How to be a Drone Mapping Pro | Deep Dive

[@Gringo_Lingo]

Thanks for free education! This is part of the industry I'd love to grow into. Currently I'm isolated into drone video work, and have yet for any requests for use of my M3T.

[@SteelCityDrones]

Our Pleasure.

[@kreativekraal2652]

good luck my brother. You and i are on the same route

[@AlfredRepo]

Me 2​@@kreativekraal2652

[@stuartross1081]

Thank you for a very intersting video. Our survey clients are civil engineers and architecs and they still expect a 3d cad deliverable with line/feature work for track edges, drain hatches, fences and so om (with height annotation) so we still have to walk and measure those features with an RTK pole. If tracks continue under dense tree canopy then we have to continue with total station. That said they still like to see an ecw/geo tiff in XREF to that cad. For us the strength of drone survey is in large areas of rough hillside and here we can use point cloud ground extraction to create DTM and contours to merge with the conventional data. I agree about the eye watering cost of Trimble kit but it offers a fully integrated approach. All the project data RTK / total station or even point cloud laser scans are recorded to a single project on a very robust controller. Relatively recent introduction of the M3E has been fanstastic and seamless. I can use Trimnle VRS with my phone as hotspot to the DJI controller. If there is no phone signal I can use the R10 NTRIP correction for the drone. However the really big bonus of the R10 is that if there is no phone signal at all you can still get a true base position using about 4 minutes or so of RTX correction. It works very well and you can check at night with a proper PP static solution against local CORS RINEX in TBC. (I am aware of some UK surveyors getting inaccurate results using Opus.) The limitation with the R10 base on wifi NTRIP is that you can only control the drone from a position within wifi range of the base. If you are climbing rough mountain side that is some very heavy kit to transport. I would say we still need a lightweight base (which could still double as a rover), capable of getting a position by RTX, and then creating an NTRIP correction for the drone.

[@SteelCityDrones]

We could make hours of content on true Survey workflow but that's not what this video is for. It was an introduction to what true Drone Mapping on a professional level includes.

[@powerfullaudmarcus2455]

@StuartRoss1081 Thanks for taking time to give additional info and commentary on this great video. Good information shared, brings Relief!

[@SteelCityDrones]

@@powerfullaudmarcus2455 Sure thing, our pleasure.

[@tomthomsen11]

The prblem I see with inexperienced non-surveyor individuals is that they believe they are getting great data (sub-tenth verticle data) because the system is advertised that way. There's way too many things that go into what the ultimate accuracy will be to just make a blanket statement like that. One company, that I will not name, claims ALTA accuracy. I can tell that when the point cloud doesn't match your ground shots on concrete by 0.20' horizontally, it's not ALTA quality. A recent project of ours has some great results but every once in a while......bam! 0.50' verticle error as compared to the total station. Civils and Atchitects generally need much better than that especially where ADA issues exist! My two cents.

[@Anonymous_Whisper]

Bro I'm just starting lol 😅😅 please teach me the ways of the drones and data processing

[@derekworkman9455]

Glad to know about the Reach RTK stations, thanks!

[@SteelCityDrones]

They are really a great option.

[@Rogun987]

You guys always have great info for the layman.

[@SteelCityDrones]

thank you

[@gunzowillis545]

Great Video. Well done. Do you have one showing the limits of each type of drone

[@FarangFishing]

Great video. I am recently learning about all this tech and industry. Do you think you could make a video for people who are new/interested in getting into the industry? I live abroad and would love to bring this to other countries.

[@dhruvsaxenadstar]

Thank you sir for sharing such detailed and simplified information about drone mapping.

[@kreativekraal2652]

Thank you so much for sharing. I'm a newbie in the mapping and surveying industry. I'd definitely learn a lot from your channel. keep the videos coming. Are there any books that you can recommend? God bless you and your family. Much love from South Africa.

[@ickn2005]

This will show my ignorance of the industry. But I don't understand how one can make enough money to even purchase this equipment. I've always heard surveyors make great money, but still. Thank you for the video and your time; I have much to reflect on.

[@CrisbysHangout]

Im just gettinv into drone and drone work i came accross your channel and im a new subscriber thanks for all tje great info

[@TheeRandomGuy]

Great content Dave!

[@ibrahimvandy3673]

Wow nice lecture I would love to do an online course with you guys What are they things involve

[@SteelCityDrones]

Stay tuned we will release when its ready.

[@krystil_king_fpv8275]

amazing thanks for the in depth information

[@Integr8d]

Global shutter sensor to remove any and all temporal geometric skewing from each exposure.

[@kramdsm]

Great video. Thanks, Dave.

[@SteelCityDrones]

Our pleasure.

[@jamescashregisteredbuildin4399]

Great video and presentation, thank you, as I'm only starting to get into drone work

[@droneoccitanie]

Great, as always.

[@SteelCityDrones]

thanks.

[@ChadSTONE-y9f]

I'm a surveyor by history but a safety manager now for a large mining company. I just recieved my 640T Evo lite Enterprise fly more combo. What is the software I need for mapping? Thanks for your videos

[@SteelCityDrones]

I don't believe the 640T is a survey grade drone that can give you good relative accuracy. For flight mission planning I recommend Drone Deploy and for post processing the dataset I recommend Pix4D. If you want to talk to us about drones and getting you into a mapping drone please feel free to call us.

[@g1998k]

Thank you for your work and advise. What a pity you are too far to access your services. Would be great to subscribe to your video training database.

[@felixngonzalez4027]

THANKS FOR THE DROM GUIDANCE I LOVE THE DROMS I LOVE THE MINI DROM 4 PRO. I WANT ONE.

[@thijsrinkel934]

Nice Video. Do you also make gcp’s or control points when using ntrip? Just to verify the data I assume then?

[@tomthomsen11]

Don't forget to mention that in some states it is illegal to solicit mapping services if you're not a Licinced Land Surveyor. Some states may still allow it but that's slowly changing.

[@WW5RM]

You gotta be kidding me! Mapping and Land Surveying is two different things! A Orthomosaic doesn't establish boundaries what so ever! It's simply a aerial photo. But that brings up a good point. Be cautious of the terms you use and be sure the customer understands the difference. What state is it you refer to?

[@Dan_Birdman]

Here in California, photogrammetry is explicitly stated in what the governing board defines as Surveying. One of CA highest courts just ruled in favor of the board in a case involving a company offering drone mapping services.

[@Dilllonm]

@@Dan_BirdmanCalifornia 💀

[@Jack_Hurst_]

Sounds stupid when you say it out loud, not your comment but the fact that some random that got given the power to make that stupid law all for monetary gain, not like there stuffing there pocket enough

[@5pointsdronesllc]

From my understanding that applies if you call the service a “survey”

[@sneakerheadlee5984]

What tripods do you suggest for the Pair of Emlid Reach GNSS?

[@kianteck63]

Hi Dave, great video. Thanks. Im from Singapore. Im a dji drone hobbyist for 4 years and I’m thinking to start a mapping and facade inspection business. What would be the est start up cost on all the necessary equipments. Im looking at Mavic 3 enterprise or thermal. How much is pix4dmapper? How abt hammer missions? Looking fwd for your advice.

[@kamilmaz-e7j]

It’s great vid and so many useful info here! Thank you for great job! Just quick question, I seen some good drones there, but also one small one. Would you recommend to go with air2s or rather one of minis at the beginning of journey? I know m3e is best on market because of shutter but it will be next atep to buy better than air2s or one of minis, I am curious about your opinion ;) thanks!

[@SteelCityDrones]

It depends on if Air 2 is compatible with the post processing software you want to use.

[@jybyrd]

I hand made my GCPs, 2x2 panels from Home Depot I colored green and black checker board with a number on them. Total cost per GCP was about $20

[@SteelCityDrones]

Are they weighted properly so they won't move in wind gusts?

[@eros5556]

would you suggest the new dji air 3s?

[@Joe-wk9ow]

What would a beginner do in order to start something like this? I have a Mavic 3 pro, Mini 3 pro and the Air 2s. What kind of industry would be best to start at?

[@SteelCityDrones]

We cover the equipment in the video. Industries for drone mapping are in the Survey, Engineering, and construction fields.

[@Anonymous_Whisper]

How much is the entire set up you mentioned cost break down?

[@importjunky3106]

Did I understand correctly, that you need a minimum of 3 aeropoints? or GCP in general? Such as 1 aeropoint and 2 GCPs? I spoke to propeller last week, they explained that the standard is still 1 Aeropoint per 100 acres surveyed. Which makes sense since they are a PPK Service. We used to be a propeller customer. We got amazing results with 1 aeropoint on surveys of +/- 100 acres. The reason we left the platform is just the annual recurring cost. I am also curious, Why 2 Emlids? In Ohio, PA, WV you can access CORS. You can use the one Emlid setup as a rover connected to CORS and set a known point (for the base function) and record all of your GCP's Then setup over that known point as a base with the same unit, no?

[@SteelCityDrones]

Hello - Pix4D recommends a minimum of 5 GPC's and will not process any project with less than 3 GPC's. An aeropoint is a portable GPC. So factor a minimum of 5 GPC with 2 to 3 checkpoints. 2 Emlids are needed for a base-rover configuration to measure GPC-checkpoints. For flying you would use one over a known point that can broadcast the data out to the Drone over NTRIP. Hope this helps.

[@importjunky3106]

@@SteelCityDrones Thanks Dave, So to be clear. You don't need 5 aeropoints. You could use 1 aeropoint and place 3 or 4 other GCP's. Correct? I assumed when you were talking about Propellers aeropoints you were also using the propeller platform. I'm also curious on your thoughts of using a long static recording and OPUS vs connecting to a CORs network and being able to record a corrected point in a fraction of the time? You are correct, in that your method would require 2 Emlids. With CORs readily available in most areas (and free to use in some states) curious why not use this method? It would save a bunch of time rather than taking 2 hour static point observations

[@SteelCityDrones]

@@importjunky3106 That pretty much is NTRIP which can range from free up to $400 a month. ODOT is free, and you will get a corrected position quick but depends how accurate you need to be, a network point will never be as accurate as a post processed point.

[@rajanyt7343]

Just out of curiosity, how much does the market pay for the data acquisition part of a 1MW solar farm inspection or a 1 sq km aerial mapping?

[@FPVScorpian]

Are the online courses available yet?

[@samiutenkichrononauta]

can you explain why some people use free rtk services and other people use their own rtk ground stations? What's the difference when making maps like photogrammetry? Is it needed to use your own rtk when making lidar data and not needed at all when making plain maps?

[@kelvinagbadobi524]

I don't have much experience, but I think the main difference is that the NTRIP services require connectivity to the internet, so if you are mapping in a remote location or a region with little service reception, your drone can disconnect from the RTK service

[@Jack_Hurst_]

When is this course coming out

[@MPFben]

Great explanation, thanks.

[@kamilmaz-e7j]

2:21 where is it from, is it related to some software?

[@SevericK_BooM]

Are you using those base stations and ground control points even with RTK unit?

[@SteelCityDrones]

Yes

[@littlenel17]

So basically what I learned from this is that you don’t necessarily need the Mavic 3E with RTK hat to get survey accurate data. I could use any drone (Mavic Air 3 or Mavic 3 Pro) to capture the images and if I use a rover to establish ground control points i can upload the csv file and attach that to state plane on what ever software I’m using for ppk and I can get an accurate map correct?

[@SteelCityDrones]

If you use a consumer Mavic drone you will need to lay down ground control to tie the cloud tightly together and then establish check shots to validate the data. You can use a base-rover configuration to record the GCP data. Nothing we discussed pertains to PPK.

[@littlenel17]

@@SteelCityDrones well with any drone really if you want survey accuracy you would need ground control points and check points to get accurate maps. We use a Mavic 3E with RTK module and have 4 propeller AeroPoints and every day we fly we set those AeroPoints on ground control points. I say ppk because when we use the AeroPoints we aren’t getting real time corrections..all the corrections get done during processing. What I’m asking is that you can still get survey accurate maps using a consumer drone and using a gnss receiver to shoot in control points and check points? I don’t need a $6000 Mavic 3E with RTK or the Matrice. I can get good accurate data using a Mavic 3 Air and my Toocon GNSS receiver correct?

[@SteelCityDrones]

@@littlenel17 Yes, before RTK was available for drones we could get survey grade accuracy by laying down ground control to tie the data closely. GSD plays a key role and adjusting for any Terrain elevation change with extra control as needed.

[@littlenel17]

@@SteelCityDrones I’m looking to do my own mapping and photogrammetry but I don’t want to spend the money on a Mavic 3E. I have my own personal base rover (TopCon Hiper V) I also have access to the CORS Network if I wanted to just use the Rover. I’m not necessarily looking to provide survey services with the drone. Mostly orthos, volume calculations etc. but I’m wondering if I can use a Mavic Air 3 so capture data and set control points with my GNSS rover. Can I still achieve the same accuracy as if I was using the Mavic 3E RTK?

[@clintonherring]

Mind if I ask, does emlid and rover replace a dji rtk station if you put gcps down?

[@SteelCityDrones]

Yes we cover that in the video.

[@Mathew-A]

great video mate

[@SteelCityDrones]

Thank you Mathew

[@chrismcd8505]

Can the m3t do survey grade mapping?

[@SteelCityDrones]

No it can not.

[@telequip247]

Hello I'm Emmanuel I'm interested in joining your training classss on mapping

[@XdekHckr]

Great video but you should fix the chapters (they should start from 0:00)

[@m2rtsoo]

I own a GNSS receiver with a VRS service and a DJI Mavic 2 zoom drone. So i would only need to lay down some GCP s and will get accurate map? Whats the cost effective postproccessing software to mess around and test how it all works?

[@SteelCityDrones]

A GNSS receiver will only help you using an aircraft that has RTK compatibility. You could fly your missions without RTK and tie the accuracy locations in better with 5 to 8 GPC points. Pix4D is the industry standard for Post Processing software for Survey accuracy.

[@vp62ift]

DJI Mavic 2 zoom would nt be a good drone for mapping. Mavic 2 pro would be a good for beginners and small projects. You want a camera that has a mechanical shutter like the old phantom 4 pro RTK or the Mavic 3E

[@m2rtsoo]

@@vp62ift Mavic 2 pro has also electronical shutter. You mean better because it has 20mp photos instead of 12 like with Zoom?

[@jorgeignacio79]

Whats the going rate per acre?

[@sethdonut]

Great stuff

[@Jozkah_]

can I do this type of drone mapping using a mavic 3 pro? it has no SDK available yet therefore i'm asking

[@SteelCityDrones]

You can create pre-programmed automated flights with most drones including M3 however you will need to lay down ground control points and check shots.

[@peterhoult-vb1rk]

No mention of Geoids, GPS phase centres or ellipsoidal heights ..?.

[@SteelCityDrones]

This video is "NOT" nor was it meant to be a mapping course.

[@peterhoult-vb1rk]

@@SteelCityDrones The video is titled " How to be a Drone Mappin Pro" ?

[@SteelCityDrones]

@@peterhoult-vb1rk yes from a high level work flow process.

[@NLandmap]

Nice info 👍

[@shannoncooper1598]

Do you have to have survey license? Or someone sign off ?

[@SteelCityDrones]

Good question. It varies in the location you live in and from state to state in the US. Mapping, while traditionally part of the surveyors realm in the field, is more an engineering survey and not one requiring property delineation or decision making. Photogrammetrist are not necessarily surveyors, nor engineers, I can tell you that here in PA, it is illegal to "advertise" services such as "Survey Services". The define of Survey services includes "The professional services, such as establishing property/boundary lines is the main issue that has to be done by a licensed surveyor. A person with experience staking out roads or sewer systems is not required to be registered. There are survey techs that go out and capture and measure data with rovers and they don't need to be licensed either and it is not illegal to provide a customer with drone pictures and deliverables. People been doing that with planes for the longest time. A First Amendment lawsuit in North Carolina says surveyors cannot stop drone operators from selling photos and making maps. We strongly recommend to check with the state and or region you live in as the law can vary from state to state. The purpose of a surveylicense, in essence, is to protect the public in situation where they are not covered by the law of contract. Your neighbor, or the guy down the street, may have their boundaries adversely affected by the surveyor’s work, if it is deficient, but they have no recourse against the surveyor under contract, as there was no contract, implied or explicit, between them. They have recourse under the law of torts in the event that things go wrong, but the idea of the license is to ensure that this is as rare an event as possible. Drone operators should make claims about what they are imaging or claims about the location of boundaries. Their work has as much impact on your boundaries as your granny snapping a photo of your home from the street. With all that said, everything that we mention in the video above are processes to assure that if you do give a client deliverables with will go toward someone else doing the official survey work that the GeoData is as good as it can possibly be to survey standards.

[@tomthomsen11]

@@SteelCityDrones Real bad idea to provide services that are traditionally done by a licensed surveyor (insured) if you're not one. There's a lot that can go wrong data wise and the inexperienced guy would never know what to check or how to correct bad data. We've had services provide ortho and point cloud data to us from our photos and control that was terrible. We re-shot all of the control and were sub-hundredth on all of them. The engineer using the data would never know if his design really works until construction staking occurs. Case in point. A recent project, flown by others, ended up with contours that were 0.55' off on average, The targets and Benchmark were checked and found to be good at the time of staking. over 2000 cubic yards extra had to be removed from the site because the design was based on bad contours. Guess who is being sued right right now? That's right, the guy that provided the aerial data. Plus, everyone involved is pissed at him and he won't be involved in projects like this one in the future.

[@SteelCityDrones]

@@tomthomsen11 There is nothing wrong with educating people on how to collect the data and then validate the data properly. The idea behind this video is to dispel the myths that an overwhelming amount of drone pilots about the perception of what the actual work flow is for collecting data properly. Many people feel all they need is to buy a $3500 drone and maybe an RTK module and they can provide clients with survey grade data. Also I would disagree that only licensed surveyors are the only ones to collect the data and set control. Survey tech's do this all the time and they don't have a survey license. Drone pilots can do this as well as long as they are properly trained and educated which is what we want to do.

[@spartanaerialservices]

Thank you!

[@SteelCityDrones]

Our pleasure.

[@Perceivedshift]

Where is the drone mapping and surveying course?

[@SteelCityDrones]

We are about 1 month away from having it available.

[@Perceivedshift]

@@SteelCityDronesGreat, looking forward to it!

[@crawford323]

Without being a licensed surveyor, you then could say you offer services provided for surveyors? This seems to be walking a very thin legal line.

[@SteelCityDrones]

@@crawford323 It varies in the location you live in and from state to state in the US. Mapping, while traditionally part of the surveyors realm in the field, is more an engineering survey and not one requiring property delineation or decision making. Photogrammetrist are not necessarily surveyors, nor engineers, I can tell you that here in PA, it is illegal to "advertise" services such as "Survey Services". The define of Survey services includes "The professional services, such as establishing property/boundary lines is the main issue that has to be done by a licensed surveyor. A person with experience staking out roads or sewer systems is not required to be registered. There are survey techs that go out and capture and measure data with rovers and they don't need to be licensed either and it is not illegal to provide a customer with drone pictures and deliverables. People been doing that with planes for the longest time. A First Amendment lawsuit in North Carolina says surveyors cannot stop drone operators from selling photos and making maps. We strongly recommend to check with the state and or region you live in as the law can vary from state to state. The purpose of a survey license, in essence, is to protect the public in situation where they are not covered by the law of contract. Your neighbor, or the guy down the street, may have their boundaries adversely affected by the surveyor’s work, if it is deficient, but they have no recourse against the surveyor under contract, as there was no contract, implied or explicit, between them. They have recourse under the law of torts in the event that things go wrong, but the idea of the license is to ensure that this is as rare an event as possible. Drone operators should make claims about what they are imaging or claims about the location of boundaries. Their work has as much impact on your boundaries as your granny snapping a photo of your home from the street. With all that said, everything that we mention in the video above are processes to assure that if you do give a client deliverables with will go toward someone else doing the official survey work that the GeoData is as good as it can possibly be to survey standards.

[@crawford323]

@@SteelCityDrones this clarifies, what I was thinking that you could do services for license surveyors, and make sure that your accuracy was enough that would be useful to them

[@KamagateAmadou-19]

Great

[@powerfullaudmarcus2455]

This is what I need for Africa! Drone Mapping and Photogrammetry. You just earned another subscriber. Any possibility of taking me on as an apprentice to go on field trips with you, in order to implement your best practices in Africa? Thanks for your consideration. #AfricanStoriesRetold

[@bortolo1007bortolo]

We just starded with first operations. It took us almost a year to get CAA licensed. A new law got in force in EU...

[@tomthomsen11]

I did enjjoy your video!

[@PISQUEFrancis]

This data, with consumer drones is amazing, and the GPS controlled drones(along with GCP's), evens much better ... but, other than, maybe, the GCP's, the data is not "Survey Grade". I have even followed LIDAR and the data, though close, was not "Survey Grade". Just saying, don't call the results of the data, "Survey Grade" ... it's actually, "Near Survey Grade", A Professional Surveyor will ascertain the quality of the data.

[@sam19270]

Equipment 2:10

[@anti-popfpv4638]

Anyone in central Indiana need an employee to help survey? I'm a skilled quadcopter pilot and love tech and geology.

[@koolkiwikat]

Confused vs work flow and steps, show a presso as well vs just video talking

[@SteelCityDrones]

@koolkiwkat This video is not a mapping or survey class.It's an introduction to knowing what it takes to do this line of work that reviews the proper equipment and workflow processes needed to ensure that the data you collect is accurate and can be verified. Can you tell me what material in the video is confusing?

[@palindromic7873]

Take note of someone who is not selling you something.

[@thijsrinkel934]

Nice Video. Do you also make gcp’s or control points when using ntrip? Just to verify the data I assume then?

[@SteelCityDrones]

GCP's tie project data in tighter, most of the time its not needed with NTRIP. Control points validate the project independently.