Measure, a “drone as a service” company headquartered in downtown D.C., has received authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate 324 drones, the agency’s largest approval to date.

The approved models hail from several major manufacturers including Tarot, Aeromao and DJI.

Founded in June 2014, Measure consults with companies on how to best make use of drone technology, and then leases and operates the devices on their behalf.

“We are most interested in helping our customers better understand how the imagery and how the data can improve business processes,” Measure CEO Brandon Torres Declet told CNBC on Thursday.

“At the end of the day, it’s data that’s most important. It’s not necessarily the drone.”

Measure’s fleet could, for instance, map crops for agricultural companies, monitor the energy industry’s gas and oil pipelines, or collect aerial views to help organize disaster relief efforts.

In its authorization statement, the FAA acknowledged the litany of security measures the company agreed to take, including a 100 mph speed limit, a requirement that the drone be visible by a human operator at all times and a 400-foot height limit.

Measure had previously partnered with the American Red Cross and the American Farm Bureau Federation to put a price tag on the value of drone use in disaster relief and agriculture. The company is now planning on expanding with new offices and hires.


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