Picture of the Week: Phoenix Rising

After almost 6 years of service (and new transmission), our Suburban has found new life, like a phoenix rising from the ashes.  It looks like a brand new vehicle with the original wrap removed and new wrap installed.  Our fleet is going to continue to sport matching red, white and blue designs. Now, all it needs is a system installed.

Cheers!
Stephen

Article: Lowering the Barrier to Entry Does Not Eliminate the Requirement for Professionals

We’re not a one-trick pony, and we’re not terrestrially-bound.  Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) represent the newest, low-cost acquisition platform – but low-cost doesn’t give license for lack of professional responsibility.   Continuing our contributions to your reading pleasure, check out another recent article authored by our own Eric Andelin that was published in the May edition of LiDAR News Magazine. 

Cheers!
Stephen

Pictures of the Week

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the Open House of Michael Baker International's new office location in Dallas, TX.  Thankfully, the weather cooperated and we were able to show off one of our systems.

Pictured (from left to right) are Michael Baker International employees Cooper Liebau, June Garcia, Rocky Armendariz and Gene Valentine.

Also in attendance and inspecting the system, were our Chief Operating Officer Jeff Hill (right) and Senior Vice President/Gulf Coast Region Director Bill Macon (left).  

Although our Mobile LiDAR team and equipment may reside in only a handful of offices across our organization, we are all one Michael Baker International.  We welcome the opportunity to come out in support of our colleagues elsewhere.

Cheers!

Stephen

Article: LiDAR Fusion for Impervious Surface Mapping

With the deployment of our 2 brand new Lynx SG1 systems, the past month has been admittedly hectic.  Although we haven’t had much time lately to post new material to the Blog, our team continues to contribute to the profession through other media outlets.

Check out a recent article published in the May edition of LiDAR News Magazine that was authored by our own Dr. Srinivasan Dharmapuri and Aaron Morris.

Cheers!

Stephen

Dallas Open House

Come join us in Dallas, TX on Thursday, June 18th for an Open House at our new office.  Hopefully the weather cooperates and we're able to fully display one of our Mobile LiDAR units!

For directions or to RSVP, contact Robin as indicated in the postcard.

Cheers!
Stephen

Picture(s) of the Week

I was waiting to post this, but it's making the rounds on other social media sites and within Michael Baker International.  Also, there can't be a better day than our 75th Anniversary Celebration to show this off!

With the acquisition of another Mobile LiDAR system, we have deployed our combined approach to Mapping the Nation's Infrastructure.  The vehicle utilizes the Optech Lynx SG1 Mobile LiDAR system, Pavemetrics Laser Crack Measurement System (LCMS) and GSSI RoadScan Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) systems for a combined approach.

Another modification includes the mounting of 3 of the Lynx 5-mega pixel cameras forward of the systems to capture forward facing frame imagery - while also deploying the Ladybug 5 spherical camera.

Cheers!
Stephen

Celebrating 75 Years

Today kicks of our 75th Anniversary Celebration at Michael Baker International.  If you look closely, our legacy Mobile LiDAR system made it onto the photo (middle, left of center).  Given the Signature Projects we've performed and the outstanding employees we have across our organization, it's an honor to be represented.

You can look at some of Michael Baker's history presented in past posts at:

• 1940's Survey Crew
• One of our First Computers

Cheers!

Stephen

Follow the #75MichaelBakerIntl anniversary action as we kick-off the celebration across the… http://t.co/4uee0RdKZW pic.twitter.com/g5a0cFMq4A

— Michael Baker Intl. (@MBakerIntl) April 30, 2015

A Day in the Life of a Mobile LiDAR Operator - Introduction

Within the Mobile LiDAR profession we sometimes have to step back and reassess our assumptions of our audience’s understanding of the technology. Since we work with it every day, it’s easy forget that even after nearly 6 years of mainstream use, most people have no idea what the equipment is, nor how it works. Frankly, it’s not too surprising to me, because before I started with Baker a year ago, I was in with the majority of the population – no idea this amazing technology was in use, let alone having an industry pioneer right here in my home State of Mississippi.

The view from the passenger seat of our legacy Mobile LiDAR unit while in Utah.

As a Michael Baker Mobile LiDAR operator I came to realize fairly early in my career that this is not an ordinary job. I have driven all across this beautiful country - from coast to coast, and points in between. Some of you are probably thinking that all that driving has to be sheer torture - but I actually enjoy it. I see it as a prime opportunity to travel this great country. I get to see new places, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that I get paid to do it.

If you’re a follower of Michael Baker’s various Mobile LiDAR social media sites, you've already seen some of my travels on Instagram. Now that I've got my first blog posting under my belt, I’m going to take this opportunity and run with it. I’m working on an upcoming series of posts in which I hope to share with you aspects of a day in the life of a Mobile LiDAR operator. I think it’s worthy to dispel some of the misconceptions about what we do - because after all, we don’t just “push a button and drive”.

Cheers!
Clark

Clark Jackson is a lead operator with Michael Baker International's Mobile LiDAR team.  He joined Baker in 2014 after earning a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering Technology from Mississippi State University. Clark will be providing further postings from the operator's perspective and sharing insights on his roles and responsibilities.

Frequently Asked Questions: Updated

Yesterday started a week of updates, in more ways than one.  Currently, we have Optech in our office to finalize the upgrade and installation of our systems.  With this, I've taken the opportunity to revisit the Frequently Asked Questions part of the new Mobile LiDAR website - you might have also noticed the change in our domain name.

The questions and answers have been updated to reflect the change in our systems, their capabilities and slight variations between the units.  Additionally, I've embedded links into questions that have been addressed in the more than 100 postings that have been prepared over the past 5 years.

If you have a Mobile LiDAR related question, feel free to post a comment or use the Contact Us page to send me an email.

Cheers!
Stephen

Happy National Surveyors Week!

National Surveyors Week, beginning the third Sunday of March, is celebrated each year to highlight the contributions surveyors make to society.  Whether through traditional surveying, photogrammetry, LiDAR, geodesy, or hydrographic surveying, the profession plays a substantial role in defining the characteristics of our constantly evolving environment.

Thank you to all the surveyors who came before us!

Cheers!
Stephen

Michael Baker Jr. survey crew stops for a photograph along US Highway 19 in Florida (specific location unknown), circa 1943.

We're on Instagram

The Mobile LiDAR team is now on Instagram! The crews are going to upload pictures to show off some of their travels.  The first few pictures (and a movie) are posted, but now that the wraps are completed and unveiled, there will be more forthcoming.

Cheers!
Stephen

PS:  Although I'm not pictured, I was on the boat... 

We are proud to introduce the 2015 Mobile LiDAR SG1. The vehicle was deployed out last week with multiple projects scheduled. Coming to Roads Near You! #MappingtheNationsInfrastructure #MobileLiDAR #MobileMapping #MobileSurveying #mapping #surveying #landsurveying #surveylife #realsurveyors #surveyors #GPS #GIS #geomatics #lasers #topography #transportation #engineering #2015 #WeMakeADifference #MBI #MichaelBakerInternational

A photo posted by Michael Baker International (@mobilelidar) on Mar 6, 2015 at 12:18pm PST

Picture of the Week - New Mobile LiDAR Vehicles

It has been five and a half years since we unveiled our original system in the first Mobile LiDAR blog posting. The Suburban has served us well for these years, but with deploying the our newly acquired Optech Lynx SG1 systems it was time for something new.

After looking at numerous vehicles and consideration of the years of deployment, we decided to go with Nissan NV2500's.  The large flat roof provides a similar mounting height as our Suburban (with wing), but a much larger interior for our crew's comfort when traveling around the country on assignment.

Michael Baker International's new Mobile LiDAR vehicles.  

The interior build out includes cabinets and working area for our crew. There is plenty of room for all of the supporting equipment, luggage and some of the luxuries the crew brings with them on the road.

Cheers!
Stephen

Note:  The Nissan NV2500 is manufactured in Canton, MS - 3 exits north of our Ridgeland, MS operation along Interstate 55.