Drone 3D Mapping Tips
David: Hey everybody, David Plummer and Michael Ferguson here from Aerial Influence. It is time, once again, to talk about drones. This is the AI Q+A series, and we are dedicating every entry to answering your questions. Michael has the big question today. This one’s kind of confusing, and it starts with a compliment.
Michael: This question comes from Cem, who says, “Good job guys. I want to ask a question. Can we do autonomous missions for electricity power line inspections after we use the Phantom 4 RTK to create a 3D reconstruction via DJI Terra’s Electricity License?” I’m going to break this question down because it’s complex.
David: Now, for people who don’t know, DJI Terra is a mapping software that DJI sells. It’s similar to DroneDeploy or Pix4D.
Michael: Yeah. Terra is nice — it executes all the models you can output for 3D, you can integrate it with Multispectral and you can use it to send plans or routes to Agras drones. It does quite a few things.
First, you create a 3D model using a drone such as the Phantom 4 RTK. Once you have that model, you essentially have a point cloud that allows you to know exactly where everything is. You have the exact XYZ GPS coordinates. You can then use that model to plan the second, third, fourth flight by adding waypoints. He also asks about the DJI Terra Electricity License, which is a bit more involved and has to do with the electricity market specifically. Essentially, it makes going out and checking the lines a little bit more autonomous. To the first question: yes, you can take a model and plan waypoints, even without the electricity module. That said, the electricity module will give you added autonomy.
David: That is, it gives you added features for the specific job of inspecting power lines. These extra features are going to aid you and make your job easier, which is the point of all of this, right? The point of using drones in general for something like that is to save time. You’re not sending a person out there to map it with a different kind of device. You’re flying a drone up to map an area — perhaps a large one — in under an hour probably, depending on how detailed you want the map to be and what kind of map you’re trying to make.
Michael: And you can save the map. It seems like he’s saying he’d like to make one map. Obviously you can make more maps as the terrain changes, but let’s say you need to go back out there in six months and check the same line again. You would already have the initial completed map, so the drone already knows its obstacles. In that case, you’re just popping in the waypoints or you’re using the electricity module to get some added features. Our answer: yes, you can reuse an existing map, plus there are probably a hundred other things you can do with your drone and electricity license.
David: And in the future, companies will be coming out with more and more of these modules specific to certain job functions, whether they be for construction, electricity, or another industry that can put drones to use. DJI, for one, will likely come out with new modules in the near future for the Phantom 4 RTK in conjunction with Terra. Stay tuned for that.
All right, we’re going to end this one there, because that was a really confusing question for me personally. I know Michael and many of you at home understand, though, so you probably got a lot out of this conversation. Stand by for our next blog where we’ll be taking more questions and giving more answers as we continue with the AI Q+A series.
We are so excited about how drones can help your business or farm. Make sure to send us an email or contact us for a consultation if you’d like to learn how to incorporate drones into your business. As always, thank you for reading. We’re excited to share the future of drones with you.