The PHOTOGRAMMETRY DEPARTMENT, based in our San Diego office, provides support to all seven of our offices. This function is crucial to the civil engineering process. Providing topographic mapping and digital terrain modeling through the Photogrammetric process is an efficient process that allows projects to be ready for design in a timely fashion. The products provided by this department include digital orthophotography and photo mosaics of large geographic areas. The Photogrammetry department interfaces extensively with the survey department during many phases of a project. The photogrammetrist plans the locations of the aerial crosses that are placed on the ground prior to the flight, interfaces with the surveyors to provide horizontal and vertical datums, and establishes criteria for the quality control surveys that determine and ensure the accuracy of the final topographic map. The Photogrammetry department utilizes a number of highly qualified companies that perform aerial flights and provide aerial photography in the regions of all of our offices. Utilizing one central location ensures the maintenance of precise standards of topographic mapping throughout all of our offices.

Rick Engineering Company’s Surveying, Mapping, and Photogrammetry Divisions are an integral part of the overall land development process. More than 15 percent of the staff members in these departments are professionally licensed. These professionals bring more than 200 years of professional experience and expertise to the land development process.

We understand complexity and invest in competence. After 50 years, we also know that the success of the firm rests clearly on the management, competence, and expertise of our professional staff. That’s why Rick Engineering Company provides in-house the broad range of required skills and services necessary for today’s complex engineering projects.

Rick Engineering Company has a proven history of “Engineering Today for Tomorrow” SM - this is the vision that has served our clients and us for the previous fifty years, and the promise that we make for the future.

Project examples include:

• Eagle Valley - San Diego, CA: Rick Engineering Company provided topographic mapping at a scale of 1”=40’ with a two-foot contour interval that was required for this 2500 acre project. Over 70 control points would have been required to control this photography using conventional field based methods. Additionally, access to much of the property was restricted due to access issues as well as inaccessible terrain. It was determined that airborne GPS methods could be used while still maintaining necessary control accuracy requirements. Eight ground control points were paneled. Two ground control stations were monitored during the flight. I K. Curtis Services flew over 100 models with their RC 30 camera coupled with a Novatel GPS receiver. Crossed strips were flown across the North and South and its of this rectangular block in order to provide the necessary photo ties for the adjustment. The photo above shows the flight patterns superimposed upon a digital ortho photo. Mapping was completed under an aggressive timeline.

• Black Mountain Ranch - San Diego, CA: Topographic mapping served as a basis for preparation of a land use plan for this 4700 acre property in San Diego’s North County. Engineering design for thousands of homes, several commercial developments, two golf courses, several thousand acres of open space, and a network of roads was made possible through the use of digital terrain mapping data and orthophotography.

• South Bay Pump Station and Conveyance System - San Diego, CA: Large-scale color photography was provided, creating a map for a 42,000 linear-foot pipeline designed by the City of San Diego. Aerial control was extended into over 60 photos by aerotriangulation. Terrain data was collected using digital terrain model techniques from which one-foot and half-foot contours were generated. Topographic mapping and digital terrain models suitable for use at scales of 1”=40’ and 1”=20’ were produced. Thirty color enlargements portrayed the entire alignment.

Clients for whom we have provided services are: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, City of San Diego Water Utilities, San Diego County Department of Public Works, McMillin Communities, City of Chula Vista, Hanson Aggregates Pacific Southwest Inc., Pardee, Bechtel, and Allied Waste System.

Eagle Valley
Las Vegas, NV

Black Mountain Ranch
San Diego, CA

South Bay Pump Station
and Conveyance System
San Diego, CA