LISTSERV 16.0 - NEARC-L Archives

We have a DJI Inspire, which solves the lens problem, because you can purchase several different lenses with optical zooms. The drone is big and very powerful. We’ve flown in very windy conditions and the drone hovers still and the picture is very stable. However, battery life on a very windy day is only 15-20mins. We have not yet tried Drone2Map, because we use DJI controllers with the CrystalSky monitor and I’ve yet to make the app work with it. CrystalSky is by far the best outdoor visible screen I’ve ever seen. Even on the brightest days the screen is crystal clear. If anyone is using the DJI and crystalsky combo with Drone2Map I’d love to hear how you are using it.

Justin D. Richardson, GISP

GIS and Asset Management Coordinator

Kennebunk, Kennebunkport

and Wells Water District

92 Main Street, P.O. Box 88

Kennebunk, Maine 04043

Direct: 207-985-9098

Office: 207-985-3385

Fax: 207-985-3102

Cell: 207-604-8092

www.kkw.org

From: Northeast Arc Users Group <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Neil Curri
Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2020 2:35 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Drone Purchase recommendation

*Message sent from a system outside of UConn.*

I've had mixed success using our Mavic Air for drone mapping. I expect a part of it (besides my being a novice) is the focal length of the camera. It's fairly wide-angle, which I think is distorting the images and is why I've had to set the overlap very high (like 90%) to get a good resulting image mosaic from drone mapping software. I think the focal length also makes it difficult for the software to mosaic and rectify the images taken over features of varying heights (like buildings, trees, or quick changes in elevation), which take on quite a lean in the images as the drone is further from them. So, I'd look at the camera specs of the models you're contemplating. But perhaps - following Jarlath's advice - the lack of RTK/more accurate GPS collection by the drone would fix my problems, which I've tried to address in by adjusting overlap, flight altitude, etc. Happy to talk with you about my (mostly) failures and (some) successes with the Air and what got me there, but ultimately I think the solution is a more professional level drone with RTK and perhaps a less wide-angle camera.

As for the software, as far as I know Drone2Map and other drone mapping software will work with any collection of overlapping geotagged images and any GCPs from the flight. I use Map Pilot from Drones Made Easy for flight planning/piloting - mainly, because it's cheap. If you're only mapping small sites, their online mapping service (Maps Made Easy) is free up to a certain size job. Or, if you're only doing larger sites occasionally, their pay-as-you-go service is reasonable and might be cheaper over the course of a year than getting a license for Drone2Map or other professional mapping software. But I've also used Drone2Map to mosaic/map image sets from a DME Drone Pilot flight.

Best,

-Neil

Neil Curri, GISP

GIS Analyst, PVE, LLC

Vassar College Academic Computing Consultant

[log in to unmask] | 845-437-7708 | 845-664-2100 (mobile)

On Tue, Oct 6, 2020 at 12:46 PM Jarlath P.M. O'Neil-Dunne <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

*Message sent from a system outside of UConn.*

I would give strong consideration to a system with RTK/PPK capabilities. While ground control will always be required for verification, RTK/PPK systems are more cost effective in the long run. Keep in mind the three rules of buying a drone: 1) there is the drone you crashed, 2) the drone that is not working, 3) the drone you actually fly. Invest in backups of everything – tablets, propellors, batteries, etc.

Safe flying,

Jarlath

--

Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne

Director, Spatial Analysis Laboratory

University of Vermont | US Forest Service R&D

From: Northeast Arc Users Group <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Alex Hiller
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2020 12:17 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Drone Purchase recommendation

*Message sent from a system outside of UConn.*

Hello,

We’re in the process evaluating drones and we’re interested in hearing from others in the GIS community. Our primary use will be production of ortho-rectified imagery of construction sites, with a secondary need for occasional production of video footage. We have already identified the DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise as a viable high end option and the DJI Mavic Air 2 as a more cost-effective option. We are interested in learning about any comparable non-DJI products that are compatible with Esri’s Drone2Map and SiteScan apps.

If you have any suggestions, please let us know. We appreciate your help.

Thank you,

Alex Hiller | GIS Analyst

Springfield Water and Sewer Commission

|C 413.519.0692

www.waterandsewer.org

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