Photogrammetry requires a drone with a high-end digicam, good stability within the wind, respectable battery life, an appropriate flying vary, and mapping software program compatibility.
Which DJI drones are finest for mapping and photogrammetry?
The perfect DJI drones for mapping and photogrammetry embody the Mavic 3, Air 2S, and Phantom 4 Professional Plus V2.0. You’ll be able to even use the Mini 3 Professional and Mini 3 in photogrammetry purposes.
On this information, we’ll cowl every of those drones and their execs and cons.
We’ll additionally clarify your drone’s minimal necessities for mapping and photogrammetry and different extra technical purposes like topography.
1. DJI Mavic 3 – Our Alternative
Dimensions: 13.70 x 11.14 x 4.24 in
Weight: 895 g
Max Vary: 30,000 m
Max Pace: 47 mph
Max Wind Pace Resistance: 12.0 m/s (Degree 6)
Max Flying Time: 46 min
Digital camera Sensor: 4/3’’ CMOS
Digital camera Nonetheless Decision: 20 MP
Digital camera Shutter: Digital
Inner Storage: 8 GB
Exterior Max Storage: U3 512GB microSD card
GPS: Sure
✅ Professionals
- It has the longest flying time with one battery on the checklist
- It has the most important digicam sensor on the checklist
- It has the best wind resistance degree on the checklist
- It has the best flying vary on the checklist
- It has omnidirectional obstacle-sensing and avoidance
❌ Cons
- It lacks a mechanical shutter
For the value, there isn’t a higher digicam drone for photogrammetry than the Mavic 3.
Its digicam sensor is bigger than the 1-inch dimension wanted for this objective, reaching imagery with out distortion even at advanced angles. Taking a set of images shall be easy.
Its solely draw back is that it lacks a mechanical shutter to get rid of distortion of objects transferring at excessive pace.
Nonetheless, DJI counters this lack of a mechanical shutter with 46 minutes of flying time.
You will have loads of time to program the drone to cease at desired waypoints and take the pictures. That manner, your images will look crisp.
Because of its unbelievable flying and transmission vary and lengthy battery life, you may cowl huge zones. You’ll be able to map massive areas utilizing only one battery.
This drone is ideal for topographic surveys of lengthy terrains for agricultural or oil and fuel purposes.
If it will get a low battery sign whereas the drone is way away, it mechanically determines one of the best path to RTH safely.
This function, paired with its level-6 wind resistance, ensures wind gained’t disturb it simply. Your drone will return very quickly.
2. DJI Air 2S – Finest-value DJI drone for mapping and photogrammetry
DJI Air 2S Fly Extra Combo
Drone with 3-Axis Gimbal Digital camera, 5.4K Video, 1-Inch CMOS Sensor, 4 Instructions of Impediment Sensing, 31-Min Flight Time, Max 7.5-Mile Video Transmission, MasterShots, Grey
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05/31/2023 10:29 pm GMT
Dimensions: 7.20 x 9.96 x 3.03 in
Weight: 595 g
Max Vary: 18,500 m
Max Pace: 42.5 mph
Max Flying Time: 31 min
Max Wind Pace Resistance: 10.7 m/s (Degree 5)
Digital camera Sensor: 1’’ CMOS
Digital camera Nonetheless Decision: 20MP
Digital camera Shutter: Digital
Inner Storage: 8 GB
Exterior Max Storage: U3 512GB microSD card
GPS: Sure
✅ Professionals
- It has nice wind resistance for being so light-weight
- You should use it for topographic missions
- It comes with four-directional impediment sensing and avoidance
- It comes with inside storage and 512 GB of exterior capability
❌ Cons
- It lacks a mechanical shutter
In the event you’re searching for a much less refined DJI drone able to topographic surveying, the Air 2S is it.
This drone is a flexible different to the Mavic 2 Professional. It’s lighter, smaller, and has 5 minutes extra flying time with one battery.
The Air 2S lacks the flowery Hasselblad digicam, however you continue to get the 20MP 1’’ CMOS sensor, so you may take images with the required accuracy to merge into photogrammetric software program.
Sure, you may relaxation assured, because it has compatibility with probably the most well-known mapping apps like DroneDeploy and Pix4D.
It additionally lacks a mechanical shutter, however its max flying time is 31 minutes. This shall be sufficient for brief mapping missions.
You can even get it in an entire bundle at half the value of the Mavic 2 Professional. With the bundle, you acquire 93 minutes of flying time. Sure, the bundle comes with two further batteries!
It’s additionally a secure drone to fly due to the upward, ahead, downward, and backward collision sensors.
Whenever you activate the impediment avoidance perform, the Air 2S bypasses obstacles to protect its integrity.
For much more security, this drone incorporates an ADS-B IN.
This module receives airplane and helicopter info as its location and route. That manner, you may keep away from these plane circulating within the airspace when mapping at a excessive altitude.
There isn’t a extra moveable drone with such options, so when you’re a newbie wanting one of the best worth in your cash for photogrammetry missions, search no additional.
3. DJI Phantom 4 Professional Plus V2.0 – Finest DJI drone for mapping and photogrammetry with mechanical shutter
DJI Phantom 4 Professional
Backside Line: The DJI Phantom 4 Professional has many superior options and specs. The flight modes are for drone pilots in any respect ranges and are straightforward to make use of. It’s a superb selection for journey drones and works finest for aerial pictures.
- Excessive-quality digicam with a gimbal to supply steady and crystal-clear stills and movies.
- A robust battery that gives sufficient time for additional exploring.
- Clever Flight Modes for all drone pilots to get pleasure from flying.
- Impediment avoidance ensures a secure and assured flight.
- The Phantom 4 Professional doesn’t fold. This makes transporting it someway troublesome despite the fact that it suits in its carrying case.
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06/01/2023 12:44 pm GMT
Dimensions: 15.77 x 9.90 x 6.75 in
Weight: 1,375 g
Max Vary: 10,000 m
Max Pace: 45 mph
Max Flying Time: 30 min
Max Wind Pace Resistance: 10 m/s (Degree 5)
Digital camera Sensor: 1’’ CMOS
Digital camera Nonetheless Decision: 20 MP
Digital camera Shutter: Mechanical
Inner Storage: No
Exterior Max Storage: U1 128GB microSD card
GPS: Sure
✅ Professionals
- It has the sturdiest design on the checklist
- Though it’s heavy, it’s very quick
- It comes with five-directional impediment sensing and avoidance
❌ Cons
- It has solely half-hour of battery life earlier than needing to be recharged
- It’s the oldest drone on the checklist, so spare components are troublesome to search out
If you’d like a mechanical shutter digicam drone that gained’t break the financial institution, strive the Phantom 4 Professional Plus V2.0.
This drone meets the minimal requirement with a 20 MP 1” CMOS sensor.
On high of that, you get a sturdy digicam with a mechanical shutter and sturdy three-axis gimbal. Your pictures will all the time be correct, due to the shutter {hardware}.
The Phantom 4 Professional Plus V2.0 is unlikely to be simply disturbed by the wind. As it’s a very sturdy drone, it’s on the heavy aspect. That heavy weight plus the GPS make this drone a really steady gadget within the air.
The drone has a easy design with out foldable extremities. That configuration makes it sturdy and appropriate to land in unleveled environments.
Though its digicam is under the drone body, the touchdown gear is tall sufficient to take care of a security hole between the digicam and the ground.
Its largest draw back is that it’s an outdated drone. Due to this fact, it’s very difficult to get spare components for upkeep.
4. DJI Mini 3 Professional– Finest DJI drone for mapping and photogrammetry with one of the best battery
DJI Mini 3 Professional (DJI RC)
Backside Line: It’s unbelievable how a small drone can have highly effective options, particularly for aerial pictures. The compact and light-weight qualities of the DJI Mini 3 Professional make it sturdy sufficient to face up to robust winds.
- Excessive-quality digicam for spectacular pictures and movies.
- Lengthy battery life provides extra time for reaching an ideal shot.
- Secure and assured flights due to the obstacle-sensing system.
- Foldable and compact to allow straightforward packing and portability.
- Being light-weight means it gained’t deal with robust winds properly.
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06/01/2023 12:49 pm GMT
Dimensions: 3.50 x 2.40 x 5.70 in
Weight: 249 g and 290 g
Max Vary: 18,000 m and 25,000 m
Max Pace: 36 mph
Max Flying Time: 34 min and 47 min
Max Wind Pace Resistance: 10.7 m/s (Degree 5)
Digital camera Sensor: 1/1.3’’ CMOS
Digital camera Nonetheless Decision: 48MP
Digital camera Shutter: Digital
Inner Storage: No
Exterior Max Storage: U3 512GB microSD card
GPS: Sure
✅ Professionals
- You’ll be able to enhance the battery life with the Clever Flight Battery Plus to 51 minutes
- The Clever Flight Battery Plus can enhance the flying vary to 25km
- It has three-directional avoidance sensors built-in
- It has nice wind resistance
- You’ll be able to match it in any backpack due to its dimension
❌ Cons
- It lacks a mechanical shutter
- It lacks a 1-inch digicam sensor
The Mini 3 Professional is for these beginning photogrammetry with recognition missions who need impediment avoidance for the least sum of money.
This little gadget comes with ahead, downward, and backward avoidance sensors. These devices make the drone appropriate for secure flying above mid-height obstacles like timber and small buildings.
This drone digicam lacks a mechanical shutter and a 1’’ inch digicam sensor.
Nonetheless, it has 48 MP picture high quality. With that degree of high quality, you may get hold of 2D and 3D maps of parks, small bridges, and neighborhoods with the required high quality for surveying and recognition purposes.
This drone’s means to carry out danger analyses is a certain guess.
If 34 minutes of flying time isn’t sufficient to complete your mapping mission, you may all the time use the Clever Flight Battery Plus. That manner, your Mini 3 Professional will increase its flying time to a powerful 47 minutes.
5. DJI Mini 3 – Finest price range DJI drone for mapping and photogrammetry
DJI Mini 3 (Commonplace)
Light-weight and Foldable Mini Digital camera Drone with 4K HDR Video, 38-min Flight Time, True Vertical Capturing, and Clever Options.
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06/01/2023 12:19 pm GMT
Dimensions: 3.50 x 2.40 x 5.70 in
Weight: 248 g and 290 g
Max Vary: 18,000 m and 25,000 m
Max Pace: 36 mph
Max Flying Time: 38 min and 51 min
Max Wind Pace Resistance: 10.7 m/s (Degree 5)
Digital camera Sensor: 1/1.3’’ CMOS
Digital camera Nonetheless Decision: 48MP
Digital camera Shutter: Digital
Inner Storage: No
Exterior Max Storage: U3 256GB microSD card
GPS: Sure
✅ Professionals
- You’ll be able to enhance the battery life with the Clever Flight Battery Plus to 51 minutes
- It’s a really cheap drone for its development and options
❌ Cons
- It lacks a mechanical shutter
- It lacks a 1-inch digicam sensor
In the event you’re on a really tight price range and don’t thoughts foregoing collision avoidance sensors, go together with the Mini 3.
From a photogrammetry standpoint, the Mini 3 Professional has no benefits over the Mini 3. They’ve the identical digicam, so that you get the identical photograph high quality.
The Mini 3 has the benefit of a 51-minute flight time due to the Clever Flight Battery Plus—that manner, you are able to do a full recognition photogrammetry mission with no rush.
You’ll be able to retailer it in any laptop computer bag, and it gained’t break your again. It’s so gentle and straightforward to pocket that you just gained’t thoughts carrying in every single place.
This drone will carry out the identical because the Mini 3 however at a lesser worth.
Nonetheless, you lose the collision avoidance security aids. So we solely advise you to make use of this drone for mapping purposes in obstacle-free areas, or you may lose it with out recommendation.
Finest DJI Drones for mapping and photogrammetry – Minimal necessities
We select these drones as a result of they meet the minimal requirements for these purposes.
However what are these minimal necessities?
Excessive-end digicam
The higher your digicam, the extra correct info you will get from the images.
The minimal requirement is that your drone has a 1’’ digicam sensor with 20 MP high quality with a three-axis gimbal.
With these digicam parameters, your drone can take images that can overlap with precision so you may get hold of correct information comparable to volumes, areas, and distances.
Different drones have smaller digicam sensors with elevated digicam resolutions and are nonetheless useful. You should use the Mini 3 and Mini 3 Professional to take images to develop danger analyses or acknowledge an space.
These purposes don’t want most accuracy, so these little instruments have their house in photogrammetry.
Though a mechanical shutter allows you to take pictures with out rolling shutter distortion whereas flying at excessive pace, these drones are pricy.
The Phantom 4 Professional Plus V2.0 is well-priced, however it’s an outdated drone that’s laborious to search out for buy, and its spare components are additionally robust to search out.
So drones with digital shutters are viable, as you solely want the drone to cease when taking the images. Think about the sort of flight mission will increase battery utilization resulting from wind stabilization wants.
Mapping software program compatibility
The digicam itself is ineffective in case your drone can’t use a photogrammetric or mapping software program.
You should use all these drones with software program like DroneDeploy or Pix4D. With them, your plane can observe particular waypoints, taking the required pictures to overlap and get a 2D or 3D picture.
Can I take advantage of these photogrammetry apps with the Mini 3 and Mini 3 Professional? DJI launched the SDK in April 2023, which lets you do it. That’s another excuse to make use of these drones for photogrammetry.
GPS and wind resistance
One other must-have function for a drone on this house is a GPS module.
First, your drone should fly to waypoints the place it would take the images to mannequin the 2D or 3D picture. Waypoints are geographic coordinates solely reachable by your drone when it has GPS info.
Then again, your drone will need to have self-stabilization aids to remain nonetheless whereas taking the pictures, much more so if it has an digital shutter.
The one manner your drone will preserve its place is with the assistance of the GPS module, which continually calculates the drone’s location for it to be nonetheless at a degree.
Additionally, the drone will need to have no less than degree 5 wind resistance, which helps the drone preserve its stability.
Battery life
Mapping and photogrammetry missions take roughly 20 minutes to an hour. However discovering a drone with an hour of flying time is difficult.
All drones on our checklist are greater than able to these purposes, because the Phantom 4 Professional Plus V2.0 has a flight time of no less than half-hour.
Flying vary
Lastly, your drone should fly alongside an extended zone, so your drone will need to have a variety of 10 km. That manner, you assure the drone can cowl distances with out dropping sign and, consequently, your work.
Finest DJI drones for mapping and photogrammetry – Steadily requested questions
What’s drone photogrammetry?
Drone photogrammetry entails taking a number of images from a excessive altitude of a giant zone. Specialised software program merges these images, making a 2D or 3D map the place you may get hold of actual measurements.
This hyperlink has an article with a deeper, easy-to-understand clarification.
» MORE: What’s Drone Photogrammetry? (Defined for Newcomers)
What’s cartography vs. topography?
Drone cartography is to overlap the images taken to recreate a 2D and 3D map. It’s higher often known as mapping.
Drone topography is similar course of however with the best accuracy.
Right here, you want the 1’’ digicam sensor with 20 MP picture high quality and a three-axis gimbal, the minimal combo to get actual terrain recreation on the 2D or 3D map.
Do I’ve to register my DJI Mini 3 or Mini 3 Professional for photogrammetry?
Sure, you do if you wish to use the DJI Mini 3 and Mini 3 Professional for photogrammetry as a drone for recognition missions.
Nonetheless, you may’t use them for topographic purposes like surveying, as they lack the 1’’ digicam sensor.
Though these drones weigh lower than 250 g with the usual battery, photogrammetry is a enterprise. These drones enter into the FAR 107 consideration, so you need to register them for this utility.
