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Instruments & Technology
Drone Surveying
A surveying method that uses unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) with cameras or sensors for territory mapping and 3D model creation.
Drone surveying is a modern surveying method that uses unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) equipped with high-resolution cameras or LiDAR sensors to obtain detailed territory data from the air.
Drone surveying technologies:
- Photogrammetry - 3D model creation from overlapping photographs
- LiDAR - laser scanning from drone
- Multispectral imaging - for agricultural and environmental analysis
- Thermal imaging - for temperature anomaly detection
Drone surveying process:
- Flight route planning
- Ground control point (GCP) setup and measurement
- Automated flight and data acquisition
- Image processing and orthophoto creation
- 3D model and product generation
Drone surveying advantages:
- Speed - large areas in short time
- Accessibility - hard-to-reach locations
- Cost - lower than aircraft surveying
- Detail - high resolution (up to 1-2 cm/pixel)
- Safety - no physical presence needed in dangerous areas
Obtained products:
- Orthophoto - geometrically corrected aerial photo
- Digital Surface Model (DSM) - with all objects
- Digital Terrain Model (DTM) - "clean" ground surface
- 3D point cloud - detailed spatial model
- Contour lines - terrain lines
- Volume calculations - excavation, fill work
Regulations in Latvia:
Drone use in surveying is regulated, and requires:
- Drone operator certificate (A1/A3 or A2 category)
- Drone registration
- Flight permits in special zones
- Compliance with EASA regulations
Drone surveying is especially effective in combination with traditional methods, providing a comprehensive and economical solution.