Traditional topographic surveying requires the collection of GPS points (or “shots”) in a pre-determined grid. In this case, a 50 x 50 foot grid was used:Yellow 50 x 50' grid overlaid onto the DroneDeploy orthomosaicThe GPS shots were collected every 50 feet at each intersection:The red points were the ‘shots’, taken at every intersection on the gridA total of 1,632 GPS shots were collected across the 85.4 acre survey area.Without a drone, at a rate of ±20 points/hour (1 point every 3 minutes or so) the GPS shot collection would have taken approximately 82 hours.1,632 GPS shots over 85.4 acres82 hours of traditional surveying means that the subdivision developer would've had to expect at least 1 full week of field work before data processing and review could begin. After that, it would take another 3–4 days before the final product could be delivered.Enter DroneDeployBy conducting the same 85.4 acre topographic survey using UAS technology with DroneDeploy, Madison and his team were able to immediately provide the subdivision developer with a much quicker survey option.

First, there was no need to collect 1,600+ GPS points across the entire acreage. Instead they only needed traditional survey GPS point-collection on just 10 ground control targets (or GCPs), strategically placed within the survey area:For larger projects, it can be beneficial to place GCP targets in a grid system as well but for this project, strategic placement yielded the same accuracy in much less timeIn a perfect scenario, these 10 GCP targets would be the only points collected and could be completed in no more than 1–2 hours.macdev drone dx deutsche anleitungHowever, remember the standing water mentioned at the beginning of the case study?macdev drone dx vs etek 3Those familiar with photogrammetry will know that points collected on the surface of the water (homogenous imagery) are not acceptable for use in surveys like this.macdev drone dx vs dangerous power fx

So what happened next?Having completed GPS collection of the GCP targets, they simply collected the traditional grid point locations in the areas with standing water — a combination of the two different methods above.Final collected points:10 GCPs and areas of standing water substituted with the traditional method of collecting grid point locationsThis brings the final total of GPS points collected to 117 (10 GCP + 107 Natural Ground under water).flying camera drone goproGPS timelines:Ideal/Normal UAV Scenario: 10 GCP target placement + GPS collection = 1–2 hoursActual Project Scenario: 117 GPS points (10 GCP + 107 additional GPS) at ±20 points/hour = 5.85 hoursTraditional Survey Scenario: 1,632 GPS points (collected every 50’) at ±20 points/hour = 81.6 hoursThe flightUsing a Stratos Aerial fixed-wing UAV, the entire 85.4 acre survey area was completed in a single flight of approximately 22 minutes.price of ar drone parrot

Total drone operations including assembly, pre-flight checks, launching, landing, disassembly, and initial DroneDeploy map stitching were completed in the field in 1 hour.UAV Data Collection (1 hour) + GPS Survey Collection (5.8 hours) =Total time for field work: 6.8 hoursComparison:85.4 Acre UAV/DroneDeploy field work = 6.8 hours85.4 Acre Traditional Survey field work = 81.6 hoursTotal savings of 74.8 hours(enough time to watch the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy… drone you can fly with your phone8 times in a row)Analyzing the dataTypically, the DroneDeploy data would’ve been good-to-go at this point. Since this is a highly specialized case, Madison needed to accomplish some additional steps to satisfy the extreme precision required for this job.Once field work was completed, the drone’s data needed to be processed more thoroughly than traditional survey data. First the GCP targets had to be processed, finalized, and fully geo-rectified.

Next, the geo-rectified points (.las file) had to be exported to generate a foundation for the topographic data. However, the sheer number of points in the .las file meant the initial topographic contours would first come out quite rough:Raw, rough contours before processing (pre-processed)The contours must be smoothed in order to generate a consistent line without sacrificing accuracy or the survey data is unusable for this case.After 2 days of additional processing, the resulting topographic contours were clean and accurate within 3.6 inches both horizontally (X,Y) and vertically (Z):Clean contours after post-processing (post-processed)Pre-processed vs. Post-processed Contour DataDr. Drone is Canada's first drone retail, repair and customization center located in the heart of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. We focus on providing premium customer service and expert knowledge so you can fly with confidence. Our team of expert technicians can provide support every step of the way—from finding the drone that’s best for you, to providing technical advice and support and performing repairs and customizations as necessary.

For high-quality drones, drone accessories, and technical repairs and advice, trust the professional, reliable and approachable team at Dr. Drone.        Inspire 2 Premium ComboCDN $8,799.00 Inspire 1 RAW with Two Extra SSDsCDN $8,770.00 Phantom 4 ProCDN $2,129.00 Inspire 1 ProCDN $4,590.00 OUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICESAt Dr. Drone, we carry a wide variety of consumer and professional drones for usage ranging from a basic hobby, to photography and law enforcement. From accessories to parts—we are your one stop shop for the industries latest and most innovative products. We are always updating our store catalogue to include the most recent UAVs, parts and accessories. If customization is what you're looking for, our staff specializes in custom drone builds and upgrades so you can take to the skies with a UAV built to your exact specifications. If you experience any issues with your UAV, we offer professional drone repair services so you can get your device up and running again as soon as possible.  

DR. DRONE—CUSTOMER SERVICE YOU CAN COUNT ONDr. Drone is one of the few DJI authorized drone dealers in Canada. We pride ourselves in providing the best training and technical support to suit your personal needs, and our team of expert technicians is trained to perform repairs on drones of all shapes and sizes. We offer same day and overnight repair service to fix any problem on all commercial and recreational drone variations.We are dedicated to providing clients with exceptional customer service and ongoing tech support after your purchase. Whether you are looking to take flight for the first time or make a repair you can contact us for one-on-one support through any preferred channel including live chat, email, social media and mobile.Drones are one of the most exciting and innovative technological advancements we’ve seen in recent years. Learn more about this advanced technology and purchase your very own UAV today by visiting us at Dr. Drone. Here is some more information about this innovative new technology and how it can be used in your everyday life.

THE MANY USES OF DRONESUnmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, are some of the most advanced technologies available on the market today. Originally developed as military technology, drones have crossed over to the regular consumer market in recent years and are now available for a variety of purposes, including recreation, GPS mapping, and more.Drones are the latest evolution of model aircrafts and remote-controlled aviation devices that hobbyists have flown for years. With advanced drone technology, you can now fly your drone using a remote control or let it fly on its own with the use of programmed coordinates. The stunning new features offered by drones have advanced the world of recreational remote controlled flying and racing.Drones aren't just for hobbyists either. The video and GPS mapping capabilities of drones can be used to survey large plots of land faster and more conveniently than ever before, and this technology is being harnessed by farmers and urban planners across the country.