Allows company for first time to fly unmanned aerial system (UAS) commercially for data collection

DAYTON, Ohio, December 10, 2014 ? Woolpert, Inc., a national geospatial, infrastructure management and design firm  specializing in high-tech mapping and imagery collection services, has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly its unmanned aerial system commercially in Ohio and Ship Island, Miss. This exemption comes after years of research and development as well as close coordination with the FAA. This grant of exemption by the FAA marks the first for a surveying and aerial mapping company to be approved to fly a UAS commercially in designated airspace.

"Woolpert has been providing surveying and mapping services for more than 50 years, with a focused commitment on the advancement of related technologies and processes. UAS technology will enable a revolutionary leap in terms of capability, repeatability and efficiency when it comes to monitoring and mapping services," said Jeff Lovin, Woolpert senior vice president. "UAS will change the way we conduct some of our existing business in the not-too-distant future, but more importantly, will create completely new and world-changing applications we haven't even thought of yet."

The data applications with a UAS are far reaching and range from rapid damage assessment and emergency response to surveying and mapping of energy and transportation corridors, construction monitoring, environmental studies andprecision agriculture, which could be impactful national disaster recovery to individual farmers. "The data we will be able to collect in Ohio through this exemption will serve as the foundation for a proof of concept on a number of national applications for UAS," said Matt Hutchinson, Ph.D., Woolpert associate and research scientist, "and we look forward to offering this new technology and its applications to benefit organizations across the U.S."

This exemption marks a significant milestone for the state of Ohio. With its aviation heritage, Ohio has made huge strides to lead the charge in developing training centers, technologies, data processing techniques and advanced applications related to UAS. By securing the exemption from the FAA, Woolpert contributes to this effort by advancing Ohio and the Dayton region as a leader in developing exciting new uses for UAS with the potential for substantial industry growth.

To date, the FAA has received 167 requests for exemption.

About Woolpert

Woolpert, ranked by Engineering News-Record as a top national design firm, provides professional design, geospatial and infrastructure services to clients in the public and private sectors. Founded in 1911, and with more than 600 professionals in 22 offices located throughout the U.S., Woolpert's collaborative and multidisciplinary approach is driven by great people, great clients and great projects. For more information on Woolpert, visit Woolpert's website.

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DAYTON, Ohio (January 9, 2014)... Woolpert, a national geospatial, architecture and infrastructure firm headquartered in Dayton, announced it has conducted an unmanned aerial system (UAS) joint test flight at Wilmington Air Park with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Mobile District. The test was conducted to determine the viability of using Woolpert's Altavian Nova Block II unmanned aerial system (UAS) accompanied by a metric camera system for upcoming USACE Mobile District mapping projects.

The USACE Mobile District has partnered with Woolpert to use the larger UAS because it is more stable and, accompanied with the metric camera system, allows for repeatable, calibrated performance which results in high-resolution data and more accurate imagery.

"Using an accurate, high-resolution metric camera system with a UAV, we can continue to explore the many applications and benefits of unmanned aerial technology," said Clint Padgett, Chief, Spatial Data Branch, USACE Mobile District.

Despite the FAA's recent announcement of its six UAS test sites, which did not include Ohio in its selection, the USACE Mobile District will continue to work with Woolpert to further develop operational concepts for upcoming 2014 UAS data collection efforts.

"The Dayton Development Coalition sees UAS as an industry with high growth potential. The entire Dayton Region is positioned to capitalize on future opportunities regardless of the FAA designation," said Jeff Hoagland, President & CEO, Dayton Development Coalition. "Woolpert and other DDC members are poised to benefit."

Through its partnership with Sinclair Community College, Woolpert was able to conduct the test flight using Sinclair's Certificate of Authorization (COA) granted by the FAA. A COA is currently required in order for organizations to operate a UAV until the FAA opens the air space for commercial use of UAVs.

The recent test flight was a necessary step in USACE Mobile District's plans to continue to lead growth of domestic UAS technology use for science applications and reliable, safe and efficient data creation.

About Woolpert

Woolpert, ranked by Engineering News-Record as a top national design firm, provides professional design, geospatial and infrastructure services to clients in the public and private sectors. Founded in 1911, Woolpert's innovative design approach and commitment to the creative application of technology have grown the firm into a leader in the consulting industry. With more than 600 professionals in 22 offices located throughout the U.S., Woolpert's collaborative and multidisciplinary approach is driven by great people, great clients and great projects. For more information on Woolpert, visit Woolpert's website. For insight on industry trends and emerging topics, visit our Thought Leaders blog.

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