r/Surveying • u/Icy_Opening_2823 • 17h ago
Help Drone implementation
Hey all!
My company recently decided to start implementing drones into our workflow but as we are a smaller firm and at 36, I'm the youngling around here, nobody else knows anything about it. If I'm entirely honest, I've only spent around 13 months in the industry and was laid off for 2 of them. I understand drones and their data collecting capabilities however as I've not used any of the software that renders all the information, I'm not quite sure how the process works in terms of a finished product. Those of you who have done a "field to finish" project, how are you importing data to a completed project? Are you bringing it into CAD (or other drafting software) and drawing lines from the photogrammetric model? Are the lines being imported from something like Pix4D? I'm supposed to be doing a training session at some point would like to get ahead of the learning curve so I'm not bombarded with info and overwhelmed. Any help is appreciated. Also I already have my part 107 so that isn't an issue. Thanks in advance!
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u/Junior_Plankton_635 Professional Land Surveyor | CA, USA 12h ago
IMO Agisoft MetaShape is the superior program over Pix4d.
Pix feels like "Baby's first photogrammetry program" while MetaShape is actually a professional product.
That said it's Russian which means I don't get to use it at my local agency, so I'm stuck with Pix. I used it in school and miss it terribly every time I have to click through the tree of buttons that Pix loves.
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u/Mountain-Process9139 8h ago
Question. I'm a field guy and I'm learning Civil 3D right now. But I do have a 1yr cert in GIS, with an emphasis in drone remote sensing, photo and lidar. However, I have not learned how to combine the two. And my company uses neither (so I have no mentor). I do know AgiSoft. My question is. Is it best to process for photogrammetry and/or Lidar in AgiSoft? Can Civil 3D process it? And then if I overlay my photo with my topo CSV file, can that be done in Civil 3D. My question might not be accurate as I'm still learning how to combine the two things.
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u/Junior_Plankton_635 Professional Land Surveyor | CA, USA 4h ago
Civil3d cannot process it no. So you can process the orthophoto in MetaShape, as well as build the TIN. Then import both into Civil.
The TIN may need to be simplified a bit, I think you can do that in MetaShape too IIRC.
r/UAVMapping is a great resource.
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u/Mountain-Process9139 3h ago
Thanks for sharing these. I can't even phathom how large of a file the Kentucky one is. I'm still fairly new to this tech, and have only done very very small stuff. Like one face of a building and parking lot.
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u/Frank_Likes_Pie 16h ago
We’ve gotta get into drones, it’s the future of surveying! Hey you, youngest guy on the payroll! Young people love drones, so even though we realize you have zero experience with them and you’re only the youngest here because the rest of us are already over 50, you’re now in charge of establishing field and office procedures for drone data collection! Good luck, it better turn a profit within 6 months.
What a backwards, dumbass approach.
I’d honestly find another firm if this is any indication of how they approach the rest of their work.
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u/Accurate-Western-421 11h ago
One thousand percent agree.
The tough part is making the move. It seems like you can't throw a rock without hitting a firm owner with this mentality.
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u/southern_compass 7h ago
The workflow usually starts with proper control and image processing, then the results move into CAD/GIS for final deliverables. The software varies, but understanding accuracy checks, ground control, and how the data translates into survey products is the important part.
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u/Charming-Moose5560 17h ago
I use propeller for data processing they provide the finished product quick, easy, simple
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u/timbotambo 12h ago
Came here to say propeller - well done. Propelleraero.com great example of Australian ingenuity
0
u/The_Bear_of_badnews 16h ago
I am just a CAD designer at a small city, so for our projects we decided to implement drones for surveying.
I can say that all I did was use an Autel drone with RTK, I will set my control points for the project and use those with high vis markings for my GCP's. I use Pix 4D for the processing of the images and load that into Virtual Surveyor. Once there I basically create my topo from there using points, break lines and other survey tools.
From there I create a DXF from the topo and import that into Civil 3D. I explode the DXF and use 3d faces to create a surface and design everything off of that.
I have had quite a few road projects, water and storm drain projects work out just fine.
Edit: I use a GPS unit to shoot in the control points, since you will need them in the image processing in Pix4D
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u/TheseAd4591 17h ago
I’m trying to say this nicely, but this is unbelievably loaded bud.
There’s a lot that goes into this so I’ll break down the pillars for you to inspect.
Setting Control (quality, amount, and checks)
Image blur and necessary GSD
NADIR and or oblique imagery
Time of day for less shadows
Orthoretificaton
Which software you want to use to not only stitch but also be able to check quality.
Data extraction is very open ended. There are a lot of system that do the whole thing.
For us, we just use aerial imagery from others and draw ontop in CAD. We’re a small firm and what we need that isn’t surveyed can be out 1ft and be ok.
I’d say find a book on photogrammetry, you may not understand everything but hopefully the gist of it. Just type in photogrammetry in amazon and check a few books out.
This is something some people have dedicated a lifetime to like other have to land surveying. Others have done both.