Neel Mehta
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will use its unmanned aircraft system platform to map both main campus and Momentum campus infrastructure after receiving approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The “Island University” said Friday that its geographic information science and geospatial surveying engineering students have helped with projects in areas such as utility mapping and boundary delineation.
“Each aerial flight conducted by a student saves the University around $1,500 and provides the university students with real life experiences,” said Kathryn Funk-Baxter, executive vice president for finance and administration.
“When they do an aerial survey using ground control GPS coordinates to acquire survey grade data, this would likely result in a savings of up to $200,000 had the survey been contracted by a firm to perform.”
Michael Starek, assistant professor of GIS and GSEN, said the gathered imagery will be used to create three-dimensional models of infrastructure and detect potential shoreline hazards to the island campus.
