Surveying data is a critical part of most civil, construction, engineering and mining projects. When small decisions can have a big impact, relying on precision drone mapping services allows project managers to deliver greater results. The importance of surveying is reflected in the fact that drone mapping services have quickly become one of the world’s most important surveying techniques. Capable of rapidly capturing and transforming large amounts of terrain data, drones can deliver powerful insights that have a large impact on project outcomes, such as agriculture drone spraying. Although the industry is still in its infancy, drone aerial mapping is rapidly expanding, and we’re going to take a quick look at how it’s being used to deliver projects across the world.
What Is Drone Aerial Mapping?
High quality data has quickly become one of the most important factors in delivering successful projects. The more information project managers have, the easier it gets to meet deadlines and budgets and protect their operation from unnecessary risks. Collecting this data has traditionally required manual survey teams and a host of specialist equipment. Drone aerial mapping is here to change that.
Using drones that are equipped with LiDAR, cameras and other sensors, operators can now collect high resolution mapping data over large areas. This is critical for surveying tasks, but it also allows drone service providers to deliver detailed maps and 3D models that would be impossible to create any other way. In turn, these maps allow project managers to make effective decisions and deliver greater outcomes.
Transforming Drone Mapping Data
Drones can be equipped with a huge variety of cameras and sensors. That means they can capture many different types of data. When it comes to drone mapping, most UAVs are fitted with a combination of cameras and LiDAR sensors. During flight, the drone will make a series of controlled passes over the area that needs to be mapped, capturing thousands of pictures and data points.
The true magic of drone mapping happens during the post-processing phase. Once the operator has completed their flight, the drone is retrieved and special software is used to assess the information it collected. By matching data points with existing GPS control points, drone mapping software can create highly accurate photographic maps and 3D models of an area. These maps are ideal for identifying topographic features, marking out existing structures, locating terrain features such as rivers and more.
How Drone Aerial Mapping Supports Projects
Aerial mapping is widely used in all sorts of mining, agriculture, construction and engineering projects. Whether you are building a house or working on a major mine site, drone mapping can deliver data that reduces workloads, improves onsite safety and allows decision makers to deliver effective results. Drone aerial mapping supports a huge range of projects in some of the world’s biggest industries, such as:
- Mining – Mine sites are some of the biggest adopters of drone mapping technology. Drones are the ideal tool for rapidly imaging and mapping large areas of land, where they’re used to assess ore deposits, prospect, inspect equipment and measure stockpile volumes.
- Construction – Maps are an integral part of every construction project. Drone mapping services allow construction and engineering companies to manage their worksites more effectively and deliver results on time and on budget.
- Agriculture – As agriculture operations grow in size, new technologies are being used to manage the workload. Drone are capable of covering large tracts of land in short periods of time. This makes them ideal for monitoring crops, planning new projects and making harvesting and planting decisions.
- Civil Engineering – Civil projects such as the construction of railways and roads often take place over long distances. Drone mapping makes it simple to assess infrastructure corridors so that decision makers can optimise project delivery.
The Benefits of Drone Aerial Mapping
Drone aerial mapping is quickly becoming one of the most widely used technologies in modern projects. It delivers powerful data that comes with a range of other benefits, including:
- Cost-effectiveness
- High precision
- Ideal for difficult or inaccessible terrain
- Quick turnaround times
- Improved safety onsite
When performed by a skilled operator, drone aerial mapping allows decision makers to unlock the full potential of their projects. The data and insights offered by drone service providers are reliable, affordable and a simple way to deliver greater outcomes with fewer resources. Ultimately, this allows project managers to meet their budgets and deadlines without investing in time-consuming and laborious traditional surveying techniques.