Hi, everyone.?ÿ I'm a commercial drone pilot and software engineer in Cleveland Ohio USA.?ÿ (Lakewood, if you know the area).?ÿ I teach Part 107 prep, drone/UAS industry basics, and drone mapping through the geography department at a local community college.?ÿ I work with photogrammetry and SfM a bit, and I'm a small-time contributor on the OpenDroneMap project.?ÿ The more I learn about photogrammetry and drone mapping, the more I see that I need to improve my understanding of surveying.?ÿ I'm not a surveyor but I'm glad to be here.
Welcome!
Welcome, feel free to ask about anything-someone here will know the answer! ?????ÿ
Interesting to have you here. Just to have an idea, what are your final deliverables? Do you also deliver CAD files, 2d or 3d with linework en symbols using DOT-templates for example?
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Interesting to have you here. Just to have an idea, what are your final deliverables? Do you also deliver CAD files, 2d or 3d with linework en symbols using DOT-templates for example?
No, nothing that sophisticated.?ÿ Most of my commercial drone work to date has been photography, video, and aerial 360 panoramas.?ÿ Deliverables for those are raw photos and/or video files (or edited, depending on customer), and 360 panoramas hosted on my own platform.
My commercial drone mapping projects have been subcontracted piloting for other firms, so they give me a location (sometimes a DroneDeploy flight plan) and I deliver the photos.?ÿ No GCP or check points requested.
So, really just delivering media for hire so far.
I have flown personal projects and dabbled in photogrammetry for my own learning over the last couple of years. I understand GCP and check points in theory but haven't worked with them on a paid project.?ÿ
I understand that drone mapping is inherently imprecise, and that approaching it from a survey mindset and with proper tools and procedures can improve it somewhat.?ÿ I also understand it will never meet the level of accuracy needed for many contexts.?ÿ But it's enough for some.?ÿ I guess my goal is to better understand how to make my drone mapping "as accurate as possible" so I can be clear on when it's an appropriate tool, and when it's not.
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And to address the deliverables question for the drone mapping and photogrammetry piece...
Assets delivered would be orthophoto (GeoTIFF), sometimes DEM/DSM/DTM (GeoTIFF or KMZ), and sometimes also point clouds (LAS/LAZ), and textured models (OBJ) depending on customer needs.?ÿ
Ortho and DEM would be delivered for input to GIS or CAD systems - for linework and analysis by someone more qualified than myself.?ÿ Point clouds can be delivered directly, or analyzed in CloudCompare.?ÿ I'm very slowly expanding my analysis skills in both GIS and CloudCompare, but for now just focusing on data capture and trying to maximize accuracy.
I understand GCP and check points in theory
I wish more surveyors did.?ÿ There are some outlandish accuracy claims for drone work out there, and some otherwise smart surveyors I know accept them as gospel.
Welcome to the group.?ÿ Check in daily to see what is available.?ÿ Anything directly relating to surveying will be addressed by those who can contribute on a narrow topic.?ÿ We also have a lot of fun on here by sharing non-surveying information from time to time.If your dishwasher breaks down and you post about that, a dozen people will respond with how they dealt with the same problem in their own home.?ÿ But, there is no better source of surveying knowledge available anywhere else in this world.
You might want to consider formal education in the subject. University of Maine has online classes for surveying and related subjects.
We also have a lot of fun on here by sharing non-surveying information from time to time
Welcome to the group!
If you get a chance; give those Lions a big attaboy!
@peter-lothian Thank you. I think some formal education would be really helpful.?ÿ I will check out that link.
@coreysnipes You may want to contact University of Akron Surveying and Mapping Program. The linked page includes a video titled "DRONES EXTEND SURVEYORS' TOOLBOX" you may find interesting.
@dallas-morlan Very interesting indeed, and right in my back yard.?ÿ Thank you sir.
