Aerial photography and topographic mapping

Lava Mapping, Highways 132, 137 and Leilani Estates Roadways

After the 2018 Kilauea eruption, the County of Hawaii Public Works Department needed land survey coordination and associated services for the topographic and right-of-way mapping of inundated road areas along the East Rift Zone of Hawaii Island. Those roadway alignments included Highway 132, Highway 137, and primary roadways in and around Leilani Estates and Pohoiki.

Our geomatics team developed a GPS control network and provided unmanned aerial systems (UAS) aerial photography and topographic mapping along the individual roadways for Hawaii County, totaling 10 miles (16 kilometres) of lava strip topography. Stantec’s Hawaii-based drone team provided UAS coordination, pre-checks, and liaison with the Federal Aviation Administration, along with aerial photography and mapping.

How did that help? Hawaii County used the topographic maps to calculate and redesign replacement roads for the reopening of right of ways so people displaced by the lava could return to their homes.