Last week James Rennie from Australian UAV was in Singleton to fly his eBee UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) for high quality aerial imagery and 3D surface imagery.

The eBee is a sophisticated autonomous GPS controlled fixed-wing aircraft used for photogrammetry, vertical true colour and near infrared photography.

Singleton Council commissioned flights over sites such as the soon to be redeveloped Singleton Regional Livestock Market, Sedgefield Cemetery and Council’s waste and water facilities.

Acting General Manager Gary Thomson says Council’s Land and Asset Management Systems team is constantly searching for new technology to improve its operations.

“The UAV is a cost effective, safe method of aerial imaging and inspection,” Gary said.

“The rapid deployment and data turn around capabilities of the system allow us to start analysing the data weeks before more traditional data capture methods would allow.”

The images taken using the eBee will assist Council in monitoring environmental progression, identifying assets for renewal and future design of planning and development.

It’s believed this was the first time a UAV has been utilised to gather such information within the Hunter Valley for local government purposes.

Australian UAV is CASA certified and holds a UAV Operations Certificate.

Image | Singleton Council Spatial Information Systems Officer Ben Nicholson with James Rennie from Australian UAV with the eBee