Surfaces from Drones

What software?

This the free part of Pix4d.

Free software!?

Have you had a chance to check the data for accuracy?

Is the Pix4D pretty user friendly? Have you tried any other software?

Hi Thad,

What kind of UAS did you use? What kind of camera and did you preset photo ground control? Was this Pix4Dmapper Discovery?

Thanks

Bob

Kinda hijack!

For a beginner, would a DJI Phantom vision+ v.3 suffice for simple photography/videography, prior to purchasing an Inspire?

Thanks B-)

> Have you had a chance to check the data for accuracy?

This is screen capture of Pix4D showing a control point floating above the surface (7 ft.). This was a point that was "picked" in only 2-3 photos and is on the outer edge of the project. The processing was done prior to the control being properly implemented.

This is screen capture of Pix4D showing a control point that was "picked" in at least 20 photos. The displacement is hundredths. This is also on the outskirts of the project.

The following images are screen captures of Pix4D showing a control points below grade. The points were actually set below grade for longevity 0.4'-0.5'. You can see the noise in the data as represented by the scatter of points above and below a more densely populated cloud near the actual surface.

As you can see, some areas are much tighter and some areas are a bit baggy. The accuracy comes from a properly controlled/flown/processed project. It's not easy to do. It has taken me months of trial and error missions over the same piece of ground to learn how to do this, and still learning. I would not trust this technology to give me +/- 0.1' accuracy on curb & gutter. You need a terrestrial system for that. This tech will deliver for Dirt work, drainage study, Planning, GIS, etc.

This tech is capable of the +/- 0.1', but you might as well get out the total station, because the time in the air and the time spent processing the data will blow the budget.

Yes. Maybe a bit too user friendly. I would like more controls on processing. It has some pointcloud classification routines that are not really that robust. It attempts to strip the "objects" from the terrain, but it still leaves treetops in the mix while striping out entire hilltops. Pix4D doesn't have an "undo" button...

I used the Inspire 1 but my two phantoms will work with the GoPro cameras. I watched a bunch of training videos on best practices. I will be flying this site some more to compare. I did not use any control on this one yet. I am still getting used to the work flow.

Yes but the Phantom to an Inspire is like a porsche to a ferrari!