The latest technology which is seeking applications in every industry is that of what is commonly known as “drones“. We call them “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles” or UAV’s for short. A3 Environmental Consultants recognizes the need to keep up with what our engineering and government agency clients are looking for. To that end, we have partnered with Dean Klapatch who is a certified UAV pilot. He was one of the first people to get a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) UAV pilot’s license here in Illinois. He has been working actively in the UAV industry since 2015. On top of all of this, he’s an engineer. Being an engineer helps him understand what engineering clients are looking for and how to conduct himself on a jobsite.
Why Drones?
Drones allow for unique vantage points both figuratively and literally.
Wide Open Spaces
The work we do in the environmental consulting industry is often spread out across many acres. Contamination is seldom bounded and can, in the worst cases, move laterally for miles with groundwater. On a happier note, wetland rehabilitation projects and prairie restorations are also usually done over many acres. Drones have the benefit of being able to capture a literal bird’s eye view of these projects and convey them back to the client.
Changes Over Time
In addition to being able to capture the essence of a project from the sky, a drone has the capability of showing a project over time. This is crucial for environmental projects that happen slowly. Growing native plants in a prairie or wetland is a 3 to 5 year process. The narrative that a drone brings helps to bring context and clarity to the overall goal. It can condense into a few minutes of video the success (or failure) of a project.
Team & Public Involvement
Our projects always have a team who is somewhere offsite. Our project managers are managed by our client’s project managers. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. A video is worth a library in our estimation. A drone video timelapse can help us be accountable to the people who manage us even (especially) when those people work for a public agency. The video is available to show the public, to keep their interest, show them how public tax dollars are being spent and gather input on next phases of a project.
GIS, CADD & Drones
The A3 Environmental Consultants Team has alway had a vibrant GIS / CADD department. Showing our clients the details of their project on a map has long been part of getting the environmental consulting job done. Adding UAVs to the mix of tools available to us rounds out our product offerings and capabilities and matches them with the needs of the 21st century.
Dean Klapatch, Drone Pilot
Incorporating UAV technology into our environmental consulting services allows A3 Environmental Consultants to deliver innovative and effective project solutions. By partnering with Dean Klapatch, a seasoned UAV pilot and engineer, we bring a unique combination of technical expertise and practical understanding to each project. Drones provide unparalleled perspectives that enhance communication and transparency, capturing detailed visual data over large areas and across extended timelines. This capability not only aids in monitoring project progress, such as wetland restoration or contamination spread, but also facilitates clearer reporting to clients, stakeholders, and the public. Through these visual narratives, we aim to provide a more engaging, informative, and accountable view of our environmental efforts, aligning with our commitment to excellence and client satisfaction.
We Fix Gnarly Environmental Problems
