Three programs, three
schedules that used to
take months.

Challenge

Sky Shot was selected to support the engineering design of a major regional wastewater infrastructure project for one of the largest public utility organizations in the region.

The project covered several miles of proposed sewer alignment through difficult terrain, with more than 50% of the corridor covered by dense tree canopy. These conditions would have made a conventional field survey extremely challenging, requiring extensive manpower, difficult site access, and months of field work.

The engineering team had initially been advised that a traditional survey could require approximately three to five months before design-ready deliverables would be available.

At the same time, the project required exceptionally high mapping accuracy. The client specified engineering-grade deliverables, including:

• High-resolution georeferenced orthophotography
• RGB LiDAR point cloud referenced to the project coordinate system
• Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
• Ground and vegetation classification
• CAD-ready deliverables for engineering design
• Photogrammetry accuracy of 0.10 feet
• LiDAR accuracy of 0.15 feet

Our Solution

Using advanced UAV LiDAR technology and an optimized processing workflow, Sky Shot rapidly collected high-density aerial imagery and LiDAR data across the entire project corridor.

Our LiDAR system successfully penetrated the dense vegetation canopy to accurately model the ground surface beneath the trees while simultaneously capturing high-resolution aerial imagery suitable for engineering design.

Every dataset was processed, quality checked, classified and referenced to the project coordinate system before delivery, ensuring the engineering team received design-ready information without additional processing.

Results

Instead of waiting three to five months for conventional survey deliverables, the engineering team received complete engineering-ready mapping in only two weeks.

Despite the accelerated schedule, Sky Shot exceeded expectations by delivering exceptionally clean, highly accurate datasets ready for immediate design.

• Engineering-grade georeferenced orthophotography
• RGB LiDAR point cloud
• Ground & vegetation classification
• High-accuracy terrain model
• Engineering-ready contours
• CAD-compatible deliverables

Challenge

Sky Shot supported the engineering design of a major water and wastewater infrastructure improvement program covering more than 200 acres of developed residential corridors.

The area consisted of steep, rolling terrain with long utility corridors, making conventional field surveying both time-consuming and expensive. Under a traditional approach, collecting the information required for engineering design would have delayed the project well beyond the engineer's desired schedule.

A greater challenge was the existing utility system itself. Much of the original water and sewer infrastructure had been constructed decades earlier, with water meters, sewer appurtenances, valves, and other utility features located throughout residential properties and difficult-to-access areas.

The engineering team required a complete inventory and accurate location of existing infrastructure across the entire project area. Accomplishing this through conventional field surveying would have required months of work before engineering design could begin.

Our Solution

Sky Shot deployed advanced UAV mapping technology to rapidly capture comprehensive aerial imagery and geospatial data across the entire project area.

Within just over one week, we collected, processed, and delivered engineering-ready datasets covering the entire project corridor.

Deliverables included high-resolution georeferenced aerial imagery, engineering-ready mapping, organized asset inventory spreadsheets with coordinate information, and a fully developed Autodesk Civil 3D drawing prepared specifically for the design team.

The Civil 3D file contained accurately located blocks representing existing utility infrastructure including water meters, valves, sample stations, sewer structures, utility poles, and other critical field features.

Sky Shot also developed conceptual underground utility layouts based on engineering interpretation of visible surface features, helping engineers accelerate preliminary design and utility conflict analysis.

Results

By replacing months of conventional field collection with rapid UAV mapping, Sky Shot enabled the engineering team to begin design almost immediately.

Instead of waiting months for traditional surveying and drafting, the engineer received a comprehensive design-ready dataset in just over one week.

The combination of high-resolution aerial imagery, accurately located infrastructure, organized coordinate spreadsheets, and Civil 3D deliverables significantly reduced drafting time and improved design efficiency.

• High-resolution aerial imagery
• Engineering-ready mapping
• Civil 3D deliverables
• Asset inventory spreadsheets
• Existing utility documentation
• Conceptual underground utility layouts

Challenge

Sky Shot was selected to support the preliminary engineering and planning of 18 water treatment facilities located across Texas for a major utility infrastructure improvement program.

The facilities were distributed across hundreds of miles, with sites in communities including Waco, Red Oak, Bullard, Granbury (Canyon Creek area), and numerous other locations throughout the state.

Each facility had its own unique scope of work, existing conditions, and design requirements, making the project far more complex than a typical single-site assessment.

Before design could begin, the engineering team required accurate, up-to-date information for every facility. Much of the available documentation was outdated or incomplete, requiring a comprehensive review of each site to establish reliable existing conditions.

The engineer needed more than aerial imagery. They required a complete understanding of each facility, including infrastructure, site access, equipment, and operational features organized into a format ready for engineering design.

Our Solution

Sky Shot developed a standardized workflow combining high-accuracy UAV mapping, engineering interpretation, field verification, and research to produce consistent deliverables across all 18 facilities.

Within approximately one week, we collected, processed, analyzed, and delivered engineering-ready datasets for every location.

Each site included high-resolution georeferenced aerial imagery optimized for Autodesk Civil 3D and other CAD platforms.

Beyond mapping, we completed detailed existing-condition assessments documenting tanks, treatment equipment, valves, generators, electrical systems, administration buildings, fencing, entrances, utilities, and other critical site infrastructure.

Site information was verified through field observations and cross-referenced with publicly available regulatory records before being delivered to the engineering team.

Results

Within approximately one week, the engineering team received a complete, organized, and highly accurate existing-conditions package covering all 18 facilities across Texas.

• High-resolution CAD-ready orthophotography
• Georeferenced project imagery
• Civil 3D compatible deliverables
• Existing infrastructure inventories
• Site assessment summaries
• Engineering sketches
• Engineering reference documentation

By combining aerial mapping, engineering interpretation, and comprehensive site assessments into a single package, Sky Shot eliminated weeks of preliminary investigation and drafting, allowing engineers to begin design with confidence.