Case Study: Santa Maria Landfill tracks airspace and compaction with Propeller Aero

California Landfill Calculates Remaining Airspace, Tracks Compaction with Propeller

The City of Santa Maria's landfill, scheduled to close in 2027, needed an accurate way to track its remaining airspace and measure compaction rates to optimize operations and plan for its end-of-life. Previously, the site relied on infrequent outsourced surveys and operator estimations, leading to inefficient guesswork. The landfill turned to Propeller and implemented its PPK drone surveying solution, utilizing a Trimble Stratus-enabled drone and AeroPoint ground control points.

Using Propeller, the landfill's engineer conducts weekly drone surveys, generating 3D site data within 24 hours. This solution provided accurate, up-to-date topographical maps for calculating airspace and compaction, enabling data-driven decisions for planning, regulatory compliance, and contractor communication. For a cost of approximately $180 per flight, Propeller delivered invaluable on-demand data, allowing the team to know their exact remaining capacity and efficiently manage the landfill's timeline.

Santa Maria

Trent Girouard

Landfill Engineer