WHAT IS A DRONE ?

ACQUISITION OF IMAGERY IN GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS

UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS)

DRONE TECHNOLOGY

 Drone is an unmanned aircraft. Drones are more formally known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or unmanned aircraft systems (UASes). Essentially, a drone is a flying robot. The aircrafts may be remotely controlled or can fly autonomously through software-controlled flight plans in their embedded systems working in conjunction with onboard sensors and GPS.

DRONES IN GIS MAPPING

GIS stands for “Geographical Information System.” A GIS is a computer program that can: capture, store, organize and display data related to specific parts of the Earth’s surface.

GIS programs can show multiple types of data at once on the same map. This allows scientists, historians and others to see patterns that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.

GIS mapping allows us to recognize and analyze geographical relationships, and we can use such information to formulate plans to improve life on Earth, as well as the life of the Earth.

DRONE MAPPING APPLICATIONS

1.    Remote sensing

2.    Surveying

3.    Precision agriculture

4.    Terrain mapping/modeling

AERIAL 3D TERRAIN MAPPING

5.    2D and 3D image analysis

6.    3D topographic image analysis

7.    Ortho-mosaicking

The use unmanned aircraft and rotor systems to produce aerial photography at low heights. This enables us to act quickly, flexibly and in a cost saving manner. The low heights yields unique and very high resolution imagery on which every detail can be seen. By using a geometrically calibrated camera and lens with additional ground control points it is possible to derive the coordinates of every pixel in the images. The imagery is further corrected for terrain heights and color differences due to changing sun conditions. All the imagery can then be mosaiced into one seamless orthophoto mosaic that can be directly imported into any CAD or GIS system and that can be used to map or measure.

8.    Weather monitoring

9.    Oil and Gas exploration

10.Mining

11.Transmission line monitoring

12.Filmmaking

13.Disaster response and relief

MERITS OF DRONES IN GIS

1.    They’re time savers. Drones equipped with cameras that can transmit various types of GIS data lower costs on multiple levels. Camera-equipped helicopter fly-bys are no longer necessary in a lot of situations, and drones can remain just as steady as on-the-ground survey tools so you don’t have to re-measuring due to human error. On top of all that, GIS mapping drones are easy to program and operate, thus allowing you to save even more time on the job site.

2.    They’re environmentally friendly. Lots of GIS mapping involves drilling, material sampling, and interference with plumbing and well systems, and that usually doesn’t sit well with residents. When a company uses drones to map an area, however, the drone mapping aspect of the research is completely non-invasive. Mapping drones are built to observe, record, and interpret – nothing else.

3.    They can safeguard scientific personnel, members of the Armed Forces, and civilians. GIS mapping is often done in recently de-commissioned war zones, and private companies do regular sweeps of Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields. GIS mapping is also useful when evaluating an area where you suspect an enemy is or could be hiding. Knowing where every tree, bush and rock is in a location gives you a tremendous advantage over your enemy.

4.    Up-front costs are minimal and “green” technology is often eligible for financial reimbursement in that regard. You can buy a high-quality quadcopter for just a couple of hundred dollars, and the money you spend on the drone and its camera might even be tax deductions for you if the drone is a business expense.

5.    Long-term expenses could be lower as well, because the more you use the drone for GIS mapping the less you’ll need to rely on third-party sources that deplete the ozone layer, use fossil fuels and possibly cause irreparable harm to the area.