The downside of LiDAR is that is not as easily accessible as photogrammetry. LiDAR signals can also penetrate through the canopy, making it the ideal mapping technology for heavily forested areas. This makes it a little more versatile in surveying areas where visibility can be an issue, such as those with nearby large structures. The biggest advantage of LiDAR is that it does not depend on visibility to make measurements. The dimensions and locations of features on the ground are then determined using the time-of-flight concept. This light is reflected off the surface of solid features and detected again by the LiDAR sensor. This type of survey relies on a special LiDAR sensor that emits continuous and rapid pulses of non-visible light towards the survey area. The alternative to photogrammetry is LiDAR, or “Light Detection and Ranging”. Photogrammetry also isn’t recommended for capturing topography data in areas where there is thick vegetation. It is entirely ineffective in darkness and may struggle in cloudy or foggy environments. It can only record data on features that are visible from the drone’s cruising altitude. The limitation of photogrammetry is that it relies heavily on visibility. In terms of capital involved, it is much easier to start a commercial business based on photogrammetry-based drone mapping. With the quality of camera drones that have been released in recent years, photogrammetry has become the go-to method for most drone pilots. The upside of photogrammetry is that it does not require any fancy devices outside of the usual camera drone. This is ideally done automatically by programming the drone using special mapping software. These photos could number in the hundreds or thousands. Using a drone, multiple photos of a survey area are taken from changing vantage points. You don’t even need to have a drone to practice photogrammetry – there are photogrammetry apps that you can practice using just your camera phone.ĭrone mapping using photogrammetry is simply a scaled-up version of the same concept. Think of it as the way that our brain perceives depth because we see the world through two eyes. It involves taking multiple, overlapping photos of the same subject which can then be processed to create a 3D model. Photogrammetry as a concept is easier to understand. How drone mapping works – Photogrammetry and LiDARįor us to understand how drone mapping works, we will need to look into the two technologies used in this field, namely photogrammetry and LiDAR. Satellite imagery and seafloor surveys are some of the more common applications of remote sensing. Remote sensing refers to any data collection method that requires no physical contact between the person or measuring device and the object being measured. Speaking on more general terms, drone mapping is an example of remote sensing technology. This makes mapping data useful for making real-world measurements and for planning activities such as slope stabilization, road construction, or expeditions into remote areas. This means that each data point must correspond to a specific location in the real world based on actual coordinates. An essential component of mapping is that data needs to be “geospatial”. The objective is to create a 2D or 3D map of the survey area using data collected by the drone. Drone mapping is a way to do this job cheaper, safer, and with simpler logistics. Before drones were more common, mapping of large areas was done using manned aircraft, typically helicopters. What is drone mapping?ĭrone mapping is simply an alternative method of aerial mapping. What exactly is drone mapping and what does one need to learn to get into this industry? Let’s look at the basics of drone mapping, how it works, and the hardware and software you’re going to need if you intend to build a career in this niche field. It also has a fairly steep barrier to entry, which means that the market isn’t likely to be saturated soon. The fact that it can be massively useful for lots of applications means that there are bound to be more opportunities for those who are well-versed in drone mapping. As an industry, mapping is still considered an up-and-coming field for drone pilots.
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