Zephyr UAS, Inc. (ZUI) provided collection services for 5 miles of ortho-rectified photogrammetry and mapping of Metrolink’s coastal corridor in San Clemente, CA. This portion of the commuter rail system is next to the Pacific Ocean. With “El Nino” conditions forecasted for late 2015, Metrolink utilized the mapping to assess railroad infrastructure and to implement plans to protect vulnerable portions of the railroad from the coastal influence of the upcoming storms. ZUI used a fixed-wing survey-grade aerial mapping UAV because of its accuracy and high definition products.


In May 2017, ZUI was asked to complete a similar flight to record the effects of the infrastructure improvements and to record the condition of the corridor after the "El Nino”  storms.  

A DBE/SBE/MBE Company

Union Pacific Railroad

Clinton Railroad Bridge

  • Location:  Southern California
  • Date Completed:  November 2015
  • Services Provided:  Aerial Mapping

PAST AND CURRENT PROJECTS

Zephyr UAS, Inc. (ZUI) provided aerial photography and aerial mapping services to provide as-built data to CSX for one of its network's largest hump yards.  ZUI’s innovative UAV-collected data was integral in providing an as-built of the yard in record time and with accuracies that surpassed the client's expectations. The surface data allowed the team's designers to provide reliable track plan and profile information to CSX to determine the existing condition of this incredibly busy yard terminal, allowing them to accurately and expediently analyze their current railroad operation.

Data was collected in only 2 days and in such a manner that existing operations were not disrupted, whereas traditional survey methods would have required vacating tracks and impacting operations.  Instead, ZUI provided accurate 3D information of this dynamic and historic rail hump yard with no impact to CSX business.

 

  • Location:  Clinton, IA
  • Date Completed:  June, 2017
  • Services Provided:  Pre-condition Survey
  • Location:  Oakland, CA
  • Date Completed:  September 2017
  • Services Provided:  Aerial Mapping

Southern California Regional Rail Authority

Metrolink Coastal Mapping

  • Location:  San Clemente, CA
  • Date Completed:  May 2017
  • Services Provided:  Aerial Mapping

The Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) is looking to increase capacity and improve the flow of goods along 7th and Matitime Streets in and out of the Port of Oakland's facilities.  The proposed 7th Street Grade Separation Project will provide maximum operational flexibility for both vehicular and rail traffic. 


Zephyr UAS, Inc. (ZUI) provided collection services of ortho-rectified photogrammetry and mapping in support of the environmental and preliminary engineering analysis of the proposed grade separation.  This area was particularly challenging because of active railroad operations through the Union Pacific Railroad's main track and storage yard facilities.  Other rail operations include BNSF's Oakland International Gateway and the Port's Outer Harbor Intermodal Terminal. 


ZUI's use of survey-grade UAVs were able to provide accurate and high-definition data without disturbing vehicular or railroad operations.  

  • Location:  Nashville, TN
  • Date Completed:  May 2017
  • Services Provided:  Aerial Mapping

Alameda County Transportation Commission

7th Street Grade Separation

Zephyr UAS, Inc. (ZUI) provided collection services for 42 miles of ortho-rectified photogrammetry and mapping in support of the environmental and preliminary engineering analysis of the high speed rail in southern California. This urban corridor is the most challenging of the 500 mile system being planned by the State Authority due to the fact that the system will co-exist with commuter rail trains, intercity trains and freight trains. ZUI utilized a fixed-wing survey-grade aerial mapping UAV because of its accuracy and high definition products.


ZUI was able to reduce the aerial collection time frame by half when compared to a conventional manned aircraft approach by using our UAV and UAS platform. 

California High-Speed Rail 

Burbank to Los Angeles Segment and Los Angeles to Anaheim Segment

CSX Transportation

Radnor Yard, Nashville, TN

Over the last 2-3 years, accelerated bridge replacements have been Union Pacific Railroad's (UPRR) largest initiative.  As existing railroad infrastructure continues to age, there has been a growing need to identify high-priority bridge replacement projects across UPRR's entire network.  The Clinton Railroad Bridge could be one such structure, but since its swing span operation is unique, UPRR sought to document its existing features using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).  Zephyr UAS, Inc. (ZUI) collected aerial photography and video to capture the existing condition of the Clinton Railroad Bridge over the Mississippi River.  ZUI provided an edited video documenting not only the existing condition of the railroad infrastructure, but also the operations of the swing span bridge.  These deliverables allowed UPRR to have a record of this unique railroad bridge structure.