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Airbus Aerial uses drone for runway mapping at Hartsfield-Jackson

060322 - HAPEVILLE, GA -- These giant painted lines can be seen at the construction site on the fifth runway at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Wednesday, March 22, 2006. (JOHNNY CRAWFORD/AJC staff)

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

060322 - HAPEVILLE, GA -- These giant painted lines can be seen at the construction site on the fifth runway at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Wednesday, March 22, 2006. (JOHNNY CRAWFORD/AJC staff)
By
May 2, 2018

Airbus Aerial said it used a drone for runway mapping at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

The Airbus drone subsidiary used a senseFly eBee Plus drone to capture images of the runway for mapping, which required Federal Aviation Administration clearance. The technology enables 3D mapping, contour layers and high-resolution imagery.

The mapping of the south runway will help determine whether the airport will use the service for runway inspections, according to Airbus Aerial. The drone subsidiary has also used drones for inspections of power lines for Southern Co., provided aerial data to insurance companies after hurricanes and helped with response after California wildfires.

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As business team lead, Kelly Yamanouchi edits and writes business stories. She graduated from Harvard and has a master's degree from Northwestern.

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