Transport officials in Kansas are beginning a pilot project to determine how drones could be used in future road design work.
The Topeka Capital-Journal and The Tribune website say the State’s Department of Transportation has contracted the Kirkham Michael engineering firm to operate the fixed-wing drone (picture illustrative and not the actual drone) back and forth above part of the US-75 highway in northern Jackson County. The device is equipped with a still camera that takes hundreds of images of the terrain below.
The Transportation Department is looking at making US-75 safer between Holton in Jackson County and Fairview in Brown County. The department and the engineering firm are collaborating on the project and will survey and design a passing lane and 2-mile section of US-75.
Last year the German company GEWI showed off a software solution for programming drones to fly along roadworks sites.
