In 2024, WithersRavenel’s Remote Sensing team tackled several exciting and complex projects, but one standout effort focused on locating Noise and Privacy Walls near uptown Charlotte. These structures play a critical role in reducing the impact of road noise on surrounding communities. By precisely mapping their locations, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) could leverage remote sensing for noise mitigation and pollution, and develop strategies to mitigate its effects.
Navigating Unique Challenges in the Field
Executing this project presented distinct challenges, particularly in the field collection phase. The high-traffic environment required strategic planning to ensure safe and accurate data collection. These walls were surrounding E Independence Blvd just outside of Uptown Charlotte.
Careful flight planning was done to avoid flying over people or moving vehicles throughout each mission. One of the biggest hurdles in this location was maintaining a clear line of sight for drone operations, which was essential for safe drone operations. To overcome this, the team identified the need for a 50-foot manlift, allowing operators to maintain visual contact with both the drone and surrounding airspace from takeoff to landing. This approach ensured compliance with safety regulations and maximized data accuracy.
Summer’s dense vegetation added another layer of complexity, as many of the walls were heavily covered by foliage. Despite this challenge, project deadlines necessitated flying during peak growth conditions. While the RIEGL VUX-120 LiDAR sensor faced some limitations in penetrating dense tree cover, it still provided an impressive level of detail, capturing vital data that would inform NCDOT’s noise modeling efforts.
Precision, Planning, and Innovation
This project underscored the importance of adaptability and technical expertise in remote sensing operations. The WithersRavenel team navigated a demanding environment and demonstrated the effectiveness of careful planning and innovative solutions. Through those efforts, it resulted in capturing high-quality data, even in less-than-ideal conditions, highlighting the evolving capabilities of LiDAR technology in infrastructure planning and environmental assessment.
By leveraging remote sensing for noise mitigation, projects like this contribute to improving the quality of life for communities near high-traffic areas.
