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The Ultimate Checklist for Drone Mapping | Hammer Missions


credit: process.st


Overview


So you want to be on top of your game when it comes to drone mapping?


We have often found all important steps and advice around drone mapping to be scattered and hard to put together in one place.


This is why we have created the ultimate checklist for drone mapping. Let's go!



The Checklist



1: Follow the geometry of the structure you want to map or 3D model


Following the geometry of your structure helps reduce anomalies in your final processing and helps to concentrate on the subject that you are collecting data for.




2: Capture Both Nadir and Oblique Shots


Using this method you can ensure that your structure or subject is captured from all angles so your final 3D model will have no missing areas.






3: Ensure High Overlap Between Images


High overlap should be between all shots, not just the nadir. Ensure that both your nadir and oblique shots have at least a 70% overlap when you are collecting data.




4: Use Good Exposure Settings


Having the correct exposure set greatly improves the quality of your data collection and your final 3D model or map.



For more info see our post: Why Automatic Exposure is a bad idea.



5: Choose a Camera with a Large Sensor Size & Megapixels


Choose a camera with a larger sensor and Megapixel rating, the higher the sensor size the more information will be captured.




6: Ensure your subject is well-lit.


Shadows, reflections and transparent objects can affect the way the software process the final images.


For more info see our post: A guide to drone photogrammetry



7: Avoid Moving Objects


Avoid moving objects in the mapping area or in the background as these will cause artefacts in the final render.


For more info see our post: A guide to drone photogrammetry



8: Keep the Subject on Target


The structure, building, or area you are mapping should always fill the main part of the image to ensure data collection is accurate and you are only collecting the subject that is required.



For more info see our post: A guide to drone photogrammetry



9: Capture The Entire Site or Structure


Ensure that all of the site or structure can be seen in the neatly overlapped photos.


For more info see our post: A guide to drone photogrammetry



10: Avoid Motion Blur


Motion blur is caused when the drone’s flying too fast with respect to the shutter speed causing the scene to substantially change over a single camera exposure. Adjusting the camera settings will help to eliminate this.




11: Use GCPs, RTK or PPK (if accuracy needed)


GCPs, also known as Ground Control Points are points that are laid out on the ground that have known coordinates. These points are laid down across the site and are measured using an accurate GPS device for example the DJI D-RTK 2 GNSS Mobile Station to gain centimetre accuracy. This data can then be tied in with the GPS information to create your final photogrammetry image.



For more info see our post: GCPs vs RTK vs PPK what is best?



RTK stands for Real-Time Kinematic and is a technique used to increase the accuracy of GNSS (global navigation satellite system) positions using a fixed base station that remotely sends out data to a moving receiver.



For more info see our post: GCPs vs RTK vs PPK what is best?



PPK stands for Post Processed Kinematic and is a method of correcting the data after the flight has taken place and the data has been uploaded.


For more info see our post: GCPs vs RTK vs PPK what is best?



12: Use the Same Focal Length


Used a fixed focal length lens, do not change the focal length or zoom whilst shooting as this will cause discrepancies in the collection of data.



13: Use Optimal Flight Speed


A carefully calculated flight speed will help your drone fly fast enough to be efficient and also slow enough so that the data collected is of high quality.




14: Use Ground Offset


Ground Offset is the height of the structure you’d like to survey assuming you took off from the ground and not from the roof of the structure.



For more info see our post: Ground Offset in Hammer Missions



15: Verify your Data


Data verification involves checking and verifying the data before leaving the job site.


For more info see our post: The missing step in Drone workflows



16: Use High GSD for Accuracy


Ground Sampling Distance, as the name implies, refers to the amount of ground/surface area covered by a single image in flight. The higher the GSD the higher the quality of data collected.


For more info please see our post: Accuracy of stockpile volumes



17: Use a Global Mechanical Shutter


Global shutters ensure that each image on the image sensor is exposed to light at exactly the same time. Global shutters are inherently good at capturing subjects in the scene which are flying fast since all pixels on the camera are exposed to light exactly at the same time.




18: Use The Correct Flight Altitude


There are several factors to consider when thinking about using the correct flight altitude, GSD, and regulations, but above all safety.





19: Use Terrain Follow When Needed


This is a feature that allows the collection of more accurate data for mapping, 3D mapping and magnetic survey missions' challenging terrain by adjusting the mission's altitude to maintain a constant GSD.


For more info see our post: Terrain Follow in Hammer Missions



20: Use Fly-to-Draw for vertical structures


Fly to draw is a feature where you use the drone to mark points on your asset for your missions. Ideal for facades, towers and wind turbines.




21: Avoid manually Edits to the data


Do not crop or post-process the images in any way that would affect resolution or focal length!



22: Be Aware of Distances


Don’t be extremely close to the object/site of interest and don’t be too far! The distance needs to be just right, find a happy medium and find the right GSD!




Summary


We hope this checklist helps you get the most out of your planned mapping missions.


Think we missed something? Let us know in the comments below and we'll add it to the post!

If you'd like to learn more about how to produce high-quality data and get the most out of your drone missions, please feel free to visit our learning resources


If you haven't got a Hammer account as of yet and would like to try Hammer Missions you can get started on our free trial.


To learn more about our enterprise solutions, including mission collaboration, data processing, and AI solutions, please contact us at team@hammermissions.com


We look forward to hearing from you. - Team at Hammer Missions

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