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The Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) team is now on Instagram!  Our flight operations teams are going to post pictures to show off some of our work.

Multiple operators for safe flight operations. #michaelbakerinternational #uas

A photo posted by Michael Baker Intl UAS (@michaelbakeruas) on Dec 27, 2016 at 1:52pm PST

Monitoring Heat Loss and Thermal Leakage for Customers

Michael Baker International has expanded its cutting-edge inspection services with the purchase of a Topcon Falcon 8 unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The new Falcon 8 joins the company’s growing UAS fleet, and offers a new perspective for Michael Baker pilots to achieve highly precise aerial imagery and mapping during the inspection of infrastructure elements for customers.

Combined with Michael Baker’s mobile and static Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) systems for data collection, the integration of this new UAS creates a safer, more intricate solution for inspection and mapping. By utilizing the system’s flight stability and high-resolution 32-megapixel digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera, Michael Baker pilots can capture more precise imaging and video in tight spaces, challenging environments and windy situations. The rotary-wing UAS features eight rotors, three individual inertial measurement units (IMU) to calculate and fix the device’s position, fully automated flight routes in both two- and three-dimensions, precise structure analysis and damage detection, and maximum safety with triple redundancy. Operating as a two-person team, Michael Baker inspectors—one piloting the flight and the other using 3D goggles for a First Person View (FPV)—can establish unprecedented viewpoints for data capturing imagery.

Additionally, the Falcon 8’s integrated thermal camera creates new service offerings for Michael Baker’s clients as the company can monitor for heat loss and thermal leakage in concrete and pipeline inspections, and conduct heat surveys of buildings looking to achieve LEED certification.

“Michael Baker has an extensive history of performing inspections, having literally written the book on bridge inspection training for the Federal Highway Administration. As new technologies have emerged, including UAS, the company has been at the forefront of adopting and incorporating those practices into our existing capabilities to enhance our full continuum of innovative solutions,” said Robert Hanson, senior vice president and market leader for Michael Baker’s Geospatial Practice. “With the purchase of the Falcon 8 UAS, Michael Baker is now one of seven firms in North America to use this system, which allows us to offer an advanced, highly-engineered inspection solution for engineering projects.”

Michael Baker is deploying the new UAS as part of two new contract wins: a statewide contract from the Nevada Department of Transportation for digital aerial imagery and video, and/or other remotely sensed data; and a task order with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for determining the feasibility for use of UAS in bridge inspections and bridge inspection procedures. Additionally, the company will use the system across multiple markets for a host of structural inspection projects, including bridges, buildings, towers, water control systems and retaining walls, among others.

Michael Baker has a prestigious 76-year history of conducting bridge and infrastructure inspections, including more than 25 years of inspection training for the Federal Highway Administration. The company is also one of the first in the engineering industry to receive certification from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate several types of fixed-wing and vertical take-off and landing UAS.

Company Enhances Inspection and Data Mapping Services with New Addition to Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Fleet

Michael Baker International expanded its cutting-edge inspection services with the purchase of a Topcon Falcon 8 unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The new Falcon 8 joins the company’s growing UAS fleet and allows Michael Baker pilots to capture highly precise aerial imagery and mapping during the inspection of infrastructure for clients.

Michael Baker used the new UAS to inspect the Liberty Bridge in Pittsburgh.

Features of the new Falcon 8:

• Combined with Michael Baker’s mobile and static Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) systems for data collection, the integration of this new UAS creates an even safer, more sophisticated solution for inspection and mapping.
• Pilots can capture more-precise imaging and video in tight spaces, challenging environments and windy situations by utilizing the system’s flight stability and high-resolution, 32-megapixel digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera.
• The rotary-wing UAS features: eight rotors; three individual inertial measurement units (IMU) to calculate and fix the device’s position; fully automated flight routes in both two- and three-dimensions; precise structure analysis and damage detection; and maximum safety with triple redundancy.
• Operating as a two-person team, Michael Baker inspectors—one piloting the flight and the other using 3D goggles for a First Person View (FPV)—can establish unprecedented viewpoints for data-capturing imagery.
• The Falcon 8’s integrated thermal camera can monitor for heat loss and thermal leakage in concrete and pipeline inspections and conduct heat surveys of buildings for clients looking to achieve LEED certification.

“Michael Baker has an extensive history of performing inspections, having literally written the book on bridge inspection training for the Federal Highway Administration,” said Robert Hanson, senior vice president and market leader for Michael Baker’s Geospatial Practice. "As new technologies have emerged, including UAS, the company has been at the forefront of adopting and incorporating those practices into our existing capabilities to enhance our full continuum of innovative solutions. With the purchase of the Falcon 8 UAS, Michael Baker now is one of seven firms in North America to use this system, which allows us to offer an advanced, highly-engineered inspection solution for engineering projects.”

 

Michael Baker is deploying the new UAS as part of two new contract wins: a statewide contract from the Nevada Department of Transportation for digital aerial imagery and video, and/or other remotely sensed data; and a task order with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for determining the feasibility for use of UAS in bridge inspections and bridge inspection procedures. Additionally, the company will use the system across multiple markets for a host of structural inspection projects, including bridges, buildings, towers, water control systems and retaining walls, among others.

We have our FAA authorization...Press release to follow!

Michael Baker received its FAA authorization for our small fleet of UAS. Official press release to follow!

Michael Baker Files its Sec 333 Exemption/Rulemaking Request with the FAA

On March 26th Michael Baker filed with the FAA for permission to fly Its UAS fleet for commercial Operations.

This is a process, and does not happen overnight. However, to operate legally in the US three things are required.

1. Submission (and grant of approval) of a section 333 exemption/rule making request. This is where one asks the FAA to waive some existing requirements that technically do not pertain to UAS. Basic things such as the size of the "N" number (Identifier) applied to the UAS. The current rule states a size that works with traditional aircraft. However, it does not work with the smaller size of the typical UAS. An exemption is needed. There are many identified regulations that require exemption and as such relief must be granted.
2. Registration of the UAS. This process requires submitting for an "N" number and registering the UAS. This entails identifying the specific aircraft (or UAS) Make, Model, Serial # and ownership records.
3. Identification of a licensed pilot to operate as your pilot in command (PIC). While the requirement has been lowered from a commercial pilot to a sport pilot, a pilots license is required.

Approval from the FAA is taking 4 to 6 months currently. Michael Baker expects approval in early July. In the meantime we are testing, training and developing the processes and workflows to support our UAS team.

Michael Baker Adds Additional UAS to its Fleet

Michael Baker Currently owns 4 Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Each system was chosen based on its perspective use. Fixed Wing for larger data capture areas. Multi-Rotors for smaller, tighter areas where true 3D capture is required. Below is a brief description of each system.

Precision Hawk, Inc., Lancaster III. With a wingspan of 4’ and a weight of 3lbs this system is very stable, hand launched and requiring a very small landing area. This system is capable of 45 minutes of flight time ensuring a large coverage area per mission. With multiple payloads; RGB, CIR, Thermal and LiDAR, deliverables available from a single acquisition platform are greatly increased.

DJI Phantom 2 Vision+. One of the most versatile small Multi Rotors available. This system is capable of hovering unaided for surveillance purposes for up to 22 minutes. A 3 axis gimbal ensures that the high definition video captured is smooth and contains no jitter for while in motion. The DJI systems are capable of automated flight along pre-planned waypoints to facilitate image capture for mapping purposes

DJI Phantom 3. The most recent iteration of the Phantom series. This system builds on the functionality of the 2+, adding a Sony camera with an improved focal length for less ‘fish eye” effect in the imagery and 4K video. In addition the Phantom 3 has sensors that can track the ground allowing it to maintain its position indoors and in other location where GPS may not be available.

DJI Inspire 1. Using the technology developed in the Phantom series, DJI created a new air frame that lifts the propeller arms up vertically once it reaches a specific height. This allows the camera pod attached to tilt upwards aiding in inspection of the underside of structures such as bridges. The camera pod itself was designed to be detachable for future payload development.

Our team and systems are in place. Training, testing and development has begun, while we wait for FAA approval to use these systems for commercial use. Stay tuned for more info.

Welcome to the Michael Baker International UAS Blog

Greetings and welcome to the Michael Baker UAS Blog. We have been busy integrating UAS into our Geospatial Information Technology (GIT) Group. In the past year our team purchased a Precision Hawk Lancaster III, as our fixed wing platform. Training is underway and all appropriate FAA filings are in process. I created this blog to help our team and followers keep up to date on this very fast moving technology, while keeping content specific to Baker's work in the UAS space.