Aerial Mapping, LiDAR, Dock and Wharf Inspections, Thermal Inspections, Stockpile Volumes, Shoreline Monitoring, and Digital Twins for Ports, Terminals, and Marine Facilities Across the Texas Coast
The Coastal Bend runs on its waterfront. The Port of Corpus Christi, private terminals, shipyards, and docks along the ship channel move cargo every day. Their docks, yards, tanks, and shorelines need regular inspection and accurate records, and work can’t stop while that happens.
A port is hard to inspect by hand. Wharves and bulkheads are hard to reach from land. Yards and laydown areas change by the hour. Stockpiles of bulk cargo shift with every vessel. Then a hurricane season can change the whole site in a single night.
Skyline Drone Mapping (SDM) provides aerial mapping, LiDAR, visual and thermal inspections, stockpile volumes, change detection, and digital asset documentation for port and maritime operations. Our deliverables support engineering, operations, maintenance, environmental, GIS, and capital projects teams with georeferenced records that fit their existing workflows, while keeping people off lifts, boats, and edges.
| Service | Expanded Deliverables | Outputs | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orthomosaic Mapping (2D) | RTK/PPK-enabled orthomosaics of terminals, container yards, laydown areas, wharves, roads, and waterfront property | GeoTIFF, KML/KMZ, web viewer | Current basemaps for yard planning, coordination, and GIS |
| Topographic Mapping (DSM/DTM) | Terrain surfaces, contours, and drainage data for yard grading, terminal expansion, and access roads | DSM, DTM, contours, DXF, SHP, GeoTIFF | Supports grading, drainage, and site development work |
| Drone Surveying & Photogrammetry | Control-tied mapping, surface models, and georeferenced datasets for survey, engineering, and construction teams | CAD/GIS-ready datasets | Fast site data that complements licensed survey and engineering work |
| LiDAR Mapping | Dense point clouds and terrain data along shorelines, levees, channel banks, and complex waterfront structures | LAS/LAZ, DSM, DTM, contours, DXF, SHP | Reliable terrain and asset data where photos alone fall short |
| Service | Expanded Deliverables | Outputs | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulk Cargo Stockpile Volumes | Volume measurement of aggregate, grain, and other bulk cargo stockpiles | CSV, PDF, DXF | Faster inventory counts without equipment on the pile |
| Dredge Placement Area Volumes | Cut/fill and volume tracking of dredge material placement areas | CSV, PDF, DXF | Tracks remaining capacity and placement over time |
| Yard & Laydown Metrics | Area, distance, and clearance measurements across yards and staging areas | CSV, GIS layers | Better planning for storage, staging, and traffic routes |
| Recurring Monitoring & Change Detection | Repeat capture and comparison of terminals, shorelines, construction areas, and storm-affected sites | Comparison maps, change layers, annotated imagery, PDF reports, web viewer | Builds a condition history and shows what changed between visits |
| Service | Expanded Deliverables | Outputs | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerial Asset Inspections | High-resolution visual inspection of docks, wharves, bulkheads, fender systems, cranes, warehouse roofs, tanks, and lighting structures | Photos, video, annotated imagery, finding logs, PDF reports | Safer access to elevated and waterside assets, with records for maintenance planning |
| Radiometric Thermal Inspections | Heat-pattern analysis of electrical equipment, roofs, tanks, and mechanical components | Radiometric imagery, annotated findings, MP4, PDF reports | Supports condition-based maintenance and early checks on abnormal heat |
| Storm Damage Documentation | Rapid post-storm visual and mapping capture of docks, yards, roofs, and shorelines | Photos, video, orthomosaics, annotated findings, PDF reports | Gives insurance, engineering, and repair teams a clear record fast |
| Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) at Liquid Bulk Terminals | Infrared visualization and documentation of methane or VOC emissions at tank farms and transfer areas, where detectable under site conditions | OGI video, annotated clips and stills, geotagged finding logs, PDF reports | Supports leak localization, repair priorities, and emissions records |
| Service | Expanded Deliverables | Outputs | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3D Terminal Models | High-resolution 3D models and point clouds of terminals, wharves, warehouses, and waterfront structures | LAS/LAZ, OBJ, glTF, textured mesh, secure web viewer | Improves planning, remote review, and measurement |
| Port Facility Digital Twins | Measurable, time-based models that connect baseline conditions, inspection notes, thermal findings, documents, and recurring comparisons | Secure web viewer, annotations, linked media, GIS layers, inspection history | One shared reference for operations, maintenance, planning, and storm recovery |
| Service | Expanded Deliverables | Outputs | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerial Photo & Video | Site documentation for operations, construction updates, and stakeholder reporting | MP4, JPG | Visual record of conditions at a specific point in time |
| FPV Fly-Throughs | Walkthroughs of terminals, warehouses, and waterfront facilities | MP4 | Training, planning, and stakeholder communication |
SDM works with port engineers, terminal managers, facility and maintenance managers, operations managers, capital projects managers, environmental compliance teams, HSE managers, GIS and survey leads, emergency management teams, marine construction project managers, and the engineering firms that support them. We support port authorities, navigation districts, marine terminals, bulk cargo operators, shipyards, and government agencies with waterfront assets. For recurring work across several sites, we can set up an enterprise drone program.
| Stage | SDM Value |
|---|---|
| Planning & Expansion | Basemaps, topo surfaces, and terrain data for new berths, terminals, and yard expansions |
| Construction | Progress mapping, earthwork volumes, and before-and-after comparisons on port projects |
| Daily Operations | Yard and laydown mapping, stockpile volumes, and current site imagery |
| Maintenance & Asset Integrity | Dock, wharf, bulkhead, crane, and roof inspections, thermal checks, and recurring condition records |
| Environmental & Shoreline Monitoring | Shoreline change, dredge placement tracking, OGI documentation at liquid bulk terminals, and GIS-ready findings |
| Storm & Incident Response | Rapid post-storm mapping, damage documentation, and shared web-viewer access for response and repair teams |
