Egg Harbor Twp., NJ (March 20, 2023) – An educational event with a focus on the use of drones and other emerging technology in surveying was held today in honor of Surveyor’s Week in New Jersey. The New Jersey Society of Professional Land Surveyors (NJSPLS) event featured a discussion led by the organization’s President-Elect, James Heiser, and Woolpert’s Thomas Mackie, about how surveyors use drones to reduce field time and survey cost while providing accurate data and mapping in otherwise unreachable and unsafe areas.

Fitting with the theme of unmanned aerial systems (drones) and emerging technology, the NJSPLS event was held in the high-tech Thunder Room at the National Aerospace Research & Technology Park (NARTP) in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. The Thunder Room’s large screens and video-conferencing equipment ensured virtual attendees could fully experience the presentations during the hybrid event.

The event also featured a live drone demonstration by Woolpert, an NARTP tenant, emphasizing the importance of data accuracy as it is collected and mapped by a surveyor.

“NARTP tenants like Woolpert are performing leading research in Unmanned Aerial Systems, also known as drones, focusing on the safety implications of nascent UAS operational concepts, their testing and certification right here in southern New Jersey,” said NARTP President/CEO Howard Kyle. “This NJSPLS event is a perfect opportunity to showcase our Park and the work one of our key tenants is doing to incorporate UAS into everyday business operations for surveyors.”

Surveyor’s Week in New Jersey has been designated for March 19-25 by a special proclamation of the New Jersey Legislature, “in recognition of the services these highly skilled and professional surveyors provide to New Jersey and their communities.”

“The NJSPLS had a fantastic experience hosting this educational event at the NARTP building,” said James Heiser, President-Elect of the NJ Society of Professional Land Surveyors. “We can’t say enough about how informative the session was today thanks to Thomas Mackie and Woolpert’s drone demonstration. What a great kickoff to Surveyor’s Week this was; and also a great way to raise public awareness of our role as professional surveyors in New Jersey.”

“As part of our mission to expand and diversify Atlantic County’s economy, the Atlantic County Economic Alliance takes every advantage of opportunities to promote aviation-related events that highlight the technologies being developed at the NARTP,” said ACEA President Lauren Moore, Jr. “When we learned that the NJSPLS was interested in having an event here that would engage their membership in a discussion about using drones in data collection and mapping, we saw it as a prime opportunity to expand our ecosystem of industry, academic, and governmental partnerships to foster innovation, collaboration and sustainable economic growth for the aviation industry in Atlantic County.”

For more information about the Atlantic County Economic Alliance, visit www.aceanj.com or contact ACEA President Lauren Moore, Jr. at (609) 245-0019 or [email protected].