FAA Part 107 Certified • East Texas Lake Communities

Your Community Floods.
We Map the Solution.

East Texas lake communities have suffered tens of millions in flood damage since 2020. Highways shut down, homes flooded, schools closed. The drainage infrastructure wasn't built for today's storms — and the data to fix it doesn't exist yet. We produce it.

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5
Major Reservoirs Served
100+
Lake Communities
$793M
State Funding Available
The Problem

The Data Gap That Keeps Communities Vulnerable

Most East Texas lake communities know they have drainage problems. What they don't have is the data to prove it, prioritize fixes, or apply for the state funding that's available to pay for them.

Infrastructure Designed for Yesterday's Weather

Culverts, ditches, and stormwater systems were sized for rainfall patterns from the 1970s-90s. Updated NOAA Atlas 14 analysis shows those historical "100-year" storm depths now recur every 25 years.

No Baseline Data Exists

Most small communities have never mapped their drainage infrastructure at the resolution needed for engineering design or grant applications. Without data, they can't plan — and they can't compete for funding.

$793 Million in State Funding — Largely Untapped

The TWDB Flood Infrastructure Fund offers grants and zero-interest loans, but applications require professional technical documentation. Most rural lake communities have never applied.

Liability Risk Is Real

Under Texas law, residents can sue municipalities that fail to maintain drainage infrastructure. Communities that can demonstrate proactive planning and documented assessment are far better protected.

The Solution

Drone mapping fills the data gap — fast, affordably, and at the resolution engineers and grant programs require.

A single drone flight covers more ground in hours than traditional crews cover in weeks. The result: centimeter-resolution elevation models, drainage flow analysis, and infrastructure documentation — delivered in a format that plugs directly into engineering workflows and TWDB grant applications.

See the 4-Step Process
Live Reservoir Intelligence

Real-time reservoir levels, 7-day flood risk index, and NWS forecasts for the tri-lake region — updated hourly.

View Weather & Reservoir Data

Texas State Funding Is Available — But You Need Data to Access It

The TWDB Flood Infrastructure Fund — backed by $793 million from the Texas Rainy Day Fund — provides grants and zero-interest loans for drainage assessments and flood control projects. This is state funding that isn't subject to federal budget uncertainty. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Texas CDBG program provide additional paths.

All of these programs require professional technical documentation to qualify. Our drone mapping assessments produce exactly the deliverables communities need to submit competitive applications — positioning East Texas lake communities to access funding that most have never applied for. Learn more at TWDB →

0%
Interest on FIF Loans
$793M
TX Rainy Day Fund for FIF
Near 0
Rural Lake Cities Using FIF
10-20x
Typical Grant ROI
The Process

AI-Enhanced Drone Analysis

Traditional drainage assessment relies on a human analyst sampling a few locations over weeks. Our AI-powered pipeline processes every pixel of the terrain, models multiple storm scenarios simultaneously, and delivers a comprehensive report in days — finding problems that manual analysis misses entirely.

1

Aerial Data Capture

Enterprise-grade drone flight captures thousands of geo-referenced images at centimeter resolution. AI-optimized flight planning ensures complete coverage with optimal overlap for 3D model accuracy.

2

3D Terrain Modeling

Photogrammetry software builds a centimeter-accurate 3D elevation model of the entire area — every ditch, culvert, road crown, and low spot captured with precision that ground surveys can't match at scale.

3

AI Hydrological Analysis

Automated analysis processes every pixel of the elevation model: computing flow direction, mapping drainage paths, delineating watersheds, and cataloguing every depression and chokepoint — exhaustively, not by sampling.

4

Delivered Report & Grant Support

AI generates a comprehensive assessment with ranked problem areas, multi-scenario flood modeling, and grant-ready documentation — formatted for city councils, engineers, and TWDB funding applications.

Every Pixel

Exhaustive Analysis, Not Sampling

A human analyst checks a few dozen locations. Our AI evaluates millions of elevation points — cataloguing every depression, every flow path obstruction, every area where water concentrates. Problems that would take weeks to find manually are identified in hours.

4+ Storms

Multi-Scenario Flood Modeling

Traditional assessments model one storm scenario. We simultaneously model the 2-year, 10-year, 25-year, and 100-year events using NOAA Atlas 14 rainfall data — showing exactly which problems activate at each severity level and helping your community prioritize fixes.

Days

Not Weeks or Months

Drone flight in one day. Automated processing and AI analysis overnight. Report generated and delivered within days. Traditional engineering firms quote 4-8 weeks for the same scope — and charge significantly more. Our AI pipeline compresses the timeline without cutting corners.

Year/Year

Change Detection Over Time

Fly the same area annually and our AI automatically detects what changed — new erosion, shifting drainage patterns, worsening depressions, infrastructure deterioration. This ongoing monitoring capability is something manual analysis simply cannot offer at any reasonable cost.

What Your Community Receives

Comprehensive Written Report
Executive summary, ranked problem areas with severity scores, storm scenario analysis, and prioritized recommendations — written for a city council audience
Full GIS Data Package
Ortho-mosaic maps, digital elevation models, flow accumulation maps, watershed boundaries, stream networks — in formats engineers can use directly
Grant Application Support
Technical documentation formatted for TWDB FIF applications, including data tables, methodology narrative, and before/after framing that funding programs require
Problem Area Inventory
Every identified drainage issue catalogued with location, type, severity, upstream catchment area, and estimated flood depth at multiple storm return periods
Service Area

East Texas Lake Communities

Serving rural and lakeside communities across Southeast Texas reservoirs

Cedar Creek Reservoir

Gun Barrel City • Mabank • Malakoff • Seven Points • Tool • Star Harbor • Kemp • Trinidad • Eustace

Richland-Chambers Reservoir

Corsicana • Kerens • Eureka • Mildred • Richland • Navarro County • Freestone County communities

Lake Palestine

Frankston • Bullard • Chandler • Brownsboro • Flint • Henderson County • Anderson County communities

Lake Tawakoni

West Tawakoni • East Tawakoni • Quinlan • Wills Point • Edgewood • Rains County • Van Zandt County communities

Lake Fork Reservoir

Quitman • Alba • Yantis • Emory • Lake Fork area • Wood County • Rains County communities

Rural East Texas Lakes

Smaller reservoirs and rural communities across Henderson, Kaufman, Van Zandt, Navarro, Anderson & surrounding counties

Why BFD-Mapping

The Value We Deliver

Professional drone mapping is the lowest-cost, highest-impact first step toward a comprehensive flood preparedness plan.

Days, Not Weeks

A single drone flight covers more ground in hours than traditional crews cover in weeks — delivering centimeter-calibrated image resolution on an aggressive timeline.

Unlocks Grant Funding

Our deliverables are the key to state grants and zero-interest loans through the TWDB Flood Infrastructure Fund and Clean Water State Revolving Fund. A professional drone mapping assessment can help unlock significant state infrastructure funding for your community.

Complements Downstream Engineering and Survey Work

We provide the upstream baseline data that engineers need — in GIS-ready formats that plug directly into their design software, saving weeks and thousands in field costs.

Finds Hidden Problems

High-resolution elevation data reveals drainage chokepoints, failing culverts, and flood-prone zones invisible from the ground — before they become emergencies.

48-Hour Emergency Response

When flooding strikes, we deploy immediately to document damage, water extent, and road conditions — providing the FEMA evidence communities need to recover.

Local Operator, Regional Reach

Based in Malakoff and serving lake communities across East Texas — from Cedar Creek to Richland-Chambers, Palestine to Tawakoni. Not a Dallas contractor. A neighbor who understands the stakes.

Our Services

Professional Drone Mapping Services

Modular services — you only pay for what you need. Every deliverable is designed to support grant applications, engineering workflows, and community planning.

Drainage Assessment Mapping

Aerial ortho-mosaic mapping, DEM/DSM elevation modeling, drainage flow analysis, problem area identification, photo/video documentation, and a comprehensive written report.

Custom quote • 2-4 weeks

Utility Infrastructure Mapping

Complete stormwater system mapping, culvert and outfall documentation, condition assessment, and GIS-ready deliverables for engineering integration.

Custom quote • 3-6 weeks

Comprehensive Flood Mitigation Package

Full drainage and utility mapping, grant application documentation, and mitigation recommendations. Designed specifically for TWDB FIF applications and state/federal infrastructure funding.

Custom quote • 4-8 weeks

Flood Impact Documentation

Post-event aerial documentation within 48 hours. Damage assessment, before/after comparison, water extent mapping, and FEMA documentation support.

Custom quote • 1-2 weeks

Rapid Response / Emergency

48-hour deployment for active or recent flooding events. Aerial damage assessment, road condition mapping, and water extent documentation when time matters most.

Custom quote • 24-48 hours

Annual Monitoring

Recurring seasonal drone flights to track drainage changes, document infrastructure conditions, and maintain a current baseline for ongoing capital planning.

Custom quote • Ongoing

4K Aerial Imaging

Cinematic-quality 4K aerial video and photography using the DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine. Ideal for council presentations, public outreach, grant applications, and community documentation.

Custom quote • 1-2 weeks

FPV Infrastructure Inspection

Close-quarters visual inspection of culverts, bridge undersides, outfall pipes, and confined drainage structures using the DJI Avata 2 FPV drone. Gets eyes into spaces that are unsafe or inaccessible for ground crews.

Custom quote • 1-2 weeks
Mark Shedd, BFD-Mapping Founder
About BFD-Mapping

Professional Expertise.
Local Commitment.

Duke University MBA — Fuqua School of Business
FAA Private Pilot License & Instrument Rating (1997)
FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
Drone Trained & Certified Since 2024
DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise (RTK-Capable Mapping)
DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine (4K Drone Imaging)
DJI Avata 2 FPV (Infrastructure Inspection)
AI-Powered Data Analysis Workflows
20+ Years Corporate Product & Project Management

Mark Shedd founded BFD-Mapping with a simple conviction: the rural lake communities across East Texas deserve the same quality of infrastructure data that larger cities take for granted. Based in Malakoff and serving communities from Cedar Creek to Richland-Chambers, Lake Palestine to Lake Fork, Mark brings a rare combination of technical drone expertise, corporate-level project management discipline, and genuine personal investment in the outcome.

His professional journey began with a Duke University MBA and decades of experience leading complex product and project management programs for technology companies — managing multi-million dollar initiatives, cross-functional teams, and go-to-market strategies. His transition to commercial drone operations started with professional training and FAA certification in 2024, building on a foundation of manned aviation experience — Mark earned his private pilot license and instrument rating in 1997.

More recently, Mark has invested heavily in AI automation and advanced data analysis, building custom workflows that accelerate how aerial mapping data is processed and turned into actionable intelligence. This combination means faster turnaround, deeper insights, and more value per dollar for every client.

The work is also personal. Mark's Star Harbor residence flooded twice in 2022, with over $250,000 in damages. He understands what's at stake — and he's committed to helping his neighbors get ahead of the next flood event.

Insights

From the Field

Data-driven perspectives on flood risk, drainage infrastructure, and community resilience in East Texas.

Analysis March 30, 2026

When the Water Doesn't Leave: The Growing Health Risk East Texas Communities Can Get Ahead Of

Heavier rains are creating more standing water than reactive mosquito programs can handle. The solution starts with understanding where the water sits — and why.

Drone mapping tablet identifying standing water alongside stagnant floodwater in East Texas

In my last post, Infrastructure Built for Yesterday's Weather, I shared data showing extreme rainfall events in Northeast Texas have nearly doubled since 2013. That piece focused on the infrastructure gap. This one focuses on what happens when the water arrives — and doesn't leave.

Many East Texas lake communities take mosquito management seriously, and they should be proud of it. But the math is changing. Texas recorded 455 West Nile virus cases and 56 deaths in 2024 alone. Heartworm prevalence in untreated dogs exceeds 40% in parts of the state. As rainfall intensity increases, the volume of standing water is outpacing what reactive programs can control.

Spring storm season is here. The water is coming. The question isn't whether your community will deal with standing water — it's whether you'll address it at its source or continue chasing it after the mosquitoes have already moved in.

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Data-driven analysis on drainage infrastructure, funding opportunities, and community resilience.

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Understanding the Difference

Drone Mapping & Professional Land Surveying:
Complementary, Not Competing

Drone-based aerial mapping and licensed professional land surveying serve different purposes. Each has distinct strengths — and the most effective infrastructure planning uses both. Here's how they compare.

BFD-Mapping: Aerial Drone Mapping

Our drone photogrammetry produces centimeter-level relative accuracy — meaning features within our maps and elevation models are precisely positioned relative to each other. This level of accuracy is well-suited for drainage analysis, flow modeling, problem identification, infrastructure assessment, and planning-level decision-making.

We produce high-density data covering large areas quickly — capturing thousands of data points per acre compared to a handful from traditional ground methods. This density reveals drainage patterns and terrain features that point-based measurements can miss entirely.

Licensed RPLS: Professional Land Surveying

A Registered Professional Land Surveyor (RPLS) provides sub-centimeter to millimeter absolute accuracy and carries legal authority to certify boundary determinations, property descriptions, and construction control points. Their work is governed by Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (TBPELS) standards.

Licensed surveying is legally required for property boundary establishment, legal descriptions, title work, easement documentation, and certified construction staking. No drone mapping service can or should replace this work.

When to Use Each Approach

Use Case Drone Mapping
(BFD-Mapping)		 Licensed RPLS
(Professional Surveyor)
Drainage flow analysis & flood-prone area identification ✦ Ideal Not typical
Large-area elevation modeling (DEM/DSM) ✦ Ideal Cost-prohibitive at scale
Post-flood damage documentation ✦ Ideal Not typical
Infrastructure condition assessment & visual documentation ✦ Ideal Not typical
Pre-engineering reconnaissance & planning data ✦ Ideal Complementary
Grant application technical documentation (TWDB FIF, CWSRF, CDBG) ✦ Ideal Complementary
Ortho-mosaic mapping & aerial photography ✦ Ideal Not typical
Property boundary determination & legal descriptions Not applicable ✦ Required (RPLS)
Easement & right-of-way documentation Not applicable ✦ Required (RPLS)
Construction staking & certified control points Not applicable ✦ Required (RPLS)
Title work & ALTA/NSPS land title mapping Not applicable ✦ Required (RPLS)
Certified plat & subdivision monumentation Not applicable ✦ Required (RPLS)

Better Together

The most effective infrastructure planning workflow starts with drone mapping to establish the big picture — identifying drainage patterns, problem areas, and priorities across a wide area — then brings in licensed professionals for boundary-specific, construction-grade, and legally certified work. Our GIS-ready deliverables integrate directly into engineering and surveying software, reducing downstream field time and cost.

Download Mapping vs. Surveying Guide (PDF)

Important Disclaimer

BFD-Mapping LLC provides commercial drone-based aerial mapping, photogrammetric analysis, and drainage assessment services. BFD-Mapping is not a licensed professional land surveying firm and does not perform or represent its work as professional land surveying as defined by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (TBPELS). Our deliverables — including ortho-mosaic maps, digital elevation models, and drainage flow analysis — are produced for planning, assessment, and grant documentation purposes and should not be relied upon for property boundary determination, legal descriptions, easement documentation, construction staking, or any application requiring the certification of a Registered Professional Land Surveyor (RPLS) licensed in the State of Texas. When your project requires licensed professional surveying, we recommend engaging an RPLS and are happy to provide referrals. Our mapping data is designed to complement, not replace, the work of licensed surveyors and engineers.

Get Started

Request a Complimentary
Drainage Assessment

We'll fly a known flood-prone area in your community, produce the full deliverable package, and present the findings to your team — at no cost and with no obligation. Serving lake communities across East Texas.

Schedule a Call
Download Service Brochure (PDF)
Email
mark@bfd-mapping.com
Phone
(949) 412-8003
Location
Malakoff, Texas

* Pricing is customized to each community's requirements and can vary significantly based on coverage area, drone platform needs, and processing complexity. Contact us for a personalized quote.