Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Starting Friday, a low-flying helicopter will make several passes over downtown Springfield as part of the Springfield Smart City and Asset Management Project.

Weather permitting, the helicopter will conduct a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) flyover through the following Monday. Operated by NV5, the aircraft will fly in north-south and east-west patterns to collect detailed 3D surface data of downtown infrastructure.

Following the aerial survey, the city has partnered with iSee to perform ground-penetrating radar scans from April 22 to April 29. The scans will gather information about underground infrastructure using specialized vans equipped with scanning technology.

According to the City of Springfield, most of the underground data collection will take place after business hours and on Sunday afternoons to minimize disruptions.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize public infrastructure, improve service delivery and lay the groundwork for future smart city technologies, the city said in a news release.