SenseFly and IN-FLIGHT Data recently completed what they are calling North America’s first urban beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) UAS project in a major city.

Conducted in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the project’s goal was to collect mapping data to support the development of a new graveyard site, which will be the first new cemetery in the city since 1940.

Using a senseFly eBee Plus fixed-wing UAS, the IN-FLIGHT Data team mapped the area by conducting a total of 257 miles’ worth of BVLOS operations at an average distance of 1.46 miles from the pilot.

The mapping process began as part of IN-FLIGHT Data’s wider BVLOS UAS operations trial earlier this year. The goal of that trial was to demonstrate the “safety and effectiveness of BVLOS UAS flights and the cost and efficiency benefits they can provide to citizens and governments alike.”

“As the first new municipal graveyard built in Calgary in over 75 years, this is a landmark development for the city,” says Chris Healy, owner of IN-FLIGHT Data.

“The trial we completed earlier this year, which was Canada’s largest BVLOS UAS operations trial to date, demonstrated that this technique can provide highly geo-accurate aerial data in a variety of different applications. This project was no exception and, importantly, flying beyond line of site ensured that all of our take-off and landing areas were respectfully located outside of the graveyard.”

Using a UAS to map the area was the most convenient option, being that the site not only had restricted ground access, but it was also located near a protected nature reserve and bird sanctuary. Ultimately, the UAS minimized the project’s environmental impact, eliminating the need to drive vehicles onto the site and disturb wildlife.

The project was completed on Sept. 29. Data collected during the project was delivered to the city of Calgary and will support construction management as the development of the graveyard begins.

According to the companies, the findings from the project not only provided valuable inventory data, which allowed city officials to identify the real estate available at the site, but the findings will also be shared with the citizens of Calgary to follow the progress of the site construction.

“When correctly planned and executed, including ongoing communication with local air traffic control, and live air traffic monitoring within the drone’s flight software, BVLOS operations are an incredibly efficient, safe and cost-effective tool for mapping cities,” Healy says.

“With fewer personnel and operational requirements, BVLOS drone flights are key in facilitating and reducing the costs of urban UAS operations, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for BVLOS in other urban applications.”