ERM LLC was granted COA 2015-ESA-11481-88-333E by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allowing it to fly unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in support of quarry operations near the Frederick, MD airport.
Author Archives: Lon Santis
AMA Study of FAA Drone Data
The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) recently released a detailed analysis of the FAA’s drone data. A close examination of the 764 records, which the agency publicly released on August 21, reveals a more complex picture of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) activity in the United States than initial headlines suggested. There are military crashes and a UFO sighting in the data. Only a about a dozen of the records were legitimately reported “near misses.” Some didn’t involve drones at all.
ERM Projects Featured by Leading UAS Photogrammetry Software Developer Pix4D
The leading unmanned aircraft system (UAS) photogrammetry software developer, Pix4D, featured work performed by ERM LLC in support of blasting operations on their blog.
Check out the story of how ERM is pushing the envelope on UAS applications.
Canadian Surveyors Find UAS Superior to Traditional Surveying Methods
According to a new project study published in the Ontario Professional Surveyor, aerial images obtained with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) processed with photogrammetry software can produce data superior to that obtained using traditional methods. Continue reading
Not Just Pretty Pictures
Although many companies are flying unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in support of their commercial operations, ERM has encountered few that are harnessing the power of the data that is available. There is virtually no risk of FAA sanctions from flying UAS commercially without a Section 333 exemption, but it is quite another thing to extract meaningful data from the images obtained.
ERM Partners with WipWare and Bluegrass Materials to Explore Applications of UAS to Fragmentation Analysis
ERM and WipWare, with the cooperation of Bluegrass Materials Company, plan to conduct fragmentation analysis of a muck pile this summer using images obtained with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Obtaining suitable images of muck piles for fragmentation analysis can be very challenging because the proper camera perspective is difficult or even impossible to obtain. Continue reading
ATF Proposes Changes to Applicability of Rules on Ammonium Nitrate
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) recently published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to remove the reference to an outdated guidance document in an explanatory note following the table of separation distances (TSD) of ammonium nitrate (AN) and blasting agents from explosives or blasting agents. ATF also proposed amending that note to clarify that those separation distance requirements apply to all AN.
ATF Approves Variance from Q/D Based on IMESAFR
According to the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME), ATF has approved the first variance from the American Table of Distances (ATD) based on a quantitative risk analysis using the Institute of Makers of Explosives Analysis for Risk (IMESAFR) tool. IME Member Company, Nelson Brothers, was granted the variance in April 2015. Explosives Risk Managers LLC (ERM) contributed to this effort and congratulates IME and Nelson Brothers for this accomplishment. Please contact us at (202) 288-2029 or santis@ermanagers.com if you are interested in seeking ERM’s support in getting a variance from ATF from quantity-distance (Q/D) regulations.
ERM Briefs SBA Small Business Labor Safety Roundtable on UAS
ERM recently had the opportunity to brief the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Small Business Labor Safety Roundtable on the implementation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the National Airspace.
ERM Adds New Logo to Depict UAS Services
Explosives Risk Managers LLC (ERM) added another logo to depict its unmanned aircraft system (UAS) services. The logo conveys ERM’s use of rotocopters and fixed wing aircraft to provide
“perspectives that are otherwise unattainable™.”