Comprehensive Mapping Class in Aerial Surveying

Comprehensive Mapping Class

• Mission objectives:
  • Create double grids with orbits of the whole area
  • Perform free flights of a building
  • Perform orbits of another building
  • Merge all data sets together

Line of Sight and Tree Coverage

• Main issues with trees and structures:
  • Losing line of sight
  • Colliding with them during flight
• Counteracting tree coverage:
  • Fly at higher altitudes to maintain line of sight
  • Use a higher altitude to do it all in one grid

Mapping Area and Grid Setup

• Mapping area:
  • The whole property, from one street corner to another, including part of the church parking lot
• Grid setup:
  • Double grid through Pix4D Capture
  • Drone: DJI Phantom 4 Advanced
  • Camera settings:
    • Apple Maps
    • Units in feet
    • Upload resolution: no
    • Auto download images: off
  • Drone speed: middle (not too slow, not too fast)
  • Angle of camera: 70°
  • Front overlap: 70°
  • Max speed on drone: fine as long as flying a Phantom

Safety and Altitude

• Safety checks:
  • Maintain line of sight
  • Watch out for hawks and pause mission if necessary
  • Turn into atti mode and descend if hawk is close
• Determining altitude:
  • Fly to the furthest corner of the mapping area and check visibility
  • Minimum altitude: 191 ft to maintain visual line of sight
• Flights:
  • Two drones in the air at a time
  • One at 200 ft, one at 240 ft, with a separation of at least 40 ft

Camera Settings and Picture Mode

• Camera settings:
  • Angle of camera: 70°
  • Front overlap: 70°
  • White balance: sunny
• Picture mode:
  • Recommended: safe mode for Mavic 2 Pro
  • Safe mode adds time to the flight but prevents rolling shutter effect
  • Fast drone speed acceptable in safe mode

Landing and Mission Completion

• Landing:
  • Do not go straight down; landing mode engages at 300 feet
• Mission completion:
  • Wait for checklist to complete
  • Hit start to begin the mission

Learn about aerial surveying techniques, including creating double grids, performing free flights, and merging data sets. Understand the importance of tree coverage and obstacle clearance altitude in aerial mapping.