What is Drone Surveying?
Drone surveying is a form of aerial surveying that utilizes drones and specialized cameras to obtain data from the air. It is widely used by professionals in the construction industry, such as surveyors and engineers, to acquire information on terrain and create maps. This data is collected through downward-facing sensors that capture aerial imagery.
Image Credits: Wingtra
Benefits of Drone Surveying
Drone surveying is a cost-effective and efficient way of gathering data. It utilizes the latest technology to capture images, measure heights, and detect changes in elevations. With the help of drones, surveyors can access areas that would otherwise be difficult to reach, such as coastal areas, steep slopes, and other hard-to-reach locations. Additionally, drone surveying reduces the amount of time and manpower required to complete a survey.
This article details the features and applications of drone mapping and surveying in the construction industry.
Features of Drone Mapping and Surveying
Types of Drone Surveying and Deliverables
Orthomosaic maps provide an aerial view of the survey area in the form of a 2D map. Digital Surface Model (DSM) uses the elevation data of the surveyed area and creates a 3D surface model. Digital Terrain Model (DTM) also uses elevation data to create 3D terrain maps. Contour line maps are generated by using elevation data to create lines of equal elevation on the surface. These maps help to identify the slope of the terrain, which is important for various construction projects.
GCPs, PPK, and RTK in Drone Surveying
Ground Control Points (GCPs) for Drone Surveying
Ground Control Points (GCPs) are pre-determined points on the ground whose coordinates are already known. This reference system can be used to accurately determine the position of a drone in flight. When GCPs are used, the drone can return accurate data about its location and the distance it traveled between two points. However, laying GCPs on the ground is time-consuming and requires labor, vehicles, equipment, and lots of paperwork.
Real-Time Kinematic Survey (RTK) for Drone Surveying
Real-Time Kinematic Survey (RTK) is an alternative to Ground Control Points that can be used to accurately locate the position of a drone in flight. This method utilizes a combination of GPS signals, radio signals, and/or other navigation signals to determine the drone’s position in real-time. RTK is a faster and more efficient way to survey large areas, as it does not require the setup of GCPs.
Post Processing Kinematic (PPK) Survey for Drone Surveying
Post Processing Kinematic (PPK) survey is another method used to accurately locate the position of a drone in flight.
Image Credits: DJI Enterprize
Image Credits: DJI Enterprize
Applications of Drone Surveying
The main applications of drone surveying are in:
- Land surveying
- Precise measurements
- Land management and development
- Volumetric measurements
- Slope monitoring
- Urban planning
1. Land Surveying/Cartography
Ground Control Points (GCPs) for Drone Surveying
Ground Control Points (GCPs) are pre-determined points on the ground whose coordinates are already known. These GCPs are used to accurately determine the position of a drone in flight, enabling the drone to return accurate data about its location and the distance it traveled between two locations.
Real-Time Kinematic Survey (RTK) for Drone Surveying
Real-Time Kinematic Survey (RTK) is an efficient alternative to Ground Control Points for drone surveying. This method utilizes a combination of GPS signals, radio signals, and/or other navigation signals to determine the drone’s position in real-time. This eliminates the need for GCPs, providing a faster
and more efficient way to survey large areas.
Post Processing Kinematic (PPK) Survey for Drone Surveying
Post Processing Kinematic (PPK) survey is a technique used for drone surveying to generate high-resolution orthomosaic maps and 3D models of areas. This method provides accurate data for cadastral mapping even when there is low-quality/outdated/no data available.
2. Land Management and Development
Ground Control Points (GCPs) for Drone Surveying
Ground Control Points (GCPs) are pre-determined points on the ground whose coordinates are already known. These GCPs are used to accurately determine the position of a drone in flight, providing accurate data about its location and distance traveled between two locations.
Real-Time Kinematic Survey (RTK) for Drone Surveying
Real-Time Kinematic Survey (RTK) is an efficient alternative to GCPs for drone surveying. This method utilizes a combination of GPS signals, radio signals, and/or other navigation signals to determine the drone’s position in real-time, eliminating the need for GCPs.
Post Processing Kinematic (PPK) Survey for Drone Surveying
PPK Surveying is a powerful tool for drone surveying, allowing for high-resolution orthomosaics and 3D models of areas. This data can be used for land management and planning, pre-construction engineering studies, and transferred to CAD or BIM software for 3D modeling.
3. Precise Measurements
Ground Control Points (GCPs) for Drone Surveying
Ground Control Points (GCPs) are pre-determined points on the ground whose coordinates are already known. This reference system can be used to accurately determine the position of a drone in flight, providing accurate data about its location and distance traveled between two locations.
Real-Time Kinematic Survey (RTK) for Drone Surveying
Ground Control Points (GCPs) are pre-determined points on the ground whose coordinates are already known. This reference system can be used to accurately determine the position of a drone in flight, providing accurate data about its location and distance traveled between two locations.
Real-Time Kinematic Survey (RTK) for Drone Surveying
Real-Time Kinematic Survey (RTK) is an efficient alternative to GCPs for drone surveying. This method utilizes a combination of GPS signals, radio signals, and/or other navigation signals to determine the drone’s position in real-time, eliminating the need for GCPs.
Post Processing Kinematic (PPK) Survey for Drone Surveying
4. Volumetric Measurements
Ground Control Points (GCPs) for Drone Surveying
Ground Control Points (GCPs) are pre-determined points on the ground whose coordinates are already known. This reference system can be used to accurately determine the position of a drone in flight, providing accurate data about its location and distance traveled between two locations.
Real-Time Kinematic Survey (RTK) for Drone Surveying
Real-Time Kinematic Survey (RTK) is an efficient alternative to GCPs for drone surveying. This method utilizes a combination of GPS signals, radio signals, and/or other navigation signals to determine the drone’s position in real-time, eliminating the need for GCPs.
Post Processing Kinematic (PPK) Survey for Drone Surveying
Post Processing Kinematic (PPK) survey is a method for obtaining highly accurate measurements from drone survey data. This method uses data from both the drone and the base station receiver to calculate the exact position of the drone in the survey. The accuracy of the survey data obtained is higher than that of traditional ground surveying methods.
Image Credits: WINGTRAONE
5. Slope Monitoring
Ground Control Points (GCPs) for Drone Surveying
Ground Control Points (GCPs) are pre-determined points on the ground whose coordinates are already known. This reference system can be used to accurately determine the position of a drone in flight, providing accurate data about its location and distance traveled between two locations.
Real-Time Kinematic Survey (RTK) for Drone Surveying
Real-Time Kinematic Survey (RTK) is an efficient alternative to GCPs for drone surveying. This method utilizes a combination of GPS signals, radio signals, and/or other navigation signals to determine the drone’s position in real-time, eliminating the need for GCPs.
Post Processing Kinematic (PPK) Survey for Drone Surveying
Post Processing Kinematic (PPK) survey is used to generate Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) and Digital Surface Models (DSMs) to help in slope monitoring. This method is used to extract slope measurements, detect changes in the earth’s movement, and measure velocity, which can be used to predict and prevent landslides and potential damage to roads, railways, bridges, etc.
6. Urban Planning
Ground Control Points (GCPs) for Drone Surveying
Ground Control Points (GCPs) are pre-determined points on the ground whose coordinates are already known. This reference system can be used to accurately determine the position of a drone in flight, providing accurate data about its location and distance traveled between two locations.
FAQs
What is drone mapping in surveying?
Ground Control Points (GCPs) for Drone Surveying
Ground Control Points (GCPs) are pre-determined points on the ground whose coordinates are already known. This reference system can be used to accurately determine the position of a drone in flight, providing accurate data about its location and distance traveled between two locations.
Real-Time Kinematic Survey (RTK) for Drone Surveying
Real-Time Kinematic Survey (RTK) is an efficient alternative to GCPs for drone surveying. This method utilizes a combination of GPS signals, radio signals, and/or other navigation signals to determine the drone’s position in real-time, eliminating the need for GCPs.
Post Processing Kinematic (PPK) Survey for Drone Surveying
Post Processing Kinematic (PPK) survey is a precise and accurate surveying technique used to geo-reference the drone’s position and orientation in space. This allows for the accurate recording of the drone’s movements and data collection, making it ideal for applications such as agriculture, engineering, and land management.
How to measure the location of drones in a drone survey?
Ground Control Points (GCPs) for Drone Surveying
Ground Control Points (GCPs) are pre-determined points on the ground whose coordinates are already known. This reference system can be used to accurately determine the position of a drone in flight, providing accurate data about its location and distance traveled between two locations.
Real-Time Kinematic Survey (RTK) for Drone Surveying
Real-Time Kinematic Survey (RTK) is an efficient alternative to GCPs for drone surveying. This method utilizes a combination of GPS signals, radio signals, and/or other navigation signals to determine the drone’s position in real-time, eliminating the need for GCPs.
Post Processing Kinematic (PPK) Survey for Drone Surveying
Post Processing Kinematic (PPK) survey is a method of accurately locating the position of a drone in flight. PPK utilizes a combination of GPS, radio, and navigation signals to geo-reference the drone’s position and orientation in space, enabling precise recording of the drone’s movements and accurate data collection.
How do drone surveys help landslide mitigation?
Digital Elevation Models and Digital Surface Models
Digital elevation models (DEMs) and digital surface models (DSMs) are generated by drone imagery and GIS analysis. These models can be used to extract slope measurements and detect changes in the earth’s movement. DEMs and DSMs are essential for monitoring slopes and helping to mitigate against landslides.
Slope Monitoring for Landslide Mitigation and Prevention
Slope monitoring is a key component in landslide mitigation and prevention. By using orthomosaic maps generated at different times and combining them with drone imagery and GIS analysis, it is possible to measure velocity and accurately assess slope stability. This helps to identify potential landslides before they occur and allows for preventative measures to be taken.
Benefits of Using DEMs and DSMs for Slope Monitoring
Using DEMs and DSMs for slope monitoring offers numerous benefits. These models provide accurate measurements of slope stability and can be used to detect changes in the earth’s movement. This helps to identify potential landslides before they occur, allowing for preventative measures to be taken. Moreover, the data generated by these models can be used to create detailed maps of a given area, which can be used to plan and manage landslide