UAS Upgrades Rice Associates recently announced major upgrades to its Unmanned Aircraft System program in May 2026, signaling a strengthened aerial surveying capability that can be leveraged to offer advanced data collection services to transportation, water, energy, and facilities clients.

High Precision Focus As a small, woman-owned geospatial firm solely focused on surveying and mapping with in-house capabilities, Rice can position itself as a specialized partner for agencies and design firms seeking reliable data, tight project coordination, and accelerated delivery.

Regional Expertise With decades of regional experience and a reputation built on quality, Rice is well-placed to pursue local/state transportation, municipal, and public ownership projects that require familiar standards, rapid responsiveness, and trusted collaboration.

End-to-End Capabilities The in-house suite including conventional surveying, photogrammetry, LiDAR (static, mobile, aerial), and subsurface utility engineering enables turnkey data services for clients, presenting upsell opportunities to integrate multiple geospatial workflows on a single project.

Growth Opportunity Revenue positioning in the $1M–$10M range alongside a lean, specialized team suggests potential for growth through expanded service offerings, targeted marketing to public owners and design firms, and strategic partnerships to win larger or more complex contracts.