Drone Flight Services; New York
There is a lot going on at a construction site, and managers and builders need to double-check and triple-check everything to make sure it’s moving forward as planned. You’d undoubtedly agree that it’s simpler to say than to actually execute. This is why modern drone surveying technology is gaining ground and being used on a growing variety of medium and big building projects. But it’s crucial to know how reliable and exact the site measurements and calculations are in comparison to more conventional land surveying techniques. We have seen numerous typical blunders in drone surveying over the years that could end up hurting your project. Let’s take a look at these common mistakes in surveying and how to fix them.
A key issue with an existing drone “surveying” services is that drone operators often lack the surveying expertise necessary to properly capture site data. Since 3000 BC, when surveying as a profession emerged, surveyors have probably been measuring, monitoring, and recording land topography for a lot longer than drones have been in existence. Melbourne is home to many surveying firms that use drones to collect data for the purpose of making maps and models. However, they provide no assurance that the data, methods, or equipment performance can be relied upon for pivotal project choices. To get things “right,” the vast majority of drone pilots either rely on photogrammetry and ground control points (GCPs) to correct for production faults or use drone GPS systems. The four most typical errors made while using a drone for a survey, and how to fix them, are the focus of this piece.
Not Using GCPs; Brooklyn NYC
GCPs, or ground control points, are essentially survey markings of predetermined places on the survey site that can be used as references when transforming the raw data into 2D maps or 3D models. To properly geo-reference the created maps/models so that they are situated within a real-world area and align with other GiS applications, these GCPs are required. Not employing ground control points (GCPs) is a common yet costly mistake while doing an aerial survey using a drone.
Using ground control points (GCPs) ensures that processed maps and models are accurate in reference to GCPs on the ground, but without GCPs, drones only collect data within a 5-meter radius. Checking the survey’s accuracy in the vertical (z-axis) direction reveals a substantial discrepancy from the horizontal (x, y-axis), where the relative error of dimensions is smaller. Without GCPs, vertical measurements show a considerable drop in accuracy relative to GPS positions on the ground. Depending on the circumstances, the discrepancy may be as high as 15 meters!
Processing drone-captured aerial pictures with ground control points (GCPs) or another kind of survey control enables accurate determination of the site’s dimensions. Processing drone-captured aerial pictures with ground control points (GCPs) or another kind of survey control enables accurate determination of the site’s dimensions. In layman’s terms, GCPs make sure that the on-the-ground GPS coordinates match the latitudes and longitudes on the map. As such, projects that rely largely on precision and accuracy, or that require high levels of global accuracy, can benefit from the deployment of GCPs. GCPs are commonly used in the construction industry for a variety of tasks including inspection, terrain mapping, stockpile management, site calculations, tracking on-site productivity, etc. Depending on the scale of the project, we deploy anywhere from 5-6 GCPs over the site.
Before providing a price quote or proposal, many businesses (including surveyors and drone operators) will first undertake a desktop evaluation (virtual site visit). The purpose of this site tour is to take a look around and get a feel for the surrounding area. Another typical blunder made by drone surveyors is using cameras that can’t peer through dense foliage (trees, short grass, bushes). Therefore, difficulties may arise in obtaining accurate measurements of the natural surface or true topographical information if vegetation is present in the target location. Any drone surveying firm that doesn’t do a physical verification of the site before the survey begins should raise red flags. The surveyor may have a better sense of where and how to position GCPs around the property through a combination of desktop research and on-site inspection, ensuring uniform geo-referencing for more accurate data processing. The software can’t geo-rectify the boundaries or areas of the site area when there aren’t any ground control points. The reliability of survey results cannot be guaranteed without some sort of quality control measures. In addition, the photogrammetry software will not be able to locate matches within the photos if there is a region on-site with a dense tree canopy, vegetation, or water bodies. Therefore, the point cloud in those locations will be blank or have gaps in it.
Contact Xizmo Media located in Brooklyn, New York for your land surveying drone needs.