Rekon Solutions

Your Challenges

Challenge 8: Emergency Mapping After Highway Washout

When disaster strikes, time is everything. Rekon mobilized fast after catastrophic floods shut down a critical section of BC’s Highway 5. By using drone LiDAR and inspection drones—launched via helicopter—we captured the necessary terrain and structural data to support emergency engineering within hours.

The Problem

A major section of BC’s Highway 5 was shut down due to severe flooding, landslides, and collapsed bridges—cutting off a critical transport artery between the Lower Mainland and the Interior. The client urgently needed high-resolution terrain data and inspection visuals to begin designing a temporary fix within days—not months.

The Rekon Solution

We deployed high-resolution drone LiDAR and inspection drones—accessing five washout and bridge collapse sites by helicopter. Working alongside structural and geotechnical engineers on-site, we captured the data under intense time pressure, delivering it in record time to jumpstart the redesign process.

Understanding the Urgency and Access

The client had a clear scope: LiDAR mapping and drone inspections to support fast-track engineering solutions. But with all ground routes inaccessible, we rapidly pivoted to a helicopter-based plan—mapping access, prepping flights, and coordinating with field engineers to ensure efficient site execution.

High-Pressure Aerial Execution

  • Coordinated with engineers and flew in by helicopter
  • Split crew to simultaneously capture LiDAR and inspection media
  • Collected data at five remote washout and collapse sites
  • Completed all flights before sundown to avoid sub-zero overnight exposure
  • Delivered terrain models, videos, and imagery under extreme time constraints

 

Deliverables That Enabled Emergency Design

  • Drone LiDAR: LAZ, DEM, DSM, contours, orthophotos
  • Site inspection: Engineer-directed photos and videos
  • Online viewer access via Propeller for immediate interpretation

The Long-Term Impact

  • [✓] Enabled near-immediate engineering response to reopen the highway
  • [✓] Accelerated planning of long-term flood-resilient infrastructure
  • [✓] Delivered within hours—not days—despite helicopter-only access
  • [✓] Recognized publicly on Discovery Channel’s After the Storm series for critical role in the response

Rekon Let’s You Map Smarter

From forests to highways, our drone and LiDAR solutions deliver accuracy, speed, and peace of mind. Let’s talk about your project Now.