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.