The above 3D model shows the possibilities of combining multiple remote sensing techniques, using multiple sensors and multiple types of unmanned autonomous vehicles, to conduct a survey.

A recent challenge was monitoring the erosion of sand faces beside a lake requiring elevations above and below the water line. Combining hydrographic bathymetry with topography is not a straightforward task, but by combining a range of cutting-edge technology we can create incredible models to visualise sites.

We used a combination of multiple sensors and remotely operated vehicles. We mounted a camera on a UAV, and SONAR on a remotely piloted boat, to provide a detailed 3D model and depict a complex landscape.

We had the unusual chance to watch one unmanned vehicle collecting data through the lens of a second as they simultaneously surveyed the same area. Using these cutting-edge technologies and techniques in harmony highlights the exciting potential of what the modern surveyor can accomplish and what we may be able to accomplish in the future.