All posts by Jeff Salmon
![Color coding in this image of Mars represents differences in elevation, measured by NASA's Mars Global Surveyor. While surface liquid water is rare and ephermal on modern Mars.](/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/NASAImages-Mars-272x192.jpg)
Straight on to Mars (and Beyond)
In the last issue we raised the question of whether mankind should go back to the Moon as a way to fuel future space exploration. While that article states the many salient reasons to take this path, many people feel we should aim higher and go straight on to Mars. (For insights on what geospatial...
![Little drone takes on big airport title banner](/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Screen-Shot-2017-04-20-at-14.16.22-272x192.png)
Aerial Data Collection: Little Drone Takes on Big Airport
In a first-of-its-kind project, a UAS is tasked to collect aerial data of an international airport. By Jeff Salmon Normally when you add the words “drone” and “airport” to a sentence, it classifies as cringe-inducing. Just the opposite is true with this ground-breaking UAS project. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, usually abbreviated...
UAS: From FUD to FOMO
By Jeff Salmon Welcome to our semi-annual UAS-focused issue. Looking back over the last six years of UAS development, I am struck by how far the technology has progressed. Right before our eyes a new industry has developed, one that promises to bring far-reaching changes to our profession and indeed to the whole world. And...
![Should we settle on the Moon before Mars?](/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Moon-falsecolor-272x192.jpg)
Back to the Moon? Or—Straight on to Mars?
Editor’s note: at xyHt and Pangaea we’ve been adding “geo-space-al” content into our geospatial mix, and readers have been responding positively. Surveying on Mars is a great example. When you think about it, geospatial technology and space are inextricably intertwined; from GNSS to satellite-based remote sensing, we rely on space-based technology to tackle almost every...
![AXIS GeoSpatial has recently added a Piper Navajo to its fleet of aircraft.](/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Screen-Shot-2017-03-30-at-18.52.57-272x192.png)
15 Years of Growth at AXIS GeoSpatial
AXIS GeoSpatial provides more applications from one mapping effort. Easton, Maryland-based AXIS GeoSpatial LLC provides geospatial data and solutions to federal, state, and local government agencies and private sector firms, especially aerial mapping services. Heights talked with Erica Insley, marketing director for the firm. Heights: How did AXIS GeoSpatial get its start? Erica Insley: Founded in...
![xyHt Heights supplement cover April 2017](/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Screen-Shot-2017-03-30-at-18.07.16-272x192.png)
UAS Regulations Update
A look at recent and near-future legislation affecting UAVs for geospatial business use. By Jeff Salmon BVLOS Update The ability to fly beyond line of sight (BVLOS) is paramount to a wide range of UAS operations, including utility and pipeline inspections and monitoring, open pit mining, precision agriculture, corridor mapping, large-area mapping and surveying, and...