Came across this article, could those that use drones please clarify if the author is correct? I know very little about drones but my understanding was that mapping could be produced using stereo images and or ground control to similar accuracy to conventional flown methods. The products being promoted by the author are flown by conventional methods at a higher altitude and lower resolution.
I think the more important statement is why you should not take advice from an aerial mapping company who has a reason to tell you to avoid drone mapping.?ÿ We have been flying for over a year.?ÿ It does not replace the need for some ground surveys but it does complete the stuff in the wide open.?ÿ We permits quite a bit and when we can produce a map with an orthomosaic in thebackground, the board members can better understand what is going on.?ÿ We also pull point cloud out and create a number of deliverables.?ÿ How about sightlines for views??ÿ Which trees to target.?ÿ Flood zone viewing.?ÿ And so on.
The aerial mapping companies produce their data and you cannot meet that with a drone.?ÿ Low accuracy drone data at 350 feet will get about 100 acres a battery.?ÿ High accuracy at 100 feet will get 5 to 9 acres.?ÿ If you want to map a 10,000 acre town, get a plane or get a lot of little projects.
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Sometimes you need a tack hammer, sometimes a framing hammer, sometimes sledge hammer. ?ÿ
For aerial mapping drones have their place, manned rotor aircraft have their place, single engine fixed wing aircraft have their place, multi engine fixed wing aircraft have their place.
We have and use use all of them to get the client the product they need. ?ÿThat??s the difference between a consultant and a salesman.?ÿ
Of course photos have distortion. That's why you process the photos into an orthomosaic and digital surface model.
"Disingenuous Crap About Those Taking Some of My Work" would be a better title...
To be fare, the linked post seems to me to be aimed at laymen, not surveyors. ?ÿAnd no one is taking The Ordinance Surveys work since they are public employees. ?ÿ
What a horrible article! I??m a surveyor who happens to own an aerial mapping company. ?ÿI have pretty much every tool a surveyor can have and YES you can get very good data from drones...even as simple as a DJI P4. ?ÿThe problem is not data quality but rather coverage area. ?ÿWe can use our drone to effectively cover 40 acres of high resolution area in a day. Compare that with the plane that can acquire the same area in about 30 seconds. ?ÿWe can also get extreme accuracy from drone imagery that we can??t from the plane but again takes a very long time to acquire. ?ÿ At the end of the day I feel that aerial lidar coupled with a decent image(2? gsd). ?ÿIs the best bang for the buck and best acquired by using fixed wing piloted aircraft.?ÿ
I agree. I don't use drones and have limited exposure to them but I felt the article was spreading misinformation for commercial reasons.
I agree. I don't use drones and have limited exposure to them but I felt the article was spreading misinformation for commercial reasons.
It's a shame that the Ordnance Survey Ireland don't talk to mapping organisations who understand these things, such as the Ordnance Survey Great Britain, who have currently put out to tender a major term contract for 18 months of UAV mapping.
