 It is the noon hour on Thursday, folks, Ted Rawlsson, downtown Honolulu, with a momentarily transpose to Waimanalo Beach, the way it looks. Anyway, we have our show, Where the Drone Leads, where we bring to our audience issues and information about the use of drones, issues that deal with law enforcement, with regulations and such, but today we have an incredible bunch of guests here in the studio. The studio is full, but you can't put any more people in it, in fact. We have Kainoa Jimenez, Kainoa, thanks for coming on again. Thank you, thank you. Like that. Okay, Kainoa is a Chief Technology Officer at Kolea Gold LLC in Hawaii here, which has been a leader in drones and education and getting into production business these days. Yes, sir. And we have... Landon. Landon, Havara. Yes. And Eric Torate from Bowers and Kubota Consulting. Yes. Joining us for the first time. The first time I was on the show. And the reason you guys are here is that you guys are the leaders in the company, which is a leading company using drones in commercial construction around here in Hawaii. That's pretty cool. So we really like to bring folks who are making a positive stride forward in drones out of the show and talk about it, talk about how it started, talk about where you're going, and issues you see that we at the university should pay attention to in terms of design or requirements that drones should have, or even the software that is used to process the work of post-flight. So tell us a little bit about how and how you guys were able to convince the boss that it was a good idea to get drones into the construction business very early in the use now of drones in that business. So... Landon. So Kevin, who is our drone leader of our group, his son does a lot of drone racing. And he kind of put two and two together. And Kevin just started doing some research and realizes that drones in the construction industry is huge. So we kind of jumped on that as soon as we could. We worked with drone services in Hawaii to kind of get some pilots in China, start off the company small, making sure we follow the proper procedures, following the guidelines that the FAA has to make sure that we don't break any laws or anything like that. That's great. So actually, Mike Elliott, who is drone services, he's been on the show many times. He hosts the show from time to time and I've always been down to his shop a lot working together. So that's great. So you started from the perceptions and enthusiasm and the values you could see in drone racing and brought these drone racing as the entry point to bring that into your company and then convince the boss that this is a good idea. And Eric, you're the engineer on the team and there's several more of you on this team warrant here obviously. But from an engineering perspective, how are you guys actually using the drones? So we're actually using it by collecting data. Basically, there's different platforms out there that can actually do the same. So right now, we're kind of venturing to different ones. But the latest project that we worked on, we used a program and a platform called Propeller. So what it is, they have these baseball plates which establish ground control points and you place them sporadically within your project area. It collects data similar to point clouds and what it does is once it collects enough, you probably leave it about an hour or so to collect enough information. And actually, you'd use an application called Maps Made Easy or something similar so you can actually create your flight path. Once you have that, you can then simulate or create your flight path and then with the drone and those baseball plates, which is your ground control points, it actually collects the data similar to how a surveyor would go with his surveying crew and whatnot and taking all point shots and whatnot. But basically, this is more of a really fast and more accurate way of getting this data. And then from there, we would actually process the data, or propeller process the data. And then from there, we actually can use, they'll create contours, existing elevations that we can actually use and we can actually implement that into our design projects that we're doing. It's currently a project that we're kind of doing right now. So it sounds like you're finding this to be something useful in terms of saving time or saving effort or putting less people at risk. There's some value coming back to you that you're getting out of that use of drones. Even if you had to spend money for them, it would take the test and then buy the software, that's still in net of value. Exactly. And then the program we're actually using, so if you went out and just hired a serverer, you would get like a CAD file from them, but no photos. This is now you have a photo and it's an actual 3D draped over your point cloud. So you actually have this three dimensional draped imagery that you can view. So you pretty much drew them a map, a visual map. A 3D map, yes. So basically you could look at it as a USGS topographic map, but with an actual protrusion of the map. So you can see contours and terrains and all that. So you can visualize what you're dealing with in terms of the lay down of the land and the land form. And then how about during construction, during the evolution of the construction, as the land is cleared and the work is done, do you use it as a way to check progress and to look at where the assets are and logistics and all those things, are that useful as well? Yes. So as Eric mentioned, we do also use Propeller and this other app called Drone Deploy. We're experimenting with both of them, trying to see which is the best for our company. But both offer a feature where we can verify like a quick snapshot of how much earth is being moved. So if a contractor is saying they move X amount of dirt, we can go out and verify and say yes, Mr. Contractor, you did move X amount of dirt. So that way we're protecting the owner, the client, to make sure they're not getting ripped off. And it's a lot quicker than the old fashioned way. That's pretty cool. And I'm really intrigued by the fact that you're finding, you're experimenting with different software and different flying platforms. And then so in your minds will be some sort of an optimum solution or optimum function that would be useful that we at the university would like very much to hear about. And so it kind of over in the, dealing with the high schools that you deal with. So currently, the reason why these folks are on the show is because I wanted to bring these folks on and introduce to you this very wonderful man. He is one of the leading, leading prospects of the UAV industry. And you guys... I'm not going to have to get you a cup of coffee. I know what to do now. But these guys are a product of your work. And to show you that, you know, all your work and all your effort, it is paying off. And we local boys see it. This is a product. He is a doctor. I heard it. We were speaking out here, right? Doctor of architecture, right? Exactly. He is a doctor. And a drone pilot as well. So, you know, he's bringing boundaries right here. And so you can take this enthusiasm and this success that's going on and transport that back into the high schools. Yes. The work you do. Yes. So talk about that. Where that's been going since we met up at Anui Nui in Palo Alto. So the last time we've spoken was, yes, we just finished a program, six weeks at Anui Nui Schools, teaching these two young, aspiring young Hawaiian men. This is going to be very future collegial droners. I see you guys out there. So we finished this program and it's been some time since the last time we spoke and been on the show. And first and foremost, thank you for having me here. And thank you for having us here. Secondly, currently, Micah is currently working on another leaf for us. And so currently, we are both graduates of environmental schools. And so he's currently working alongside Marino School, the elementary and the high school. And we're trying to implement UAVs into the STEM programs, into what is it, what is their understanding as the MX program there. And so we're looking to help out the MX program with Myron dollars and looking to connect UH and all your connections that you have and these folks as well. And providing possible internships, possible future careers to let these guys know that hey kids, you don't have to go off in the mainland. You can never come back. There is a possibility for you to come back and drones provide that don't they here in a big way in Hawaii that we can so does the ability to develop the processing software and such. And even the command and control software and the bird, I mean, the science and technology of the drone is available to us as well as none of that that's that's limited that we can't get access to and get kids inspired by I was just thinking as you're saying that I can think of a school field trip out to one of your sites, one of your work sites for a couple of kids come along and just get to see how this works in real operation. I think they would be really inspired. And we were talking about a program up at Nui Nui. I don't think we've done it yet, but the idea was that in the highlands of the back of the valleys, Abizia is a problem. He was right about that in the paper the other day. So how about an Abizia survey of the area that 10 acres, 15 acres around Nui Nui and understand, have the kids understand and their parents and the teachers understand what's threat to all that Abizia growth for them. And then figure out, let them construct a plan for how that would be controlled, removed or altered in some way and let the kids and the teachers in on the very plan that deals with their school and the potential resolution of that issue. And how perfect would that be for quadrotors because we don't need big range. We don't need a couple of miles of range. So that would be a cool thing to talk to our new friends about it. Oh, yes. Yeah. What do you folks think? So we do, we were approached on a similar project. It's still in the talks, but it's on the big island, doing with the Rapid Ohio. I believe it was DLNR that came to us, came to one of our other pilots and they're asking and talking to us about what could we do? How can we survey? And the topic of drones came up because the props don't generate a lot of wind, wash. So they don't know, right? Scientists don't know what's causing the transfer of the tree. So they think the drone would be a lot dainter than having a helicopter flying over. Well, you had tons of dog wash and everything. Yeah. Do you know a gentleman named Dr. Ryan Peroi at UH Hilo? No, I do not. Let me make that connection for you. He's been doing work for five years with drones on lava in Pahoa and also on the invasive species on the old Rapid Ohio death. And I think he'd be very interested in partnering with you on that thinking process. Also a gentleman named Y Lee here in Oahu who works with the urban canopy organizations. And so he and Ryan together have algorithms that can understand what the trees are that you see, but they're leaf shape and by the crown and canopy function. So let's talk about that, about how we might hook you guys. We get two things for you already. We get the school project, we get the project on big island. So we'll see if we can do more. We get back from our first break here. It is still the noon hour Thursday, folks. Ted Ralston here, downtown Honolulu with our guest kind of a gymnast. Kind of thanks for coming on again. Thank you. Landon Pomato and Eric Torrete from these two guys are from Bowers and Kubota consulting in Waipahu and of course Kaino is from a lot of different places. We'll say Anui Nui School, Mary Knoll School, Kama and Kulia Gold right now. To get global. That's the plan. Yes. Hey, just because you live in Hawaii doesn't mean you can't think global. That's exactly right. And you can think more global because we have less limitations as we might not. So anyway, we're just talking about drones in the construction industry, talking about drones in education, talking about projects that we might collectively conceive here. One thing that goes through my mind, we need some kind of a professional organization or some way to tie people together like you and others, the others six in your company and others six coming. We've got HECO, we've got Monsanto coming online, we've got HDNC I think has something and Water Bureau has something I believe there's bits and pieces all over the place. Is there like a strong central engineering or architecture professional society that we should take a story to and periodically update? I'm from Aeronautical Engineering so I know that we don't have any of that here. But I would think in the civil engineering and mechanical engineering we probably have some organizations where there's periodic gathering. So I would like to suggest that we together, the four of us, think about that and take a story in. Begin best practices, standards and obeying the rules and all that. This is exactly as you talked and exactly as you had been teaching. That would be a really good way to start spreading this thing because it's going to be the professional societies that are going to drive it in the right direction. We've got three cases in Hawaii already of relatively serious violations. We had one at the Meteo Valley Palace on Onipa Day. We had one on Kauai where a helicopter and a tourist drone and I heard just recently at the airport here we had a close call. So there's folks who aren't paying attention or don't know the rules or are violating them in, you know, willfully I don't know but we need to somehow spread the word and if we can create a strong positive word through the professional organizations that would be a really strong point. And I'll tell you also that Honolulu, Hawaii has applied for this FAA, Unmanned Air Systems Integration Pilot Program. We've applied to be one of the lead applicants. We don't know if we're going to get selected. May is selection time and FAA is going to pick 10 agencies, jurisdictions to go figure out how to make drones work completely in their area. That is the delivery systems, the professional systems, the education, recreation, and make it all work. And to the point of starting to lead to local control of that functionality. So if we're successful, obviously we want to have you guys in and certainly call it a goal and on the educational component. Capture on that whole message. Share it with the world. I like what you think. And there's a guy named George Purdy on the night. George, I hope you're watching. Well, George. I think it's the same way. So we got some thinkers here in this area. So in terms of what we might do at university to assist you guys, we're working with Pacific Command as well. And there's always obviously there's humanitarian assistance roles that they play that are a function. That's why this is here. This thing drops a life jacket if you have somebody who needs a life jacket. How can you suggest to us in the world of either through the architecture department or the engineering department, how would you address them and tell them the findings you've come up with, or the ideas you've got, or what you'd like to see in five years in this domain that would just best assist the design, architecture, and engineering and construction business, as an example? Basically, I think everything has to come down to just common knowledge of how the drones work first. And then if you understand that, then you can start implementing different things. Right now, I believe it's still fairly new. So to me, I think it's still within that brainstorming and just kind of figuring out exactly how it actually really can utilize or we can actually utilize it. I know if they've used it for like disasters and whatnot. So they utilize it like you said, dropping a life jacket or even supplies and whatnot. So in that realm, that really fits on the civil side. It can be used more, we're implementing on trying to use it for like design aspects and whatnot. So yeah, I think it's still fairly new, but I can see it starts as people start to really realize things. Things can actually get much better, I guess. Thank you for talking to that Kevin, our lead pilot. His goal one day is to be able to assist HFD in search and rescue. Last year when there was Hurricane Harvey, there was an article, I think on NBC where they talked about an app company called Drone Up. It's basically a beacon for whoever drone pilots are in the area if they can help assist during search and rescue if you have a drone. It kind of fell in the lines of what Kevin was thinking. So I pitched that to our team idea and a bunch of us did sign up. In case of an emergency, we would take our personal drones and if the call came in, we would go and try to help search and rescue or whatever help we can. I mean, I have a little tiny mavic. I probably could drop some band-aids versus larger drones. I could actually drop a life jacket or anything like that. I'm glad you brought that up. I think that's actually something the schools would be very interested in too. How can their drones help in a situation like that? If you've got this connection with this drone, what do you think? Drone Up. I'd like to know more about that once we're off the show here. But do you know Howard not only done at HFD? No, I do not. I'm actually glad to make the connection. He's sort of the leader, the very spirited leader of using drones in HFD's work and Roger Wong is HPD. So having you guys meet with them I think would be where this thing could start, where this spark could get lit, that provides a drone task force. Jay Fidel out here in the studio has been after that. Everybody's been after that. Willow Sparrow in his capital. Senator Sparrow has been after that. How do we get a drone task force stood up? It's qualified, certified, licensed and can perform in a volunteer form when it's needed. So that's something I think people would like to talk about. That's part of this FAA pilot project as well. So at this point in time, anyway, this show goes really fast. I can think of 10 more ideas we could have that we won't be able to pull off here until the next time we come back on. But at this point in time, Eric, Dorati, and Landon, and Kaidoa Jimenez. Thank you. Thanks for coming on again and we'll do something with these projects we've cooked up right here on the show. Sounds good. We'll get you back in three months and we'll see how the projects are going. Awesome. Thank you. Thanks very much. Thank you. Thank you, guys. Thank you, everybody.