Francis Torres

DRONE BAN UPDATE: - IT IS NOW IN PLACE!! Recent federal action impacts future approvals of certain foreign-manufactured drones. What this does NOT do is shut down commercial drone operations. Here’s what matters for our clients: • Extreme Aerial Productions continues normal operations on commercial, private, construction, media, engineering, and survey projects. • Existing DJI aircraft remain legal to operate for non-federal work. • Federal and federally funded projects may restrict specific foreign-manufactured platforms. AUTEL/DJI etc We planned for this. For sensitive or federal work, we operate a fully U.S. compliant Sony-based fleet. For everything else, we continue delivering the same high-quality aerial services you already rely on. Bottom line: business continues. Projects stay on schedule. Clients stay protected.

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When it comes to bat conservation, innovation matters. WEST teamed up with a US-based drone developer, Persimia, to develop a drone-based bat survey tool, the BatCopter. With input from WEST experts regarding required drone specs and acoustic needs, Persimia’s talented drone engineers designed a drone specifically engineered to collect thermal and acoustic data, helping us better understand bat activity and inform conservation strategies  This unique tool can be used to observe bat activity/use or to estimate bat occupancy and relative abundance at onshore and offshore projects. The field and statistical methods we developed support a wide variety of applications including basic research, bat population monitoring and management, documenting bat activity/use, tracking long-term trends at renewable energy projects, and assessing bat conservation and management goals at mitigation sites.  To date, WEST has conducted drone-based bat surveys at 18 wind projects and three mitigation sites. #BatWeek

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What does NDAA 2025 mean for public safety drone programs? With recent federal actions affecting drone manufacturers, agencies are asking - what does this mean for operations? Here's what you need to know: You can continue flying DJI and Autel aircraft you already own. NDAA 2025 does not ground existing aircraft or make it illegal to operate lawfully purchased drones. The focus is on future products, not retroactive bans. Previously licensed models remain available. DJI models that received FCC authorization before the ban (Avata, Mavic, Matrice series) and Autel aircraft (EVO II, Max 4 series) can still be purchased. The restriction applies only to future models not yet licensed. The October FCC order doesn't change this immediately. While the FCC clarified its authority to review existing licenses, any action would require a formal process with public input—not an automatic revocation. The regulatory landscape continues to evolve, but agencies can continue operations and plan strategically. We're monitoring developments and happy to discuss what this means for your program. #drones #dronetechnology #publicsafety #innovation

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New on DJI Enterprise Insights 🎯 We’ve published a practical guide to the FAA’s streamlined Part 91.113 waiver for public safety UAS. It explains how qualified agencies that meet both the PSO and PAO definitions can access nationwide approvals for: Shielded BVLOS (≤200 ft AGL or 100 ft above nearby obstacles) BVLOS up to 400 ft with acceptable DAA Operations Over People & Over Moving Vehicles Why it matters: shorter processing times, no VO or NOTAMs required, 48-month validity, and clear requirements (e.g., <55 lb, ADS-B In, night lighting/training, Remote ID). The article also outlines how to apply and how this waiver replaces older BVLOS COAs. 🔗 Read the guide: https://brnw.ch/21wWc8v #PublicSafety #UAS #BVLOS #FAA #DJIEnterprise

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Ever wondered how drone surveying can coexist with manned aircraft near smaller (non-towered) airfields? Learn about radio communication protocol for safe and effective operations in this new article by Carlson's Director of Drone Operations Greg Gomes👉https://hubs.li/Q03zN9Ww0

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📰 Drone News Update — FAA Part 108 & DJI Developments The drone world keeps heating up. Here’s what’s trending right now: • The FAA denied requests to extend the comment period for its Part 108 / BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) NPRM — the deadline still stands at October 6, 2025. • That means the industry has a limited window to shape how future drone operations scale in the U.S. • At the same time, DJI remains on the Pentagon’s list of companies linked to China’s defense industry after a court ruled against their removal. • The proposed Part 108 rules also include heightened security measures and a layer of oversight led by TSA and DOT — meaning commercial drone deployments could see stricter controls. This isn’t just policy talk — these changes could reshape what drones can do, who can fly them, and which hardware will stay usable. 💬 If you could comment on just one change to the Part 108 draft, what would it be — access, cost, hardware compatibility, or safety? #FAA107 #Part108 #BVLOS #DroneTechnology #Regulations #Innovation #DronePilot #UAV #Security #TechTrends #CleanEnergy

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UgCS 5.11 is out. And it’s everything you’ve been asking for. ✅ Cloud sync with DJI Pilot 2. ✅ DJI Mini-series support via Litchi. Fly serious missions with light drones. ✅ Multiple map overlays. If you plan missions for #LiDAR, #photogrammetry, corridor mapping, or vertical inspections, this update changes how fast and precisely you can work. Here’s why over 4000 surveyors, inspectors, and drone teams worldwide use #UgCS: 💻 Runs offline 📍 Terrain-aware 📤 Works across platforms (not just DJI!) 📦 Built for individuals & teams Try it. More information: https://lnkd.in/dsrgKzmR

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👋👋 Repeatable DTM accuracy in #vegetated #terrain hinges on ≤1.5 cm imagery, >80% overlap & high point density. These thresholds ensure consistent elevation and vegetation change detection #dji #dronemapping #surveying #photogrammetry ✍️ Jurjen Van der Sluijs et al. 🔗 https://brnw.ch/21x0jRv

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DJI nailed the downward gaze. Skydio mastered the upward angle. And Freefly Systems They’re just flexing with efficiency and a monster camera. Smart Oblique from DJI is truly next-gen—making mapping faster, sharper, and more automated than ever before. If you’re capturing everything that looks down on the world, it’s hard not to be impressed. Meanwhile, Skydio has carved out its niche—dominating inspection workflows and 3D modeling, especially when you need to map upward—think bridges, facades, and overhangs. Then there’s the Freefly Astro. It may come at a higher price point, but it wins on raw efficiency, flight time, data quality, and modularity. It’s a data powerhouse with platform potential—and it doesn’t care which way you’re pointing the lens. Lesson of the day? The American drone game is finally catching up—and in some areas, even leading. We’re entering a new era of specialization in drones. The question isn’t which drone is “best”—it’s which drone is best for the job. Choose wisely. Fly smarter. Map everything. #drones #mapping #UAV #aerialintelligence #DJI #Skydio #Freefly #DroneMapping #DigitalTwins #DroneInspections #NDAAcompliant #geospatial

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📍𝐋𝐢𝐃𝐀𝐑 𝐈𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 - 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 We’ve all seen the praise. The article I share below is no exception: high-precision scans, historic preservation, faster workflows. The recent renovation effort at Wright-Patterson AFB’s Robins House showcases what modern LiDAR can do. 100+ scans in 12 hours. Full digital model. 18GB processed in under 8. But here is the thing: LiDAR is just the start .... on its own, it’s data-rich and insight-poor. 🧠 The real transformation comes when you move from collecting 3D point clouds to embedding those insights inside workflows: - Detecting runway debris in real-time. - Automating bid-ready documents post-disaster. - Sizing HVAC units without a single field visit. That’s Geospatial 2.0. → Question-led. → AI-first. → Embedded intelligence that learns, predicts, and evolves. The Air Force is making progress—but the next leap isn’t just better scans. It’s smarter systems. 🔍 Don’t just build a digital twin. Build a system that answers back. 📬Follow the evolution of geospatial by signing up for the Spatial-Next Newsletter: https://shorturl.at/SG9tU Read the article: https://lnkd.in/gcAz5Awi #Geospatial2_0 #LiDAR #DigitalTwins #EmbeddedIntelligence #AIFirst #WrightPatterson #GeospatialInnovation

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