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12/10/2020 Kalispell utilizes drone for variety of city projects I KECI 1/4 ADVERTISEMENT Kalispell drone (Photo: NBC Montana) KALISPELL, Mont. — The Federal Aviation Administration reports there are over 1.7 million registered drones. One of those is registered to the city of Kalispell. Kalispell utilizes drone for variety of city projects by Vanessa Perez Wednesday, December 9th 2020 AA LIVE EVENT: FDA reviews Prizer's COVID-19 vaccine 29 ° 33 ° 32 ° Search Site ---PAGE BREAK--- 12/10/2020 Kalispell utilizes drone for variety of city projects I KECI 2/4 Geographic Information System specialist Jason Singleton says the city started using the drone for the Glacier Rail Park project back in 2017. For two years it captured the progress of the project. Which included shots, videos, and surveying. Singleton says the drone allowed investors and people involved in the project to view those elements on the city’s website. But now the drone is being used in other departments. “The Glacier Rail Park began with the planning department and now the Public Works department is using drones, and this is beneÕcial to them with collecting imagery,” Singleton said. Before the drone, the city would have to use Google Earth. But the drone allows for a clear view of the area. “It’s more clarity. A lot of times you want to know the plans, unless you have a survey out there it’s a lot harder, but when you can go out and see the chinks in the sidewalk and the cracks in the road,” Kalispell Public Works engineer Patrick Jentz said. “We looked at the water tower. We looked at cabling on top. We use it to track progress with developments throughout the Flathead Valley with subdivisions,” Singleton said. Jentz says the drone saves them time on having to draw things out. Singleton says the price tag on the drone is $2,000 to $3,000. But it saves money in the long run. “Prior to using drones, you would hire an aviation company to Öy, and that’s one way of getting imagery, or you could hire a satellite company, and that’s a lot of money it’s expensive,” Singleton said. Singleton believes the future of engineering Õrms could be Õlled with drones. 29 ° 33 ° 32 ° Search Site ---PAGE BREAK--- 12/10/2020 Kalispell utilizes drone for variety of city projects I KECI 3/4 Stay Connected! NBC Montana is Working For You to deliver the latest local news and weather right to your inbox. Email Required SUBSCRIBE MORE TO EXPLORE Bonner resident frustrated with abandoned vehicles, trailers, trash Montana woman gets 15 years for son's death in hot car Tester among Senate Dems examining waiver decision for Pentagon pick 29 ° 33 ° 32 ° Search Site