Case Studies
Case Studies
Proven Results From the Field — Not the Lab
Pre-Construction Site Monitoring
Client
Open Works
Location
Walbrook Mill Development Site, West Baltimore
Challenge
As Open Works prepared to expand to a second location, the team needed accurate aerial data to inform architectural planning. The site included uneven terrain and a large mound of fill dirt that required volume estimation. There was no recent topographical data available, and the design team had not yet developed a BIM model. The organization also needed marketing footage to promote the site’s development to funders and the community.
Solution
Global Air Enterprise conducted a comprehensive drone survey of the site, including high-resolution aerial photography, 2D orthomosaic mapping, 3D terrain modeling, and volume calculations for the fill dirt mound. A topographic survey was completed using high-accuracy drone sensors without the need for ground control points. We also captured cinematic drone footage for a marketing video and coordinated closely with PI.KL Studio, the architectural firm leading the design.
Outcome
The deliverables included a full mapping dataset, volume estimate, topographic report, and a final video. The architectural team used the topographic data to assess layout and drainage options. The marketing team requested a social-media-ready version of the video to share with stakeholders. All services were completed on time and on budget, supporting Open Works’ efforts to expand with confidence and clarity.
Drone Inspection of a Live Substation – Thermal, Visual, and No Downtime
Client
A regional utility company serving thousands of commercial and residential customers across the Mid-Atlantic. The client maintains high-voltage substations and required a safe, fast inspection method that didn’t interrupt live operations.
Location
The inspection was conducted at an active electrical substation located in a semi-urban area in Northern Virginia.
Challenge
The utility team needed detailed visual and thermal inspection data for multiple components across the substation, including transformers, circuit breakers, and busbars. Due to the site’s critical role in grid continuity, the client required zero operational disruption. Traditional manual inspections posed safety risks and would have required partial shutdowns. The client also needed QA-checked imagery formatted for compliance documentation and internal reporting.
Solution
Global Air Enterprise deployed a certified drone team to capture thermal and high-resolution RGB imagery using industrial-grade sensors. The mission was pre-approved for low-altitude flight and coordinated closely with substation operators to ensure compliance with safety protocols. Flights were conducted during peak daytime heat hours to optimize thermal contrast. All data was processed through our internal QA system and delivered in formats compatible with the client’s asset management and compliance platforms.
Outcome
The inspection was completed safely and efficiently with no need for power shutoff, enabling the utility to maintain full uptime during the operation. By avoiding manual inspection procedures and potential partial shutdowns, the client eliminated an estimated $15,000–$20,000 in operational risk and labor costs. The visual and thermal data was delivered within 72 hours, QA-checked, and formatted for direct integration into the utility’s maintenance platform. The utility team was able to identify early signs of heat-related stress in transformer components, allowing for preventative maintenance scheduling—ultimately improving safety and extending asset life without any disruption to service.
Refinery-Grade Aerial Mapping for Flare Stack & Tank Farm Layout Review
Client
A private oil and gas operator based in Nigeria, managing upstream and midstream operations across multiple states. The client oversees refinery development, storage infrastructure, and asset inspection programs in high-compliance environments.
Location
The mapping took place at a developing tank farm and flare stack facility in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
Challenge
The client was in the early stages of expanding its refinery infrastructure and needed accurate, up-to-date aerial data to support layout planning, permitting, and safety assessments. The site spanned multiple zones, including flare stacks, storage tanks, piping corridors, and road access paths. Traditional surveying was time-consuming and exposed field teams to operational hazards. The client required fast turnaround, sub-meter accuracy, and data deliverables that could integrate with CAD and GIS systems.
Solution
Global Air Enterprise deployed a drone operations team with refinery-trained pilots and visual observers. Flights were conducted under safety-compliant conditions, using high-resolution RGB and oblique sensors to capture the full layout of tanks, stacks, and adjacent structures. The mission covered the entire tank farm and access corridors in under two hours. Deliverables included orthomosaic maps, elevation profiles, and annotated site layouts—compatible with the client’s engineering and permitting platforms.
Outcome
The project was completed ahead of schedule and delivered with horizontal accuracy within 5 cm. The data enabled engineers to optimize equipment placement and access routing while reducing reliance on manual site walks. By using aerial data to validate distances and layout constraints, the client was able to accelerate their design timeline by approximately two weeks and avoid costly site rework. The project also minimized safety exposure for inspection crews, aligning with the client's HSE goals and refinery compliance standards.
Mapping 7 Miles of Utility Corridor for Pre-Inspection & Vegetation Analysis
Client
A regional electric utility responsible for power distribution across rural and suburban service areas in the southeastern United States. The utility manages routine inspections and vegetation management across hundreds of transmission line miles annually.
Location
The project covered a 7-mile stretch of transmission corridor in a mixed-use zone, including residential setbacks, wooded areas, and agricultural crossings.
Challenge
The utility needed to assess vegetation encroachment and document line-of-sight access for maintenance crews prior to initiating ground inspections. Dense vegetation, difficult terrain, and proximity to residential areas made conventional boots-on-the-ground surveys slow, costly, and risk-prone. The utility also needed high-resolution aerial data to identify early signs of right-of-way violations and prepare maintenance teams for upcoming work orders.
Solution
Global Air Enterprise deployed FAA-certified pilots equipped with high-resolution RGB sensors to capture linear corridor data in overlapping flight bands. The mission was executed under controlled flight planning to avoid conflict with nearby manned aviation routes and maintained full line-of-sight for safety. Post-processing included the creation of a geo-referenced orthomosaic map and vegetation index overlay using NDVI analytics. The outputs were aligned with the client’s GIS database to support asset visualization and work planning.
Outcome
The drone survey was completed in under two days, compared to the estimated five-day timeline for a traditional ground team. The client received detailed orthomosaics and vegetation analysis deliverables within 72 hours, formatted for direct use in ArcGIS and their vegetation management platform. The aerial perspective enabled the utility to prioritize high-risk encroachment zones and deploy field crews more efficiently—saving an estimated $8,000 in field labor and prep costs on this segment alone, while improving safety and response readiness.
Drone Mapping for Medical Access in Rohingya Refugee Camps
Client
Global Outreach Doctors, in collaboration with on-site medical teams and humanitarian organizations serving the Rohingya refugee population in Bangladesh. The mission was carried out by Global Air as part of a broader emergency response initiative.
Location
Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh — the largest refugee settlement in the world, home to over 250,000 displaced Rohingya individuals at the time of deployment.
Challenge
In the wake of a rapidly escalating humanitarian crisis, thousands of refugees were arriving daily into sprawling, unstructured settlements. Medical teams needed accurate, up-to-date spatial data to determine where to place mobile clinics, distribute supplies, and triage patients. With poor ground access, no baseline maps, and chaotic growth patterns, there was no reliable way to plan service delivery or track camp expansion.
Solution
Global Air deployed a drone team equipped with high-resolution mapping equipment and partnered with field medics to collect aerial imagery of the refugee settlement. Using DroneDeploy to stitch orthomosaics and build elevation models, the team produced 2D and 3D maps of key sectors of the camp. These maps were shared in real-time with medical coordinators to guide decision-making, clinic placement, and movement planning.
Outcome
The mapping data enabled faster and more precise placement of medical facilities—supporting emergency access to care for thousands of displaced individuals. The elevation models also helped prevent water pooling and contamination by identifying high-ground locations for health tents and staging areas. The deployment marked a pivotal shift in how drones were used for humanitarian logistics, showing how aerial intelligence could bridge technology and compassion. The experience also deepened Global Air’s commitment to training a new generation of drone professionals who understand both data and impact.
