Photogrammetry requires a drone with a high-end digital camera, good stability within the wind, first rate battery life, a suitable flying vary, and mapping software program compatibility.
Which DJI drones are finest for mapping and photogrammetry?
One of the best DJI drones for mapping and photogrammetry embrace the Mavic 3, Air 2S, and Phantom 4 Professional Plus V2.0. You possibly can even use the Mini 3 Professional and Mini 3 in photogrammetry functions.
On this information, we’ll cowl every of those drones and their professionals and cons.
We’ll additionally clarify your drone’s minimal necessities for mapping and photogrammetry and different extra technical functions like topography.
1. DJI Mavic 3 – Our Selection
Dimensions: 13.70 x 11.14 x 4.24 in
Weight: 895 g
Max Vary: 30,000 m
Max Velocity: 47 mph
Max Wind Velocity Resistance: 12.0 m/s (Stage 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
✅ Execs
- It has the longest flying time with one battery on the record
- It has the most important digital camera sensor on the record
- It has the best wind resistance degree on the record
- It has the best flying vary on the record
- It has omnidirectional obstacle-sensing and avoidance
❌ Cons
- It lacks a mechanical shutter
For the value, there is no such thing as a higher digital camera drone for photogrammetry than the Mavic 3.
Its digital camera sensor is bigger than the 1-inch measurement wanted for this objective, attaining imagery with out distortion even at advanced angles. Taking a set of pictures will likely be easy.
Its solely draw back is that it lacks a mechanical shutter to get rid of distortion of objects shifting at excessive pace.
Nevertheless, DJI counters this lack of a mechanical shutter with 46 minutes of flying time.
You may have loads of time to program the drone to cease at desired waypoints and take the photographs. That method, your pictures will look crisp.
Because of its unbelievable flying and transmission vary and lengthy battery life, you’ll be able to cowl huge zones. You possibly can map giant areas utilizing only one battery.
This drone is ideal for topographic surveys of lengthy terrains for agricultural or oil and gasoline functions.
If it will get a low battery sign whereas the drone is much away, it robotically determines one of the best path to RTH safely.
This function, paired with its level-6 wind resistance, ensures wind received’t disturb it simply. Your drone will return very quickly.
2. DJI Air 2S – Greatest-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 Velocity: 42.5 mph
Max Flying Time: 31 min
Max Wind Velocity Resistance: 10.7 m/s (Stage 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
✅ Execs
- It has nice wind resistance for being so light-weight
- You should utilize 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
For those who’re on the lookout for a much less subtle DJI drone able to topographic surveying, the Air 2S is it.
This drone is a flexible various 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 digital camera, however you continue to get the 20MP 1’’ CMOS sensor, so you’ll be able to take pictures with the required accuracy to merge into photogrammetric software program.
Sure, you’ll be able to 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 will likely be sufficient for brief mapping missions.
You may as well get it in an entire bundle at half the value of the Mavic 2 Professional. With the bundle, you achieve 93 minutes of flying time. Sure, the bundle comes with two extra batteries!
It’s additionally a secure drone to fly because of the upward, ahead, downward, and backward collision sensors.
While you activate the impediment avoidance operate, 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 course. That method, you’ll be able to 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 for those who’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 – Greatest 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 simple to make use of. It’s a superb selection for journey drones and works finest for aerial images.
- Excessive-quality digital camera with a gimbal to offer secure 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 one way or the other tough though it matches 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 Velocity: 45 mph
Max Flying Time: 30 min
Max Wind Velocity Resistance: 10 m/s (Stage 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
✅ Execs
- It has the sturdiest design on the record
- 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 record, so spare elements are tough to seek out
If you’d like a mechanical shutter digital camera drone that received’t break the financial institution, attempt 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 digital camera with a mechanical shutter and strong three-axis gimbal. Your photographs will all the time be correct, because of the shutter {hardware}.
The Phantom 4 Professional Plus V2.0 is unlikely to be simply disturbed by the wind. As it’s a very strong drone, it’s on the heavy facet. That heavy weight plus the GPS make this drone a really secure 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 digital camera is beneath the drone body, the touchdown gear is tall sufficient to keep up a security hole between the digital camera and the ground.
Its largest draw back is that it’s an previous drone. Due to this fact, it’s very tough to get spare elements for upkeep.
4. DJI Mini 3 Professional– Greatest 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 images. The compact and light-weight qualities of the DJI Mini 3 Professional make it sturdy sufficient to face up to sturdy winds.
- Excessive-quality digital camera for spectacular pictures and movies.
- Lengthy battery life provides extra time for attaining an ideal shot.
- Protected and assured flights due to the obstacle-sensing system.
- Foldable and compact to allow simple packing and portability.
- Being light-weight means it received’t deal with sturdy winds nicely.
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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 Velocity: 36 mph
Max Flying Time: 34 min and 47 min
Max Wind Velocity Resistance: 10.7 m/s (Stage 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
✅ Execs
- You possibly can 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 possibly can match it in any backpack because of its measurement
❌ Cons
- It lacks a mechanical shutter
- It lacks a 1-inch digital camera sensor
The Mini 3 Professional is for these beginning photogrammetry with recognition missions who need impediment avoidance for the least amount of cash.
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 digital camera lacks a mechanical shutter and a 1’’ inch digital camera sensor.
Nevertheless, it has 48 MP picture high quality. With that degree of high quality, you’ll be able to receive 2D and 3D maps of parks, small bridges, and neighborhoods with the required high quality for surveying and recognition functions.
This drone’s potential to carry out danger analyses is a certain guess.
If 34 minutes of flying time isn’t sufficient to complete your mapping mission, you’ll be able to all the time use the Clever Flight Battery Plus. That method, your Mini 3 Professional will increase its flying time to a powerful 47 minutes.
5. DJI Mini 3 – Greatest funds 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 Taking pictures, 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 Velocity: 36 mph
Max Flying Time: 38 min and 51 min
Max Wind Velocity Resistance: 10.7 m/s (Stage 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
✅ Execs
- You possibly can 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 digital camera sensor
For those who’re on a really tight funds and don’t thoughts foregoing collision avoidance sensors, go along with the Mini 3.
From a photogrammetry standpoint, the Mini 3 Professional has no benefits over the Mini 3. They’ve the identical digital camera, so that you get the identical picture high quality.
The Mini 3 has the benefit of a 51-minute flight time because of the Clever Flight Battery Plus—that method, you are able to do a full recognition photogrammetry mission and not using a rush.
You possibly can retailer it in any laptop computer bag, and it received’t break your again. It’s so gentle and simple to pocket that you simply received’t thoughts carrying in all places.
This drone will carry out the identical because the Mini 3 however at a lesser value.
Nevertheless, you lose the collision avoidance security aids. So we solely advise you to make use of this drone for mapping functions in obstacle-free areas, or you’ll be able to lose it with out recommendation.
Greatest DJI Drones for mapping and photogrammetry – Minimal necessities
We select these drones as a result of they meet the minimal requirements for these functions.
However what are these minimal necessities?
Excessive-end digital camera
The higher your digital camera, the extra correct info you may get from the pictures.
The minimal requirement is that your drone has a 1’’ digital camera sensor with 20 MP high quality with a three-axis gimbal.
With these digital camera parameters, your drone can take pictures that may overlap with precision so you’ll be able to receive correct knowledge comparable to volumes, areas, and distances.
Different drones have smaller digital camera sensors with elevated digital camera resolutions and are nonetheless useful. You should utilize the Mini 3 and Mini 3 Professional to take pictures to develop danger analyses or acknowledge an space.
These functions don’t want most accuracy, so these little instruments have their area in photogrammetry.
Though a mechanical shutter permits 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 previous drone that’s onerous to seek out for buy, and its spare elements are additionally powerful to seek out.
So drones with digital shutters are viable, as you solely want the drone to cease when taking the pictures. Take into account one of these flight mission will increase battery utilization as a consequence of wind stabilization wants.
Mapping software program compatibility
The digital camera itself is ineffective in case your drone can’t use a photogrammetric or mapping software program.
You should utilize all these drones with software program like DroneDeploy or Pix4D. With them, your plane can comply with particular waypoints, taking the mandatory photographs to overlap and get a 2D or 3D picture.
Can I exploit 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 one more reason to make use of these drones for photogrammetry.
GPS and wind resistance
One other must-have function for a drone on this area is a GPS module.
First, your drone should fly to waypoints the place it is going to take the pictures to mannequin the 2D or 3D picture. Waypoints are geographic coordinates solely reachable by your drone when it has GPS info.
Alternatively, your drone will need to have self-stabilization aids to remain nonetheless whereas taking the photographs, much more so if it has an digital shutter.
The one method your drone will keep its place is with the assistance of the GPS module, which continually calculates the drone’s location for it to be nonetheless at some extent.
Additionally, the drone will need to have at the least degree 5 wind resistance, which helps the drone keep 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 hard.
All drones on our record are greater than able to these functions, because the Phantom 4 Professional Plus V2.0 has a flight time of at the least half-hour.
Flying vary
Lastly, your drone should fly alongside a protracted zone, so your drone will need to have a variety of 10 km. That method, you assure the drone can cowl distances with out shedding sign and, consequently, your work.
Greatest DJI drones for mapping and photogrammetry – Ceaselessly requested questions
What’s drone photogrammetry?
Drone photogrammetry includes taking a number of pictures from a excessive altitude of a giant zone. Specialised software program merges these pictures, making a 2D or 3D map the place you’ll be able to receive actual measurements.
This hyperlink has an article with a deeper, easy-to-understand rationalization.
» MORE: What’s Drone Photogrammetry? (Defined for Freshmen)
What’s cartography vs. topography?
Drone cartography is to overlap the pictures taken to recreate a 2D and 3D map. It’s higher often known as mapping.
Drone topography is identical course of however with the best accuracy.
Right here, you want the 1’’ digital camera 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.
Nevertheless, you’ll be able to’t use them for topographic functions like surveying, as they lack the 1’’ digital camera 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 have to register them for this software.
