Excellent discussion on an exciting topic. This is all still very early in its life cycle and has significant implications for geospatial technologists. The AirGon system comes out of a company called GeoCue which is a highly reputable performer in our industry. $30K might seem like a lot for an individual investment, but to a surveying or engineering firm interested in a metric mapping capability, it is quite reasonable. Over the next few years we will see a plethora of new entrants to this market offering not just software and hardware (like AirGon) but actual professional mapping services. Section 333 exemptions and draft sUAS rules from the FAA are still roadblocks but the time is short before those come down too. What is clear is that this new expansion of data collection via sUAS platforms is going to create lots of market confusion in terms of quality, accuracy, and utility. I know of at least three firms in New England that are poised to provide geospatial mapping services using sUAS platforms and are in varying degrees of the FAA approval process right now. All have different drone platforms and are flying them RIGHT NOW. Since this is not a marketing list, if you are interested to know more, please contact me separately for more info. Meanwhile, expect this to be the primary disruptive technology in the geospatial profession over the next couple of years!

Ben Houston