Drone photography, inspection & survey operations
Effective, efficient, accurate, precise & safe data gathering using drones
The capabilities of drones in data gathering
The inspection and survey sensors used by drones are the flight controller (containing an Internal Measurement Unit, with accelerometers, gyroscopes, vision-based motion and pressure-based speed & height), RTK GNSS receiver and the high resolution camera - the drone is essentially a flying RTK GNSS-enabled rover also acting as a camera tripod with its structure & mechanism providing a stabilised platform for the airborne positioning and transportation of the sensors within the area to be inspected and/or surveyed.
The GNSS receiver is RTK-enabled to improve the precision of the GNSS position data used by the flight controller to within 1-2cm (plus 1 part in 1 million of the distance from RTK base station). Images captured during the flight are saved with metadata that includes the RTK-enhanced GNSS position in space and data from IMU regarding the direction the camera is pointing vertically and horizontally.
The ability of drones to move freely and quickly within 3-dimensional space enables inspection and survey data to be gathered quickly, easily, cheaply (compared to the cost of hiring access equipment or structures), over a large area without physical contact (& therefore, damage to the structure being inspected/surveyed) and at height avoiding potential safety risks (& costs) created by staff working at height.
With Airborne Insights' recent addition of RTK GNSS Rovers, Ground Control Point (GCP) and Check Point (CP) position data can now also be measured and used to geo-reference the 2D maps, 3D models & point clouds to within 2 to 3cm, so dimensionally accurate maps and models can now be accurately located geo-spatially, i.e. accurately placed with respect to physical features and legally-defined boundaries in the environment.
Tasks benefitting from the capabilities of drones
- survey
- planning
- design
- inspection
- works progress monitoring
- condition monitoring
- bulk material volume estimation
- repair, retrofit & modification
- marketing photography & video
- site operations efficiency, safety & security planning
Sectors
- residential
- commercial
- infrastructure
- industrial
- local government
- historic building & grounds preservation
- heritage & leisure attractions
- agricultural & rural land use
- transport
- renewable energy
Outputs & deliverables
Using photogrammetry & GIS software (described later) I can create the following types of outputs & deliverables from the data gathered by drones, RTK rovers and 3D laser scanners:
- point clouds
- ortho-mosaics & photos
- digital elevation, surface and terrain models
- geo-referenced 2D maps, e.g. contour maps
- geo-referenced, textured & coloured 3D models
using industry standard file formats:
- GeoTIFF (ortho-mosaics/photos, and digital elevation, surface & terrain models)
- LAS/LAZ (point clouds)
- OBJ/GLTF/GLB (3D models)
Aircraft
I predominantly fly the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise (M3E) with RTK module because of its ease of operation (due to its smaller size & mass), position accuracy with the RTK module and versatility across a range of inspection/survey subjects and project scales. However, I can readily acquire other drone types (that are smaller, larger or have additional/different functionality) more suited to different operation environments, area extents, subjects or deliverable requirements, e.g. large scale agricultural/rural/renewable energy land use, thermal imaging, etc.
- DJI Mavic Air
- DJI Phantom 3 Pro
- DJI Mavic 3 Thermal
- DJI Matrice 4 Enterprise (M4E)
- DJI Matrice 30 (M30)
- DJI Matrice 300 (M300)
Ground equipment
RTK GNSS rovers have been recently acquired to increase the geo-referencing accuracy and precision of my photogrammetry & point cloud processing of the images I capture into map & model deliverables. Including GCP measurements into the photogrammetry & point cloud processing of the images and CP measurements into the post-processing assessment of map & model geo-spatial accuracy & errors is essential in assuring to customers that my deliverables and their use of the deliverables in their downstream business functions such as planning, design, construction, etc. is valid.
Two RTK GNSS rover units were acquired to reduce reliance on NTRIP RTK correction subscription services, particularly when the density of NTRIP RTK correction base stations is reduced (in agricultural, rural, some suburban, and highland areas) and the distance from the closest NTRIP RTK correction base station increases beyond approximately 10km (i.e. the "parts per million metres" aspect of RTK GNSS correction accuracy becomes important). Once its position has been accurately measured one RTK GNSS rover can be reassigned as a local RTK correction base station to supply NTRIP RTK corrections to the drone and to a second unit operating as an RTK GNSS rover.
High capacity memory cards are used in the aircraft to ensure the data capacity of the aircraft doesn't constrain or delay completion of the flight operation. A laptop with high capacity internal & external hard drives is used to review images & video ensure images are of the required quality prior to departure from the operating site. This also enables several copies of the images & video to be made. These help reduce the likelihood for additional vists to site, increasing efficiency, reducing costs and minimising potential for delays to deliverables.
I also have experience of LIDAR scanning equipment both for external survey data capture by drone (i.e. DJI M300/350/400 using L2 scanner) and external & internal scanning using tripod mounted scanners (Trimble X7 & CHCNAV RS10). Creating true digital twins by merging the internal and external photogrammetry/LIDAR scan point clouds, can be used as the basis for 3D models for visualisation & building information modelling (BIM) and for design to generate 2D architectural and engineering drawings (e.g. front & side elevations, floor plans and cross-sections) using CAD tools like Autodesk's Revit, AutoCAD & Civil 3D.
Processing hardware
I have a high-spec Windows PC loaded with photogrammetry and point-cloud processing software which is used to process the image, video, point-cloud, GCPs and CPs. This type of processing is much more intensive than that required for normal office applications, often processing thousands of high resolution image files, very large video files or point clouds with millions of LIDAR points over several hours. To minimise the processing time the PC is built with a 32-core CPU, 64GB of memory, a high spec video gaming GPU (for the image processing fast maths calculations) and high capacity SSD.
Processing & storage software tools, services & collaboration environments
I currently use Reality Capture to process images, video & point clouds into geo-referenced 2D ortho-mosaics/photos & 3D surface/terrain models, but I also have experience using DJI Terra, and Pix4D Mapper & Matic for processing and creation of photogrammetry and point cloud outputs & deliverables, so I can flex my processing workflow to use the software you need if you have a strong requirement or preference.
Good quality image, video and point cloud storage and processing is also available as cloud/SAAS services, which aids the processing, distribution and sharing of outputs/deliverables to data users in a collaborative working environment or team structure. I have experience with tools such as MYX Robotics' One3D and I am happy to adopt this or similar services as the processing and sharing environment.
I use QGIS for processing ortho-mosaics/-photos into geo-referenced 2D maps, e.g. contour maps, using surface and terrain models generated by Reality Capture, DJI Terra, or Pix4D Mapper/Matic, but I have some knowledge of other GIS software tools like ArcGIS.
Data processing & sharing security
Using a standalone Windows PC helps me ensure that the security of the data inputs and outputs/deliverable is well managed and maintained to minimise the loss of data to unintended and unauthorised parties. However, with processing inputs comprising thousands of large image/video files or point clouds containing millions of LIDAR points the sharing of data and information becomes a significant consideration, and electronic processing & distribution of GBs of files can become the most convenient & efficient option. The alternative being the mailing of USB memory sticks which can sometimes involve delays and possibly loss. However, sharing data and information is often critical to a workflow which requires the sharing of intermediate & final processing results across multiple technical disciplines - requiring a collaborative work environment where sharing becomes immediate and transparent, but authenticity, reliability & security can be compromised.
I predominantly use DropBox for file sharing because in my experience it is very reliable and has a good reputation for security, but I am happy to use other file distribution services such as Google Drive, One Drive, WeTransfer, etc., and image storage and photogrammetry processing services such as MYX Robotics' One3D instead if there is a strong requirement or preference.
Commercial arrangements
I can provide services using arrangements based on two fundamental models, either:
- an end-to-end contract drone service performing full flight & mission planning, safe, effective & efficient drone operations and delivering processed inspection and survey data outputs (inspection/survey reports, 2D maps, 3D models, etc.), using industry standard CAD/GIS file formats that can be used directly in your business' engineering analysis, design, planning, etc., systems.
- or a sub-contract drone operator service delivering safe, effective & efficient drone operations within an internal drone operations or surveying team and using the authorisation and equipment of your drone operations team, based on your flight & mission planning, and delivering raw images & video for processing by your teams.
Drone markets & uses
Our services are offered to the markets highlighted in the following showreel:
Drone capabilities
Our capabilities in the markets highlighted in the showreel above are showcased in the following showreel:
