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Steps to get UAV certified and a good course to use
Hello, I was curious if anyone knew the correct steps to get certified for the state of Nevada to use a UAV for surveying? I was also wondering if anyone knows of a good course that would get my certified with the FAA and allow me to practice with a UAV with correct software? Does anyone have recommendations for best softwares and UAVs? What types of surveys are most people using UAVs for? Just trying to get some solid information for future use. Thanks in advance and look forward to chatting with some of you.
Brad
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10 Replies
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There are a number of online practice tests and knowledge for to train to pass your FAA part 107. Depending on where you are at in Nevada, there might be some very good drone classes nearby at a local community college. I’m pretty sure that the Reno-area has a number of ‘drone’ based programs. One of the primary federal UAV test areas in near Reno, I forget the airport name.
I use a combination of Pix4D, Global Mapper, and Civil3D to produce my outputs: aerial photo, point cloud, linework, and surface. Virtual Surveyor is also an interesting software package to look into. I try to use our UAV on any project that I can, although I primarily do design/topo/ALTA surveys. It can save a ton of time and money. Keep in mind, much like GPS, trees (and vegetation in general) are your enemy.
There are a number of UAV hardware setups to look into. Prices can vary from $1,500 to $100,000, depending on your needs and uses. I am using a DJI branded drone with very good results at a fairly affordable price. It works great for smaller projects, like less than 40 acres. Look into the ‘Maps Made Easy’ app and the ‘Airmap’ apps.
Good luck on your droning adventures!
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A lot depends on how far you want to go on your own. If you are a selfstarter I would take the FAA webinars then join remotepilot101. That combination will get you through the test and make you an entry level remote pilot. There are also onestop shops like Aerotas that will get you up and running for 10 or 12 k. They are good but I wouldn’t rely on them for all pilot knowledge. They provide photo processing as part of thier package which saves the cost of Pix4D and lets you learn the mivibg oarts in smaller chunks.
Aside from Pix4D, I highly recommend Virtual Surveyor and Global mapper. There are others out there but this suite will tackle most SUAS projects.
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There is a lot of ways you can spend money and spin your wheels in my opinion. What these guys have said is solid. Although I would suggest starting out with the free downloads from the FAA for part 107. I never took any courses or did anything except my own study from the free materials. Airspace and aviation weather were the trickiest parts of the exam in my opinion. Basic knowledge and fundamental questions aren??t that hard to answer correctly. The exam is multiple choice with 3 options. I like what DroneU offers for $50 a month cause if you have the time you can extract a ton of learning from their courses and web based resources in a short amount of time at a low cost.
Pix4D is the gold standard for processing UAV imagery. DJI Phantom 4 Pro is arguably the best mapping drone for the least amount of money and there is rumor that it??s coming back into production. The Pix4D community is a good resource, and free. They have free trial period offers for the software once you??re ready.(also video academy on YouTube) You want a mapping drone that has a mechanical shutter. Read up on that.
There are lots of apps that can fly a grid autonomously for you. My advice would be to start studying the free FAA stuff and spend $50 for a DroneU membership. In one month if you dedicate time to it you??ll be much more prepared and knowledgeable for testing or beginning to buy hardware/software. The exam is $150, mapping drone could be $2K getting your feet wet. Pix4D is $350 a month. If you get a topo project that can help pay for the initial investment you??ll learn the most by practice and experience. You??ll need good ground control, and lots of checks to verify your map??s accuracy. DroneU also offers classes. They??re in New Mexico if I remember right. Not terribly far regionally. There??s one guy who is a know-it-all there, but the stuff they offer is a good value.
Pioneering a UAV program is not quick & easy. Begin your research before you buy gear, subscribe to Pix4D, Virtual Surveyor, etc. A month of reading and absorbing information would serve you well to prepare your integration strategy.
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Awesome thanks for the information! Are the classes in New Mexico a full how to on software and hardware for surveying with drones and do you know how long they are?
Brad
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@andrew-clark
Thank you so much for the response I will look into all of this! Do you know of any courses or classes that would show how to use software and hardware for surveying?
Brad
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I am about to finish my last 2 years of my BA in surveying and looking to get a head start in drones. I was hoping to get certified and learn the software/hardware ropes for surveying before I finish. I will look into all this and see what is the best option! Thanks for the information much appreciated.
Brad
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You’d have to check on the in person stuff. The online classes are part of that $50 monthly membership and I did all of them in a month awhile ago so I have no idea what’s changed, but it was pretty all-encompassing. For the money I got a lot of info, and ideas which was valuable. Only workshop I ever did was Pix4D. My company paid for it along with our initial license so beyond that my most valuable learning has been by doing the work and testing maps and workflows for repeatability and quality to meet high standards.
I suggest start by reading and researching. Prepare for Part 107. You will need that.
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From experience: (In order of importance.)
1. Get your 107. It is not rocket science.
2. Get a quadcopter, even a cheap one. Fly. Take pictures. Take video. Become a good pilot. Anyone can push a button and watch a drone fly a pattern. Practice and the confidence it brings will increase safety and ability. Why pictures and videos? It makes you a better pilot, more aware, smoother, and because that is the stuff that we don’t care about that puts the icing on the cake for the client. And, it brings real value to understanding a site for people that may never set foot on it.
3. Learn about ground control. This is the truly technical aspect of (automated) flights.
4. If you can get access to Pix4D, get it and use it. Process data sets that you collect or ones from wherever. Even if you this is not part of your job later on, knowing what works and doesn’t is huge.
(This is for a student trying to build a skill, if you are starting to create a UAS program at a company, call Aerotas.)
-All thoughts my own, except my typos and when I am wrong. -
I purchased Remote Pilot 101. Hired my grandson just graduated from high school. Never flown a drone. Paid him the time to watch and study the videos. Not sure but probably spent about 20 hours on it. Called a test center, sent him to take the test ($150). He passed and now has a license. We got a drone from a friend, done some video flights (making movies). Going to start doing some testing with topo work, probably using Drone Deploy. If I think it is going to work out I’ll buy the TBC license for that kind of work to do the processing.
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I suggest looking into Remote Pilot Test Prep 2019 from the ASA Test Prep Board, which also includes the ASA Airman Knowledge Testing Supplement, which will be given to you as reference for the test.
You can find it on Amazon for less than $20. This was done by the same people from Prepware App for Remote Pilot. I’d say 50% of the questions from the actual test can be found in the study materials. 2 weeks studying, and you’ll pass. The majority of the questions are about common sense, national airspace, regulations and weather. Good luck.
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