If contractors knew the best way to capture site data for each kind of job, whether it was using laser scans, drones or their own smartphones, it would certainly solve some problems up front.

In recent years contractors have seen the advantages of employing light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology with unmanned aerial systems (UAS), also known as drones.

New advances in automation, data collection and the perils of too many pilot projects were the top line ideas at the first day of the 2021 ENR FutureTech conference. 

Mapping and geomapping giant Esri acquired nFrames, a photogrammetry software company based in Stuttgart, Germany, that automates the process of creating 3D maps from photos and LiDAR data.

Tech start-up Built Robotics is running trials of a fully autonomous skid-steer loader in California.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology is being tested to document cut-and-fill work on a $74-million interchange in Contra Costa County, Calif.