Over recent years, drone surveying equipment has become more and more commonplace. The benefits of this survey equipment are well known, reducing survey times and site disruption, all while providing high precision and clear images of the job site. However, that does not mean that the drone is a foolproof solution. It is, in fact, a combination of three different tenants that work together to deliver results:
These three factors combine to deliver reliable services for the planning and construction of businesses throughout Calgary.
The Drone’s Stabilizing Systems:
The purpose of the drone is to provide safe and reliable information from a sky-high angle. The camera, attached to an external gyroscope, can provide clear and accurate maps. However, in order to ensure that clear and precise maps are created, the drone must provide a consistently stable platform.
When surveying, a drone must have a combination of several stabilizing systems, that all work in tandem. These systems include redundancy in propulsion, onboard navigation, high power lithium-ion batteries and high speed communication, to ensure it is stable in the air. Without these systems, your results can be off affecting the performance of your surveys.
The Surveyor’s Work:
The skills and knowledge of the surveyor are essential for the execution of the plan. It is up to the surveyor to organize the drone flight plan to ensure that the survey is done efficiently and covers all necessary points. Everything will need to be taken into account. From image overlap, to relative orientation and camera choice, the surveyor needs to plan for everything. For instance some cameras and lens combinations are best suited to land surveys, while others are more suited to inspection overviews.
It will be the surveyor’s knowledge of the land, and experience to guarantee that the right images, are taken. Determining the right angles and travel plan will ensure that are collected as efficiently as possible.
Once the mission is completed, the surveyor is responsible for meeting the client’s specifications and to begin production of the project. The information collected from the drone will be the base of the development, highlighting, once again, the importance of the surveyor’s initial flight planning.
The Pilot’s Skill:
Depending on the skills of the surveyor, the pilot and surveyor can be one in the same. If they can do both, then they will have an intimate understanding of the project at hand and can deliver it to perfection.
If the pilot is independent from the surveyor, they must ensure that the drone is flown in accordance with the surveyor’s flight plan. It is important to choose a pilot who has experience with surveying projects. Previous experience will ensure that you do not waste time and money collecting data that is irrelevant to the project.
It is important to ensure that your pilot has the proper credentials and certifications in order to ensure that your project is not stuck on the ground before it even gets in the air. It is always important to ensure you are in compliance with local regulations before you begin flying.
To conclude, drones are a powerful and time saving tool that should be in every surveyors tool bag. Their affordability and with their on-board advanced hardware and software systems make them the ideal solution for many surveyors.
However, it should be noted that only professionally qualified and experienced surveyors should use drone surveying equipment. Without a strong knowledge base and a robust planning, a drone can quickly cost you more money than a traditional land survey. While a drone has the potential to speed up any project, without the experience behind it, and the skills of a pilot, it risks faulting, and damaging the long-term goals of the project.
Land surveying equipment is still considered the best form to record and construct projects. Established products and systems, such as GNSS and robotic total stations ensures that upcoming and even experienced surveyors can achieve high-end results.
Bench Mark Equipment & Supplies is your team to trust with all your surveying equipment needs. We have been providing high-quality surveying equipment to land surveyors, engineers, construction, airborne and resources professionals since 2002, establishing ourselves as the go-to team in Calgary, Canada, and the USA. We provide a wide selection of equipment, including global navigation satellite systems, RTK GPS equipment, GNSS receivers, data collector systems, and more. Speak to one of our team today, by calling us on 888-286-3204 or emailing us at [email protected].
Canada’s #1 supplier of land surveying equipment and instruments.
