What does “drone survey” mean?

Drone surveys include using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to collect airborne data using LIDAR payloads and downward-facing sensors like RGB or multispectral cameras. An RGB camera is used to take many pictures of the ground at various angles during a drone survey, and each shot is geotagged with coordinates.

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A photogrammetry program can produce elevation models, georeferenced orthomosaics, or three-dimensional representations of the project area using this data. Additionally, information such as volumetric measurements and extremely exact distances may be extracted from these maps.

Drones can fly far lower than human aircraft or satellite imaging, which makes it possible to provide high-resolution, high-accuracy data much more quickly, cheaply, and independently of atmospheric circumstances like cloud cover.

What advantages can drones offer for surveying?

You may now do drone surveys that span hundreds of hectares in a matter of only a few flights, right? Drones for surveys can be used for:

Cut down on survey expenses and field time.

Drones can collect topographic data up to five times faster and with less labor than land-based techniques. You save time with PPK geo-tagging as well since it eliminates the need to set up several GCPs. In the end, you provide your survey data more quickly and for less money.

Give thorough and precise data.

Only individual points are measured by total stations. Thousands of measurements are made during a single drone flight, and these measurements may be shown in a variety of ways (such as orthomosaic, point clouds, DTM, DSM, contour lines, etc.). 3D geo-data is contained in every pixel of the generated map or point of the 3D model.

Map regions that are otherwise inaccessible

Drones used for aerial surveys have a very long takeoff and flying range. No more are you constrained by inaccessible regions, dangerously steep inclines, or difficult terrain that is inappropriate for standard measurement instruments. Roads and railroad tracks don’t have to be closed. As a matter of fact, data may be collected in real time without causing any organizational burden.

How do drones become employed for surveying purposes?

surveying and mapping of land

Drones used for surveying produce detailed 3D models and high-resolution orthomosaics of regions for which there is a lack of data or just poor data. They thereby make it possible to swiftly and simply create high-accuracy cadastral maps, even in intricate or challenging-to-access locations. Features such as signs, curbs, road markers, fire hydrants, and drains can also be extracted by surveyors from the photos.

These same photos may create very precise elevation models, contour lines, breaklines, and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of structures or land locations after being post-processed with photogrammetry software.

Development and land management

Drone-captured aerial photos expedite and streamline topographic surveys for land management and planning. This is valid for surveying potential sites, designing and planning allotments, and completing the construction of buildings, roads, and utilities.

Additionally, these photos serve as the basis for intricate site topography models used in pre-construction engineering investigations. Engineers may begin working with a 3D model right away by transferring the created data to any CAD or BIM program.

Drones may collect data at a cheap cost and with ease. Images can be collected at regular intervals and superimposed on the original drawings to determine whether the building activity is proceeding as planned.

Accurate measurements

With the use of high resolution orthophotos, surveyors can measure surfaces and distances with extreme accuracy.

Volumetric measurements of stockpiles

Volumetric measurements can also be obtained from the same photos using 3D mapping software. For inventory or monitoring reasons, the quick and affordable volume measuring method in mines and quarries is very helpful in calculating inventories.

Surveyors may obtain many more topographic data points—and hence more precise volume measurements—by using drones. Additionally, they can accomplish this far more safely than if they had to physically get the data by moving a stack up and down. There won’t be any interruptions to on-site work because drones are gathering data from above. A site snapshot may be taken at a particular moment in time because to the quick acquisition time.

Slope surveillance

Slope data may be extracted from drone imagery-generated DTMs and DSMs using automated GIS analysis. The locations may be categorized and utilized for slope monitoring, including landslide mitigation and prevention, based on how steep the ground’s surface is.

It is feasible to identify variations in earth movement and calculate its velocity using orthomosaics recorded at various points in time. This information may be used to anticipate landslides and avert possible harm to bridges, railroads, and roadways.

Drones provide for more thorough data collecting as compared to conventional monitoring methods that rely on sensors installed at discrete locations. Since these places are frequently hazardous or difficult to access, PPK capable drones—which do not necessitate the layout of several GCPs—are ideal for this application.

City planning

As urban areas get denser and more complex, extensive planning and costly, time-consuming data collecting are necessary. Drones have made it possible for urban planners to gather a lot of current data quickly and with a lot fewer employees. Planners can study the locations’ current social and environmental characteristics and evaluate the effects of various scenarios by using the pictures created in this manner.

Buildings may also be simply superimposed onto their surroundings thanks to 3D models, providing residents and planners with an experimental viewpoint on a challenging development project. Additionally, cast shadows and outlooks/views may be analyzed and shown with 3D models.