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Council funds new surveyor equipment including LiDAR drone to speed ditch and subdivision mapping
Summary
Surveyor Mike Fruchey requested replacement rovers, mobile mapping stations, LiDAR drone capability and software to support 760 miles of regulated ditches and subdivision mapping; Council approved $176,390 for equipment, 7‑0.
Allen County Surveyor Mike Fruchey presented a capital request to replace eight‑year‑old survey equipment and to add drone and LiDAR capability, two rovers, four mobile mapping stations and software used for mapping regulated drains and subdivision infrastructure. Fruchey said the equipment will increase field efficiency and reduce hazardous manual inspections, noting the county’s inventory of roughly 760 miles of open ditches. "We have 760 miles of open ditches, some of them very hard to get to, very hard to hike to," Fruchey said.
Council members asked about FAA restrictions near airports, training and whether the surveyor office would charge outside parties for ad‑hoc imagery. Fruchey said two staffers will pursue the FAA pilot license and that Hamilton County staff had volunteered to help with training. Council approved a miscellaneous equipment appropriation of $176,390 on a 7‑0 vote.
