RDO Equipment Co. team members are helping builders and growers unlock significant efficiency, safety and accuracy gains by supporting customers who use Wingtra unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveying solutions.
Through hands-on expertise and responsive technical support, teams such as the RDO Solutions Center help customers keep their WingtraOne and WingtraRAY drones operating reliably in the field.
"RDO's has incredible team members who are committed to helping Wingtra drone owners get the most out of their UAV solution," said Bill Edmonson, RDO's UAV product manager. "That's one of the reasons why in 2026 RDO was recognized as both Wingtra's ‘Partner of the Year' and ‘Customer Hero'."
When compared to traditional topographic surveying methods — such as using a GPS base and rover — UAV platforms like Wingtra can deliver substantial time savings with decreased interpolation. Surveying a site on foot or with a utility vehicle can take many hours or even days, while a Wingtra drone can often capture hundreds of acres in a single flight lasting less than an hour, according to RDO Equipment Co.
"In real-world demonstrations, the entire field process — from parking the truck and setting ground control points to flying, verifying data and packing up — can be completed in about an hour and a half," said Brian Hanashiro‑Marques, RDO's Solutions Center remote support expert with more than three years of aerial mapping experience.
Using a drone also improves safety by reducing or eliminating the need for surveyors to access hazardous areas such as unstable stockpiles, steep slopes or difficult terrain. In addition, drone-based surveys collect significantly more data points across a site, reducing interpolation between points and resulting in more detailed and accurate surface models, according to RDO Equipment Co.
Helping Customers Solve Issues, Stay Productive
In most cases, when a Wingtra owner encounters a complex mission or technical issue with their drone or related software, they contact RDO's Solutions Center by phone or email. Many of these situations are resolved quickly through a short phone conversation.
"For more complex cases, we have additional resources available," Hanashiro‑Marques said. "We can process data, collaborate directly with Wingtra or software vendors and even schedule joint sessions with the customer and manufacturer to resolve the issue efficiently."
When not actively supporting customers, RDO team members develop training materials and knowledge-base resources. These tools often allow customers to resolve questions on their own, further reducing downtime and keeping projects moving forward. Recently, RDO earned two customer service awards from Wingtra as the manufacturer recognizes RDO team members commitment to field service and support.
Staying Aligned With Wingtra Technology
RDO teams maintain close working relationships with Wingtra and other manufacturing partners to stay informed on product updates, new capabilities and best practices.
"By working closely with Wingtra, we're able to stay on top of new developments and provide informed support as the platform continues to evolve," Hanashiro‑Marques said.
Drone data supported by RDO teams is commonly used within fleet and site management platforms to create background maps, existing surface models and recurring progress updates, helping customers make more informed decisions throughout a project lifecycle.
Keeping Wingtra Owners Up and Running
Drones are becoming a core component of many customers' in-field survey workflows. With consistent support and dependable uptime, Wingtra users report meaningful productivity gains — often increasing survey and earthwork efficiency by 15–20 percent — while also improving job site safety and data quality.
"Keeping these systems running helps customers operate as efficiently and safely as possible," Edmonson said. "Our partnership with Wingtra helps us deliver practical, actionable support every season."
For more information, visit rdoequipment.com.
