3D digital services to document and preserve places and specimens critical to our global heritage,” says Herbert Maschner, president and chief scientist at GDH. Very much in ruins, the Târgovişte castle was in need of documentation, not only to preserve Romania’s heritage but the world’s literary heritage as well. Literary scholars disagree on Stoker’s muse for Dracula, but it is known the author did extensive research about Wallachia, including seeking out the book The Accounts of Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia written in 1820 by William Wilkenson.

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Whitby before running aground with the crew all dead.

Regardless of whether Vlad III inspired Stoker or not, the fortress in Târgovişte is a piece of national heritage.

Vlad ruled Wallachia three different times between 1448 and his death sometime around 1476 so the project fit perfectly into GDH’s business model.

“We emphasize lesser-known heritage in regions that have fewer resources for documentation and conservation. We do this for free. We then return all of the data Vlad III, known as Vlad Dracula and Vlad the Impaler and results to the host institution or regional/ He also did extensive research in Whitlocal authorities who can do anything they by, the quaint English seaside town on the wish with the materials.”

Yorkshire Coast where Dracula first arrives The data is now in the hands of in England. He came across the story of Complexul Național Muzeal Curtea the Russian ship Dmitry which had run Domnească Târgoviște. aground five years earlier. It became the “The administrator of the monuDemeter, the vessel that gets Dracula to ment will use the model for the popu-

A 3D point cloud from a scan of the grounds of a medieval castle in Romania shows the Chindia Tower, the ruins of the castle and the Great Princely Church.

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larization of the site and will keep the model for the purpose of use for future restorations,” says Marius Streinu of the Institutul Național al Patrimoniului.

“We, as the National Institute of Heritage, will archive it, we will popularize it through the website and our own media, and we will use it for the design of future restorations. NIH is also using these models to fulfill the 2021 recommendation of the European commission for 3D digitization of monuments and sites at risk.”

With help from Forrest Briggs, chief operations officer at LiDARUSA, the project covered three days at the end of October 2023.

“GDH bought one of our lidar systems just a few months before this project,” says Briggs. “They requested our expertise. It’s difficult to get everything set up when you’re new to the equipment. We agreed to come over and help them. We flew it all and processed it all for them.”

Using LiDAR USA’s Surveyor 32 MAX, Briggs flew tight patterns throughout the ruins because GDH wanted the highest detail possible and shadows from crumbled walls cast large, darkened areas.

“Logistically, with Dracula’s castle there were lots of fallen down walls, lots of ruins. If you have shadows you miss a lot of details unless you fly a really detailed grid pattern, which is what I did,” Briggs said.

Briggs spent two-and-a-half days

The Chindia Tower in the Targoviste Royal Court in Romania was the Medieval home of ruler Vlad Dracula, thought to be the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s character.

scanning the ruins, castle grounds and garden and then went to the western shore of the Black Sea to scan the Roman ruins at Adamclisi, one of the furthest outposts of the Roman Empire.

The fortress and garden grounds of the castle are about 40 acres. The castle itself is about 78,000 square feet and consists of more than two dozen rooms, including some below the surface. Maschner says the most difficult part of the project was scanning the rook-shaped Chindia Tower, the most prominent feature of the grounds.

The dual oblique cameras of the Surveyor 32 allowed Briggs to fly in the grid pattern and create a stereo image.

“By having two cameras facing opposite angles, you’re able to get imagery that goes all the way down to the bottom of what you’re trying to capture,” he said.

“Our objective was to capture both the exterior and interior components to combine these data into a single 3D model. Maschner says. “The interior of the tower consists of a relatively narrow spiral staircase…and these are particularly tricky to scan and require a great deal of effort and planning.”

Because the castle has many daily visitors, the tower’s interior had to be temporarily closed. “We scanned and captured photogrammetry of the interior in about one hour and 30 minutes. These data were then combined with our exterior tower data, giving us a full 3D documentation of the structure.”

Also on the site is The Great Royal Church Biserica Mare Domnească built in 1584. Briggs and GDH scanned this, as well, in such detail as to digitize centuries old fresco paintings in the walls.

“The frescos of the Great Princely Church are some of the most beautiful that we have scanned,” Maschner says.

“Really, the whole project was incredible,” Maschner says. “Having the opportunity to 3D scan a compound of Vlad the Impaler over Halloween was something special.”

Briggs agrees: “We were there on Halloween day in Vlad the Impaler’s castle.

You can’t get any more phantasmagorical than that,” Briggs said. “But it wasn’t as creepy as I thought it was going to be.” ■ Jeff Thoreson is editor-in-chief of xyHt.

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WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE, WHO NEEDS CONSUMER REVIEWS? L

ikely, everyone can agree that we prefer to make informed decisions when spending our hard-earned money. If it is a car, computer, or the pen that I used to write this you can find a consumer report about it.

Don’t believe me? Search “pen consumer report.” You will not only find Consumer Reports, but you will also find articles like “the best pens of 2023” and similar headlines. Almost everything has been compared to its competitors and thoroughly examined.

I say “almost” because when you are in the market for a laser scanner, the bountiful

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BY MATT KOWALSKI forest of comparison data that exist for other products more resembles a barren wasteland.

Sure, you can find people’s opinions and lots of marketing material, but actual sideby-side comparisons? Good luck. You might be thinking you can use the manufacturer data sheets to do your own comparisons.

Maybe. First, you'll need to go to each manufacturer’s website, find the data sheet, enter your info for access, and start examining— only to find out that all manufacturers use different metrics to market their instruments.

Fortunately for us, there is hope. In the past few years, organizations like the United

States Institute of Building Documentation (USIBD) and the folks at Go-Geomatics have started taking matters into their own capable hands. Beginning with the TLS scan off at Geo Week 2023 these organizations have performed several events with the sole purpose of placing usable information in consumer hands.

Both organizations are creating events where different instruments can be run through “real world” environments and tested thoroughly. Respectably, neither organization has tried to declare a winner or a “best of.” Instead, they provide comparable

specs and, in some cases, even the point clouds.

“In a growing niche industry without standards in place, the reality capture landscape can be daunting and seem much like the wild west—full of snake oil salesmen and enough hyperbole to drown a fish,” says Chris Kercheval of the USIBD. “To help the new to industry consumer, the USIBD Laser Scanning Committee is dedicated to providing the valuable materials needed for a true comparison of products and workflows, maximizing the normalization of information and allowing for the Some results from the lidar scan off at the 2023 Go Geomatics Expo held last November. greatest return on investment through condensed spec sheets and true one-to-one data sets to market of laser scanning and help everyone curacies accumulate over time, leading to a fully highlight the strengths and weaknesses maintain the integrity of the Geomatics deviation between the estimated and actual of the products available.” industry by using the optimal tool. position of the device.

He goes on: “Without this, the available During Geo week 2023 the USIBD For this event, a course 50 meters wide options for comparison are limited as performed a live “scanner shoot-out.” Its and 186 meters long was planned out. This compared to more established industries goal was to run as many scanners through course covered both interior and exterior like automotive, which we are using as a the same environment and conditions as scanning. Targets were placed along the foundation. Although we do not name a possible. For this event, targets were set course and used to geo-reference the data. winner, we provide the information and test up at distances of five, 10, and 20 meters.

After all the data was analyzed a point results that allow each consumer to pick the Boards were placed against the targets that cloud density and a point cloud confidence winner for their business and their clients, had examples of different materials we were assigned to each sensor. and we feel this is the basis for true industry encounter while scanning in the field.

When compared to other product growth and adoption of reality capture.”

Each manufacturer performed a low markets, consumer data for scanners is still Carina Butterworth, professor of resolution, medium resolution, and a a barren wasteland, but thanks to the efforts geomatics at Southern Alberta Institute high-resolution scan from the base location. of these organizations, we can see an oasis of Technology and co-coordinator of the All data was then geo referenced and placed of information forming. I can’t help but feel S.L.A.M. Scan Off at the Go-Geomatics into a third-party software for analysis. In that, much like Mad Max and his gasoExpo in Calgary in November 2023, bethe analysis each sensor was judged by point line truck, these events give us hope for a lieves that this type of comparison is essenspacing/resolution, time of acquisition, ease brighter, more informed, future. ■ tial to help both the technology companies of transport, and several other metrics. You and service companies know which tool is can find the full report on the USIBD’s best for the right job. website www.usibd.org.

“Tech companies are able to market During the Go Geomatics Expo 2023 Matt Kowalski has more than 10 years of their laser scanners better when comparin Calgary, Alberta, volunteers from several experience in layout management and laser isons like this are made, where service organizations performed a Simultaneous scanning to provide innovative solutions companies have a better idea which laser Localization and Mapping (SLAM) “scanand services to our clients and partners. His scanner is better for the specific jobs they off.” This event was directed at mobile and passion to push the boundaries of technology are taking on,” Butterworth said.

Slam scanners and aimed at testing for drift and delivering high-quality results in every Future participation in these comparas well. Drift is a common trajectory issue project led him to co-found LiDAholics isons will develop an informed consumer with these types of scanners where inacconsulting firm.

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VIEW FROM ABOVE

The Mission of MAPPS president Kelly Francis talks about the exciting future of the trade association profession in the USA. Members are thought leaders in mapping, surveying, photogrammetry, lidar, satellite and airborne remote sensing, hydrography, GIS data collection, and technology development. Our associate members produce innovative technologies, software solutions, and ancillary services. MAPPS is also a 501c (6) non-profit organization.

Its mission is to promote and advance economic opportunity, networking, education, professionalism within the geospatial community, and foster partnerships with other geospatial associations.

The MAPPS vision is dedicated to business interests, networking opportunities, technical and professional education, public policy, and legislation advocacy for private practitioners within the geospatial community.

Why do companies engage in MAPPS?

T

his article is the first in a series of four focusing on a trade association that recently celebrated its 40th anniversary and continues making meaningful impacts in the geospatial community. The first article is an interview with Kelly Francis, current MAPPS president, who discusses the relevance, positive impacts, and short- and long-term direction of MAPPS. Future articles will highlight MAPPS initiatives such as federal agency liaison, emerging leaders, and geo-woman programs.

Kelly Francis is co-president of Aero-Graphics, Inc. in Salt Lake City, Utah, which has been a member of MAPPS for more than 40 years. Like other MAPPS firms, membership has transcended several generations within a family or amalgamation of firms. MAPPS is guided by a board of directors comprised of mostly company principals, many of which have been engaged since the beginning of the association. This provides a unique perspective of the legacy and importance of this profession, while creating the passion to innovate from new perspectives.

Who is MAPPS and what drives this association?

MAPPS is the preeminent national association of private sector firms involved in many aspects and benefits of the geospatial

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Firms join MAPPS for various reasons, including professional networking, learning about geospatial trends, participating in the legislative process, promoting qualification-based procurement, growing the overall marketplace, and honoring project/product excellence.

Highlighting a few of these benefits, we find that networking with member firms and potential project partners, and insightful conferences are paramount.

More than 80 percent of member firms report they have grown their business through partnering with other MAPPS members.

Collaboration occurs through participation in MAPPS professional yet casual events, such as the Federal Programs Conference in Washington, D.C. This conference provides firms with up-to-date insights into agency technology and data needs, priorities, and geospatial programs, creating potential opportunities for partnerships and contracts.

MAPPS actively promotes the capabilities of its member firms using a variety of social media, and our relationships with federal agencies, congress, and other associations. Given that a substantial number of our members are small businesses, this outreach proves advantageous as it extends and complements a firm’s branding and communication initiatives.

An example of this is the Sustaining Member Program which offers a wealth of social media outreach, conference discounts, and complimentary Emerging Leader registration. This program allows firms to leverage the MAPPS media connections such as 4,800 followers on X (Twitter), 750 email contacts with a 41 percent open rate, 1,900 LinkedIn followers with 22,900 organic impressions, and 1,150 Facebook followers.

Our Conference Programs Committee creates engaging speaker and networking programs for two annual conferences. We recently completed our Winter Conference that included a keynote address from the Hawaiian Governor’s Office, IDIQ contracting insight, AI applications, and presentations from USGS and NOAA leadership. It also provided interactive forums for geo-women, small business, airborne imaging, associates members, and emerging technologies. Participants receive continuing education credits when attending MAPPS conferences.

What’s happening with the upcoming Federal Programs Conference?

I am really pleased that for the first time since COVID, the annual MAPPS Federal Programs Conference returns in-person on March 5 and 6 in Washington, D.C. Members will hear from many federal agencies about the status and future of their geospatial programs. MAPPS members will unite on Capitol Hill participating in the democratic process by visiting their state congressional delegations. These educational and advocacy meetings discuss legislation and policy that serve the nation, and benefit geospatial firms and the communities that we live in.

What do you want to accomplish as president of MAPPS?

In my role as MAPPS president, my primary objectives revolve around enhancing the organization’s impact. I aim to broaden our membership base, ensuring a diverse representation within our community. Simultaneously, I am dedicated to curating compelling conference content that captivates our members and fosters an environment of continuous learning and engagement. Facilitating networking opportunities is paramount, promoting meaningful connections that transcend professional boundaries.

Furthermore, I am committed to driving policies that strategically benefit our member firms, advocating for initiatives that propel our collective success and contribute to the sustained growth of the geospatial industry.  Interview by Brian Raber

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Drones in School: TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION Interview by LINDA DUFFY

The Drones in School program uses hands-on project-based learning to support STEM education.

S

TEM education is preparing the next generation of workers for exciting careers in technology-related fields.

Jobs that didn’t exist 20 years ago offer new opportunities for young people who have grown up in a connected, computer-savvy world. Whether racing drones, playing video games, or programming new apps, their life experiences and skills form the foundation for future contributions to businesses and the community.

EduEverything is a non-profit organization dedicated to hands-on STEM learning. The original group of educators in Marion, Ohio, participated in the Society of Mechanical Engineering (SME) Robotics Challenge since 1999 and took over organizing the competition in 2004.

Executive Director Tad Douce strongly be-

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lieves it is important to expose students to STEM technology at a young age, so they understand the wide range of possibilities.

What is the mission of the Drones in School program and how does it support the broader goal of expanding STEM education?

Our mission is to make sure our students experience hands-on learning and know how to make real things—not just virtual.

Teams go through an entire entrepreneurship process to build a drone racing team, as if they were starting a company. Team members are responsible for creating a logo, naming and branding, marketing visuals, and the mechanics of the drone itself.

They work with the equipment and trouble shoot problems. They learn how to

interact with the local business community while lining up sponsors to help fund travel.

Our program provides curricular depth that extends beyond STEM and teaches real business skills. As a founding member of the MultiGP STEM Alliance, we are working with other programs to build the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) talent pipeline.

What motivated EduEverything to start the Drones in School program?

In 2017 one of our robotics teams designed a drone for the robotics competition, and it created a lot of buzz and interest. We realized offering a drone program would be very attractive to students, so after some research we introduced drone racing. The investment is quite small compared to other STEM programs, making it accessible to

Teams were judged on their portfolio/display, including branding, design, and engineering.

all schools. It’s just $75 to register a team and we offer a reasonably priced kit, or they can use any kind of hobby-grade drone that meets our minimum requirements.

Drones are part of a growing geospatial industry that offers endless opportunities.

They are being used for new applications all the time, such as mapping, search and rescue, and inspections. People are starting businesses, and they need workers with the skills we’re teaching. We feel it’s important to have a large funnel of students coming from STEM because companies need skilled workers. It is beneficial for the country and the globe to develop an innovative mindset.

Do you have a background in the geospatial industry?

After teaching pre-engineering for 15 years, I transitioned into educational consulting, specializing in teaching with technology, using STEM in the classroom, and developing STEM curriculum. Currently I am Director of Educational Technology and Communication at River Valley Local Schools in Caledonia, Ohio, in addition to my work with EduEverything.

kids with interests in art, engineering, leadership, technology, and flying.

Teams with a lot of diversity are the most successful because students work on the tasks that interest them the most, with the project manager organizing their efforts. The program is also attractive to science teachers looking for hands-on projects.

How many schools around the country currently have teams?

We’re expecting 150 to 200 teams this season, spread across the country. We have five in Hawaii, 16 in Kansas, 20 in Ohio and more than 100 in Florida. Florida Power and Light Company (FPL) is a big sponsor for the Florida schools. FPL is very progressive in the use of geospatial technology, and they are looking for innovative workers to fill the pipeline. Our program emphasizes innovation and problem solving, so it’s a good fit.

What is in the Team Startup Package?

The Startup Package saves the team time by providing the necessary equipment and instruction to get started. It includes two Emax TinyHawk III drones, first-personview (FPV) goggles, two controllers, batteries, and a beacon for capture the flag. We offer a six-hour online workshop for advisors where they gain a basic understanding of the program and build their own racing drone.

What are the main subjects covered in the curriculum?

The free curriculum available to teachers and advisors through TeachSTEM.org includes a broad range of subjects, including the his-

tory of flight, electrical circuitry and antennas, flying and battery safety, basics of drone flight, tuning, and troubleshooting with the betaflight configurator, flying etiquette, best practices, and racing rules and techniques.

We also offer online and live professional development workshops and instruction.

What are the job roles on the team?

In project-based learning, the students “own” the process. They are responsible for all aspects of creating a drone racing team, from designing a drone to creating a marketing campaign with animation, to 3D printing a display and finding corporate sponsors.

Each team consists of a project manager, graphic designer, manufacturing engineer, design engineer, marketing coordinator, and drone technician. We use a fantastic curriculum provided for free by the Project Management Institute Education Foundation for middle and high school students. By teaching students how to manage their own projects, we are helping them develop life-long job skills.

What is the race format? How many races are held each year?

There are three race formats: simulator, virtual, and live. A simulated track is offered through the VelociDrone platform for a small license fee. Team members race and post their best times in four simulator events during the season.

We have four virtual races per year set up at each team’s location. Racers use a Universal Time Trial course and record their times on the designated track and submit verification online to enter the national leaderboard.

Teams within a region are invited to participate in live races hosted by one of the local teams. Live events feature all

Who is your target audience?

Drones in School has two divisions, one for grades six to eight and one for grades nine to 12, and teams range from two to six members. The program appeals to a range of

The highest ranked teams competed in the National Race at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2023 in Denver.

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Students raced their drones around an indoor course while wearing first-personview (FPV) goggles.

Drones in School judged categories: Head-to-Head Racing, Capture the Flag Racing, Portfolio/Display Judging, Design and Engineering Judging, and Marketing Video Judging.

The top 12 high school teams and 12 middle school teams are eligible for the national race, which has been hosted at AUVSI XPONENTIAL in Denver the past two years. The conference offered a wonderful opportunity for our students to see cutting edge robotics and uncrewed system technology in person.

How does exposure to technology at a young age influence future career choices?

I think it’s critical for the future that we have workers who are comfortable exploring new technology and being innovative to solve real-world problems. By exposing kids to STEM careers in middle and high school, they are made aware of their options and can start identifying their own areas of strength and interest.

Skills taught in Drones in School are transferable–how to troubleshoot, how to manage a project, how to operate a drone safely, and how to market your business.

It’s also a great opportunity for businesses to encourage STEM education by being a team sponsor. ■ Linda Duffy is president of Apropos Research, an independent firm providing market research and marketing communication services to the geospatial and remote sensing community since 2003.

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CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

CONTACT ANGIE DUMAN TO PLACE YOUR AD

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Stay Connected www.xyht.com

New Mexico State University Geomatics Department 1060 Frenger Mall – Room 130 Las Cruces, NM 88003 Phone: (575) 646-6748 Email: kwurm@nmsu.edu or elaksher@nmsu.edu Website: https://et.nmsu.edu/geomaticssurveying// Fully online program and +2 option.

BS Degree

Troy University Surveying and Geomatics Sciences Program Geospatial Informatics Department 344 Wallace Hall Troy, AL 36082 Phone: (334) 808-6727 Fax: (334) 670-3796 Email: geospatial@troy.edu Website: www.troy.edu/geospatial BS Degree, ABET-ASAC accredited www.instagram.com/troygeospatial www.tiktok.com/@troy_geospatial

University of Maine Surveying Engineering Technology Program 5711 Broadman Hall, Room 119 Orono, ME 04469-5711 (207) 581-2340 Email: um.set@maine.edu Website: http://www.umaine.edu/set/svt/ Bachelor Degree. abet-taac

Contact Angie Duman to place your listing here! angie.duman@xyht.com

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HOW OUR

CONTINENT DRAINS:

R

obert Szucs is a digital cartographer turned artist who saw the potential to turn nature’s patterns into contemporary artwork. This ocean drainage map was a months-long project, that included “a ton of manual work,” including cleaning data, figuring out how to categorize millions of lines into a handful

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of ocean drainages, and then zooming in along the coastlines and manually checking for and fixing errors and inconsistencies. “I think the most surprising thing about the map is how far south the Arctic Ocean's drainage basin reaches. I wasn't expecting it to reach the contiguous United States in multiple places.” ■

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