Land reclamation is a complicated process that involves a variety of steps that can vary based on the nature of the reclamation goals. Each step involves heavily scrutinized procedures that can be capital heavy, labor-intensive and something that requires a high level of unique and varied expertise.
The complexity of the land reclamation process is largely justified due to the significance of its goal of ensuring any disturbed land is returned to its original or improved state, in an effort to achieve harmony between the needs of civilized humanity and the needs of the plants, animals and overall environment of the world we rely on for life.
Several methods and strategies have been put in place to successfully execute the land reclamation process, including a series of models that guide traditional methods.
The Traditional Land Reclamation Process
Planning
Every project starts with strategic planning. The reclamation plan or design involves a series of surveys, mapping, environmental impact assessment, model generation, and interpretations that is required to ensure they know exactly what they have and what it needs to become.
Before implementation, it is a requirement for them to be reviewed and approved by the appropriate governing bodies.
Decommissioning
Work has to be stopped on the land before a reclamation exercise commences. This involves taking out all of the workers and equipment from the site.
Reclamation
Following what was outlined in the reclamation plan or design, projects are executed to ensure revegetation, landfilling, proper drainage, and landscape re-contouring.
Inspection and Audit
This is the last phase of the process where inspectors check and validate the reclamation work to ensure compliance with governing policies and the goals of the reclamation plan.
The Hassles of the Traditional Method In Land Reclamation
The traditional method isn’t a write-off. It just has a few setbacks. Some of these hassles include.
Low Accuracy of Reconnaissance Data
This is more of the primary stages of land reclamation. When things fall apart in the plan it affects the entire project. In the traditional method, workers perform the survey on the field. As a result, it increases the likelihood of human error in data acquisition.
Inefficiency/Faulty Precision
The traditional method involves a high level of manual labour and manned equipment and vehicles. This reduced efficiency and accuracy due to human limits efficiency and can lead to reduced performance.
Time
The more time spent on the project influences the increase in labor and cost. The traditional method is time-consuming and prone to seemingly unavoidable delays and inefficiencies, which are a significant pain point for energy companies.
Limited Accessibility
The traditional method is always plagued with issues of accessibility. There are cases where sites have hard-to-reach areas that become a limitation for workers and equipment.
The Advantage of Drones
For each of the pitfalls encountered by the traditional method, the aerial drone solution has a way out. Little wonder modern land reclamation projects are turning to the advantages offered by drones (RPAAS).
Drone technology is perfect for data gathering. With the help of its components and sensors, it can gather and interpret a vast amount of data, quickly and accurately. With the help of drones, reclamation plans can be developed, monitored and adjusted as-needed, with speed and confidence.
In the same way - execution of projects is made a lot easier with drones as they limit the amount of people needed to operate the drastically reduced amount of machinery. This saves time and costs, as well as increasing safety by limiting the interaction between man, machine and the land we wish to disturb as little as possible.
Their size and speed, combined with their accuracy and agility, make them the ideal fit for a variety of land reclamation needs.
At Strongfield Environmental Services, we know Land Reclamation, and we know drones. Schedule a meeting with us and you’ll see why we are the most reliable and successful land reclamation and RPAAS company in the industry. Contact us today!