When we talk about drones, we are also talking about Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and they have served a number of purposes throughout history. Commonly known for their military applications as remotely guided missile deployers and reconnaissance aircraft, drones have served a purpose in mapping for even longer. Technically, the very first UAV used was a hot air balloon in 1783 — it carried a sheep, a duck, and a rooster as its passengers during the Montgolfier brothers’ demonstration at Versailles. Technology has come a long way since then, both in the efficiency and cost of the equipment we use today. Now the sky is the limit in terms of the recording instruments you can attach to UAVs, like cameras, LiDAR, hyperspectral sensors, or barometers.
Why Use Drones?
Surveys can be completed in the traditional manner, but if you can get up high, you can get fantastic imagery across a large area. Aerial surveys have become a very popular means of collecting aerial imagery (raster images) and LiDAR data for use in geospatial analysis. Using manned aircraft has some limitations. Aircraft require skilled, licensed staff to operate, and are expensive to purchase and maintain, all while posing a risk to the pilot.
Many drones or UAVs can be programmed to follow a set flight path, or a flight plan, thus requiring limited supervision and control from the remote pilot.
Precision agriculture has been using drones for a long time already, and this will only increase as the equipment becomes more affordable. By using drones or UAVs you can make data collection more accessible, keep staff out of harm’s way, and complete a high-quality image collection for a vastly reduced price tag compared to traditional manned aircraft missions.
Limitations of Using Drones
For all the positives they offer, there are still plenty of limitations when using drones. Depending on the country you are in, there are differing regulations regarding the operation of commercial drones. These regulations vary from non-existent to regulations so tight that it is almost the equivalent of operating a passenger aircraft. Furthermore, each drone varies in terms of range, battery life, and storage capabilities. There are many factors to consider when deciding to use drones.
Working with Drone Mapping Tools
Once you have checked your local regulations regarding drone operation, sourced the drone you need, and determined the type of mapping you want to complete, you then need the software to process and analyze this specialized data.
Important Drone Software Features to Consider
It is important to note the type of software available for drone mapping. Some software includes both flight planning and image processing functionality, while others are solely focused on one or the other.
In order to operate a drone most efficiently you need some sort of flight planning software. This is the software used in the field to direct the drone and perform the image collection. In order to get the most out of the results of the flight, you need to process and analyze the imagery collected in a drone photogrammetry application.
The most important factors to consider are cross-device and cross-platform functionality of the software. What types of drones and devices is the software compatible with? Can the flight planning be done on a desktop computer and then opened on a mobile device in the field? Does the software offer offline access? While this offline compatibility is usually not required for image processing, it is a helpful feature for flight planning software where pilots may be working in remote areas.
A robust, all-encompassing flight planning software should enable you to complete all the functions you need without having to use multiple applications. As a bare minimum, you should be able to create and schedule missions, manage your mission calendar, assign pilots and equipment, and check airspace and weather conditions all within the same software. You should also have the ability to run manual and automated flights.
Drone Mapping Software
Ground Sample Distance (GSD) Calculator
The Ground Sample Distance (GSD) Calculator is a specialized tool for drone pilots, photogrammetrists, and aerial surveyors to plan their aerial photography missions. This calculator helps users determine the spatial resolution of their aerial imagery by computing how many centimeters or inches of ground area each pixel in their photo will represent. By inputting their camera specifications (sensor size, focal length, and image resolution) along with the planned flight height, users can visualize their camera’s exact coverage area on a satellite map and see the resulting image quality. This is crucial for ensuring that aerial surveys and mapping projects achieve the required level of detail — whether it is for construction monitoring, agricultural surveys, or detailed infrastructure inspection. The interactive map feature allows users to place their planned photo location anywhere in the world and immediately see the ground footprint of their image, making it an invaluable tool for mission planning and ensuring that the captured imagery will meet project requirements for resolution and coverage area.
Pix4D
Pix4D is a photogrammetry software designed for use with any type of imagery, whether it comes from a satellite, drone, or other aircraft. The team provides a flight app, desktop, and cloud-based platform, so it encompasses both flight planning and image processing all within the same ecosystem. It is renowned for being quick to grasp, and easy enough to use for even the most amateur operator. Despite this, it will produce detailed 3D models that are bound to keep professionals satisfied. The results can be fine-tuned to sub-centimeter accuracy, and they have developed tools specific to industry type (for example: agriculture, mining, and engineering). It certainly does not come free, but you can trial Pix4D for free for 15 days. After that, pricing varies depending on the access type or bundle selected.
DroneDeploy
DroneDeploy is a major player in the drone mapping and survey scene. They provide a versatile cloud-based software suitable for both beginners and professionals. The software is compatible with a range of devices — be it a tablet or mobile device in the field, or a desktop computer in the office — you can take DroneDeploy with you anywhere. Imagery can be processed with survey-grade accuracy, so you can publish detailed 2D maps, 3D models, and even 360 panoramas. Frequently repeated analyses can be automated for ease of use, and AI technology is harnessed to improve outputs tailored specifically to your needs.
DroneDeploy is compatible with any drone and includes a flight planning application that enables automated flight mission development or manual control. The software comes with a 14-day free trial.
ArcGIS Drone2Map
Naturally, Esri does not want to be left out in the race to provide drone mapping technology. Esri’s Drone2Map allows you to bring your drone-collected data straight into the ArcGIS platform. The powerful tools process high-quality orthomosaics and digital terrain models with ease. Drone2Map can be used both online and offline. You have all the processing capabilities of Esri at your fingertips. Once you are done processing your drone data, you can produce and publish professional-quality maps and models through any number of applications within the ArcGIS suite. As with most Esri products, Drone2Map is not free; contact Esri sales for current licensing and pricing. Drone2Map Standard supports 2D products (orthomosaics, DTMs, and DSMs), while Drone2Map Advanced adds 3D products including meshes and point clouds.
Site Scan for ArcGIS
Another product by the team at Esri is Site Scan, a cloud-based drone mapping software that incorporates both flight planning and image processing functionality. It provides an end-to-end solution, from a pre-flight checklist to flight planning, fleet management, and production of 2D or 3D maps and models that are instantly accessible and portable to ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise. It is easy to use, and if you are already working across ArcGIS platforms, it is easy to integrate into your existing work systems.
Learn more about the benefits of working in the geospatial cloud with Chris Holmes from Planet.
DJI Terra
DJI Terra is a great starting point for those beginning their drone mapping skills. DJI Terra allows you to plan missions, view imagery, and import and export data. It is intended for use with DJI drones specifically, and DJI has developed all the required software in-house. DJI offers a variety of software compatible with their drones, including a flight planning tool. You can plan missions based on waypoint locations, adjust parameters like altitude, speed, or gimbal pitch, or automate a mission to follow a corridor such as a road or railway line. These features help make flight planning easy and accurate. DJI Terra is not free, although DJI frequently includes free trial periods with the purchase of some of their more advanced drones.
OpenDroneMap
OpenDroneMap is a free open-source geospatial toolkit that converts imagery collected from a drone or other UAV into 3D meshes, point cloud data, orthophotos, or a Digital Surface Model. The software is web-based or can be used offline via Docker. It is built around a command-line interface, which makes it straightforward for developers to create custom plugins to adapt the software to their specific needs. It includes a basic analytics function, and data can also be exported to more specialized software for further analysis. OpenDroneMap does not include any flight planning functionality, but its open-source nature is a significant advantage for cost-conscious users.
UgCS
UgCS, now developed by SPH Engineering, provides a highly detailed flight planning software. A range of drones are compatible with this software, and it runs offline, meaning you can get everything done out in the field if needed. For lightweight processing and analysis, UgCS Mapper produces 2D maps and elevation models (DEMs, DSMs, and DTMs). The intention is for you to be able to validate the data collected while still in the field, so you can repeat the survey on the spot if the results are inadequate. As with most of the options covered in this article, more detailed analysis work will require you to export the data into separate specialized software.
Wingtra
Wingtra is somewhat different from the others mentioned here. Wingtra offers an all-encompassing package: you purchase their drone in combination with the software and control tablet. This may not be the cheapest option, but it avoids the hassle of researching compatibility between drone types and software. It also comes with a high level of customer support.
Make That Drone Work for You
Drones are becoming a popular sight across nearly every industry, with seemingly almost every amateur photographer using one. Despite this, drones are exceedingly underutilized. Part of the reason for this is the complexity of use and the compatibility challenges of software for processing and analyzing drone mapping data. On top of this, there is a high cost to getting started with drone photogrammetry and mapping. You have to pay for the drone, your pilot certification, flight planning software, photogrammetry software, and then a desktop GIS software for further analysis. Despite all this, costs for these things are dropping, and open-source options continue to enter the market, improving industry accessibility overall.
