The U.S. Air Force’s 548th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group and 9th Security Forces Squadron have partnered to test an artificial drone technology designed to map infrastructure. USAF said Saturday that the Hivemapper airborne video map program currently in beta testing at Beale Air Force Base in California works to record imagery and helps an unmanned aerial system to track change detection through visualization and analytic tools.
The mapping technology has the potential to help civil engineers collect imagery of military base construction and maintenance projects, the service branch noted. The 3D platform is equipped with recovery and safety features for civilian users.
“With deployments across the Air Force, the Air Force Research Laboratory and Air Force Special Operations Command to name a few, the Hivemapper team continues to learn and grow with the Air Force to deliver capabilities in demand by airmen in the field,†Hivemapper CEO Ariel Seidman said.
The Hivemapper-Beale AFB partnership seeks to introduce the mapping platform to other installations.