Surveying the Western Heights Cemetery
On the western edge of Dallas, just off Fort Worth Avenue, lies the Western Heights Cemetery, a modest but historically significant resting place. Listed as the burial site of Clyde Barrow and other notable Dallas residents, this cemetery has long been a landmark. Recently, the Texas Historical Cemetery Association partnered with Trans Texas Surveying and Mapping from Cleburne to preserve its history through cutting-edge surveying and mapping technology.
TSPS Chapter 5 member Chris Freeman contacted his longtime friend and colleague, Robert Young (TSPS Chapter 2 member and President of Trans Texas Surveying and Mapping), to see if Robert was available to provide pro bono survey services to one of the Dallas historical cemeteries that Chris previously provided with boundary, topographic, and aerial imagery services with help from Smart Drone. Robert enthusiastically committed to producing an updated contour map and orthophoto of the cemetery. Robert even volunteered to return later once the leaves have fallen for another version that, in part, serves him to better understand his equipment and its capabilities, as well as any variance in the data obtained.
Site: Western Heights Cemetery, 1617 Fort Worth Avenue, Dallas, TX
Point of Contact: Van Johnson, Texas Historical Cemetery Association – Volunteer Coordinator
Survey Crew: Trans Texas Surveying and Mapping
- Alexis Cardona López – 3D Laser Scanning Specialist, Senior Survey Technician, Drafting Lic. 3046 and Licensed UAS Pilot – FAA Part 107
- Joe Don Draper – Drafting Technician and Licensed UAS Pilot – FAA Part 107
Balancing History and Science
Surveying historic cemeteries requires sensitivity to both heritage and science. Crews met Van Johnson on site. Van shared the history of the place and fun facts with them. While the primary goal was to generate contour lines and 3D linework, the team also cross-referenced property boundaries with the Dallas Appraisal District database and documented monuments discovered during the survey. Photographs of these markers add to the historical record and provide valuable reference for preservation. By merging modern geospatial technology with the responsibility of historical stewardship, the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors delivered a set of resources that will preserve Western Heights Cemetery digitally for generations to come.
Looking Ahead
Projects like this demonstrate how surveying technology extends far beyond construction and land development. At Western Heights, drones, LiDAR, and GIS were not just tools of measurement—they became instruments of cultural preservation. For the Texas Historical Cemetery group, this work ensures that Dallas’ past can be studied, honored, and remembered with accuracy and dignity. Thanks to Robert and Trans Texas Surveying and Mapping for their willingness to share their expertise to assist Western Heights Cemetery
