Jeff Salmon

This entry is part 6 of 8 in the series Heights 2025 From Nadir to Oblique In construction site monitoring, here are two solutions that require, in one case, no drone, and in another, a drone that requires no FAA-Part 107 certified operator.

This entry is part 8 of 4 in the series Heights 2025 From Nadir to Oblique Micro-drones, those that weigh less than 250 grams, are popular with recreational UAV flyers for several reasons. They are relatively inexpensive, with models starting at under $500. Additionally, the 249-gram-and-under category requires no FAA registration, nor do they fall under the remote ID (RID) regulation.

Almost a millennia ago, the Pueblo people inhabited an area of New Mexico near the banks of the Rio Grande. There, they found soft volcanic tuff ideal for carving out homes, storehouses, and communal spaces in large villages that spanned miles. These carved architectural structures, or “cavate dwellings” were cool in the summer and warmed by easterly light in the winter—a type of natural, sustainable architecture.