Aging bridges, deteriorating pavements, and stormwater systems under pressure from growth and climate demand better data, faster. We deliver element-level inspection imagery, NBI-aligned condition documentation, and GIS-ready datasets that help agencies and engineers act on facts rather than assumptions.
Get a Quote →High-resolution orthomosaic capture of bridge decks to identify cracking, spalling, delamination, and joint deterioration. Close-range substructure flights document bearing conditions, pier cap cracking, abutment displacement, and scour assessment indicators at waterline. Imagery supports element-level inspection coding aligned with AASHTO CoRe structural elements and NBI condition ratings from 0 to 9.
Corridor-length photogrammetric capture to generate pavement distress documentation including longitudinal and transverse cracking, rutting, raveling, and patching extent. Deliverables feed into pavement distress index calculations and support pavement management system updates. Sub-centimeter ground sampling distance enables reliable distress classification without lane closures.
Systematic aerial surveys of transmission line corridors, pipeline rights-of-way, and underground utility easements. We document right-of-way encroachment, vegetation clearance violations, erosion along pipeline routes, and third-party activity near critical infrastructure. Thermal payloads identify subsurface leak indicators and electrical hotspots on overhead distribution lines.
Volumetric surveys of detention ponds, retention basins, and regional stormwater facilities using photogrammetric surface modeling. We quantify sedimentation accumulation, verify design capacity against as-built conditions, and document outfall structure integrity. Data supports compliance with Harris County Flood Control District requirements and municipal stormwater permits.
The Federal Highway Administration requires routine inspection of all public highway bridges at intervals not exceeding 24 months under the National Bridge Inspection Standards. Our aerial documentation supports inspectors in assigning NBI condition ratings by providing clear, repeatable imagery of every accessible structural element. For fracture-critical and scour-critical structures, we provide supplemental close-range data between routine cycles.
Texas Department of Transportation bridge inspection protocols require element-level inspection data collection following AASHTO guidance. Our deliverables are structured to support TxDOT's Bridge Inspection Manual requirements, including element-level condition state documentation, channel profile observations, and approach roadway assessments. Data exports integrate with the Pontis/AASHTOWare Bridge Management system.
Regional stormwater infrastructure in Harris County must meet flood control design standards and capacity verification requirements. Our photogrammetric surveys produce accurate volumetric calculations for detention facilities, channel cross-sections for hydraulic analysis, and outfall condition assessments. Deliverables support HCFCD annual reporting and post-storm damage documentation for FEMA Public Assistance applications.
Federal mandate requires element-level data collection on all National Highway System bridges. We capture imagery at resolution sufficient to distinguish between condition states defined in the AASHTO Manual for Bridge Element Inspection. Each structural element is documented with georeferenced photos that map to specific element numbers, enabling consistent condition state quantity estimates across inspection cycles.
We handle airspace authorization through LAANC or FAA waivers, coordinate with TxDOT district offices for state-maintained structures, and submit flight notifications to municipal public works departments. For bridges over navigable waterways, we coordinate with the U.S. Coast Guard when flight operations may affect vessel traffic.
Many infrastructure inspections occur along active roadways. We work with your traffic control provider or furnish our own traffic management plan compliant with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Our goal is always to minimize lane closures; drone access frequently eliminates the need for snooper truck deployment and its associated multi-lane shutdowns.
Corridor inspections for roads, pipelines, and transmission lines require flight plans optimized for linear coverage rather than area capture. We program automated waypoint missions that maintain consistent ground sampling distance along the asset centerline, with lateral overlap sufficient for photogrammetric reconstruction. Battery swap logistics are pre-planned for corridors exceeding single-flight range.
Raw imagery is processed into calibrated orthomosaics, point clouds, and 3D surface models within 48 to 72 hours of capture. We conduct an internal quality review before delivery, flagging deficiencies and anomalies for engineering follow-up. All data is delivered through secure file transfer with full metadata and coordinate reference documentation.
The greater Houston region maintains thousands of bridge structures, hundreds of miles of roadway, and an extensive stormwater management network built across decades of rapid expansion. Agencies face a familiar bind: federally mandated inspection cycles under NBIS, shrinking maintenance budgets, and a backlog of deferred repairs that compounds with every storm season.
Traditional access methods, including snooper trucks, rope teams, and manned boat inspections, are slow, expensive, and often force full or partial lane closures. Drone-based inspection reduces traffic disruption, eliminates confined-space entry for many culvert and channel assessments, and returns georeferenced visual data that integrates directly into asset management platforms.
| Bridge Condition Reports | Annotated photo documentation organized by element, aligned with NBIS reporting structure |
| Pavement Condition Indices | Orthorectified corridor imagery with distress classification and PCI calculations |
| Corridor Mapping | Georeferenced orthomosaics and point clouds covering linear assets with change detection |
| Detention Pond Volumetrics | Photogrammetric surface models with capacity calculations and sedimentation estimates |
| GIS Layers for Asset Management | Shapefiles, GeoTIFFs, and feature classes formatted for ESRI-based asset platforms |
| Thermal Diagnostics | Radiometric thermal imagery for moisture detection, leak identification, and hotspot mapping |
Whether you need bridge element-level documentation, pavement condition surveys, or stormwater facility volumetrics, we will scope a data collection plan matched to your reporting requirements.
Get a Quote →