Case Study: Ryka UAS delivers precise cell tower inspection and 3D modeling with Pix4D

Cell tower inspection with drone for new antenna mount

Ryka UAS, a professional drone inspection company, was brought in by a major wireless carrier to inspect an unclimbable monopole telecommunication tower on Vashon Island, Washington, and help engineers design a new antenna mount. Using Pix4Dmapper from Pix4D, Ryka needed a way to capture accurate data from a structure that could not be safely climbed.

Pix4D and Ryka UAS solved the challenge by flying a Turbo Ace Matrix-E quadcopter with a Sony A6000 camera around the tower, collecting about 400 geotagged images with 80%+ overlap and 0.2 cm GSD. Pix4Dmapper processed the images into a precise 3D densified point cloud that was used in CAD for analysis and mount design, and Ryka delivered final results within two to three days, reducing cost and improving inspection efficiency compared with a traditional crane crew.

Ryka UAS

Robert Erdt

Business Development