UAV advice

[INDENT=1]Know there is some experimenting with photos and the 123D by Autodesk being done. Not sure about achieving survey grade. But for asset management it could be useful.[/INDENT]

You can achieve survey grade accuracies but there is a lot that goes into it. I have a DJS Phantom 2 Vision+ right now which comes with a 14 megapixel camera. Works fine (could be better) for things like stockpiles and 2 foot contours from low altitudes. But I was having trouble with sharp edges and a lot of random bumps in the surface. I have since learned that the camera is known for having lots of artifacts in the images which cause issues...I also learned that sensor size and quality is just as important if not more than megapixels. I am about to buy one of the new DJI Inspire UAV's with the new X5 Camera. This is a 16mp camera with a Micro 2/3 sensor which should give far better image quality. This is going to run around 6k with the accessories. It'll be better for stockpiles than the Phantom 2 and I'm hoping to see better results on hard surfaces and curbs. The next level up would be to look into the DJI s1000 series with something like a Sony a7 attached to it. That entire setup will probably run around $15-20k. Then you start getting into systems that have a lot more features, longer fly times, better GPS (less ground control), better safety features, etc. Most allow you to mount Sony, Canon, and other high quality cameras to them. The Sensefly Exom is a nice fully integrated unit that runs around $35k. If I had the cash thats probably the one I would get. They just did a whole project to survey grade accuracy and wrote an article about it. https://www.sensefly.com/fileadmin/user_upload/sensefly/newsandpress/senseFly_White_Paper_-_Generating_highly_accurate_3D_data_using_a_senseFly_eXom_drone.pdf

I cannot answer to the types or which produces survey grade, but what we've experienced in our testing is the length of processing time. It has been very extensive (multiple days) when creating 3d models using Agi-soft and Pix4d. I was not the project manager on this, so I cannot answer specifics but that is the issue we ran into. Definitely something to consider, as we didn't see it as an efficient tool in our workflow.

Be aware, selling drone services is illegal unless you have submitted a Form 333 Exemption (Private) or a COA (Public) to the FAA and been approved. See this link for more details... Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Regulations & Policies

Here is an aerial photography firm in Chicago that was cited... FAA proposes nearly $2 million fine against Chicago drone operator

Please notify others if they haven't heard of this.

You need a solid powerful computer. We use an 8 core Xeon processor with 32 gigs of ram and an 512 SSD with a high end nVidia graphics card. We can process a 30 acre mine for volumes in about 4 hours. We have done an entire building exterior in about 2 hours. Bigger projects take longer of course. If you use the Pix4D Capture app you can upload the images to the cloud and they will process the data for you and this is the way the industry is going. The data sets are HUGE...10-30 gigs or more. Other companies like Drone Deploy and Kespry are taking the same approach in letting Amazon's web service computers do the heavy lifting.

You do certainly need the 333 exemption right now...FAA said in their recent press conference that the new rules will be out in June of next year....about the length of waiting for a 333 exemption right now.

Hope I don't drift too far off topic....

I do have a bit of a gripe about the FAA imposing registration on hobby type UAV.

Wait. Hear me out first.

What they are mostly concerned about is these units buzzing sensitive airports and high security areas. Right? Why isn't the manufacturers of these "toys" installing simple GPS receivers that are programmed to maintain a safe zone from known sensitive areas. If they are tampered with in any way they simply would not take off. Government wants to control too much IMO. I know how to police myself and my neighbor if necessary (see below).

I can't do much about the occasional dip sh__ that uses them to look inside people's windows. My shotgun will handle that.

Not kidding either; and I own a quad-copter! (cheap chinese model).

My neighbor up the street crashed his into my house. Was not happy about that.

Okay - said my peace. Now attack 😉 .

Ebee made in Switzerland
Pix 4D software Switzerland
GPS satellites Glonass
Camera Japan
Bureaucracy and Red Tape by FAA

Just hold the model air plane controller (Hitec)in your hands and say you bought the model plane cheap from
China Switzerland and its lunch time and you wanted to relax for a moment. Most of the electronics are made in china anyways so a bit of
truth there.
Just ask the land owner for permission and go out and make some cash and stop feeding the FAA desk warmers money.
Obviously in a city setting your going to have to take your hard earned money and time and do it FAA way.
Most UAV types up here in Canukastan fly mines,gravel pits etc miles from the city for other work the plane sits in the hanger collecting
dust.

Pete

That fixed wing e-Bee RTK is really impressive . 45 minute flight time.
This is really fantastic technology.

I think that as far as surveying goes, this will have a larger impact than the advent of GPS did.

The time savings is going to be huge.

The BOR better get geared up to address this now because it is coming fast.