We present a short history of how surveying and mapping methods have developed over the last 35 years for engineering and GIS applications. We begin with three-person crews using theodolite and chains, progressing to Electronic Distance Measurements (EDMs), total stations with data collectors, conventional (film) photogrammetric mapping with mechanical plotters, RTK GPS, and now modern variations of terrestrial, bathometric, and airborne LiDAR scanning and digital photogrammetry.
A practical overview of drone-acquired aerial imagery and digital photogrammetric processing will also be presented. The guidance provided will summarize ortho-imagery, textured digital surface models, and their use in various civil, geotechnical, environmental, reclamation and construction engineering.
A practical overview of various digital products and the use of GIS to increase their scale, organization, and usefulness will be presented. This will include examples of how we incorporate various data formats ranging from point clouds, textured digital surface models, and ortho-imagery into our workflow.
