Looking for a drone mapping service provider located in St Croix County Wisconsin? Look no further, Above and Beyond Imagery can help. We are located in Hudson, Wisconsin, and can provide relative accuracy drone mapping quickly and for an affordable price.
Above & Beyond Imagery’s Drone Mapping Service
What is a drone map, also called an orthomosaic? It starts with photogrammetry, where we take high detail images from the sky above using a drone. It works best when the drone is pre-programmed to fly a determined path, or grid, over the area being mapped while taking images at regular intervals. These images are often taken with as much as a 70% to 80% overlap.
Later, back at our office, those images are ‘stitched’ together using specialized software that corrects for lens distortion, camera tilt, perspective, and topographic relief. Depending on how large of an area that was photographed, this process can take as little as a one hour, several hours, or much longer. The end result of the stitching process is an large orthomosaic image, or map.
What Is An Orthomosaic Map Good For?
Think of a Google Earth image but one that is on steroids. Orthomosaics can be used for a wide variety of uses across many industries to assist in project management and decision making. Most typical is where the primary focus is on spatial relationships and measurements within the map itself.
Here are some practical uses for drone orthomosaic mapping:
Land Use Planning
Planners and developers can use relative accuracy orthomosaic maps to assess and analyze land usage. In the early phases of planning, and when excavating of job sites in underway, digital elevation models (DEM) can be of particular use. This of course is useful in identify potential areas for development, and make decisions about zoning and infrastructure improvements. This is often the first time an orthomosaic map is created for construction projects. It is never too early to start in the development and architecture mapping/modeling stage.
Construction and Engineering
Engineers and construction professionals can utilize these maps for site analysis, project planning, monitoring construction progress (and hindrances), and even take stockpile volumetric measurements in an ever evolving site conditions. They can measure distances, angles, and elevations from within the map.
Agricultural Management
Farmers and agricultural experts can benefit by assessing crop health, growth patterns, and detecting potential issues like disease or pest infestations.
Natural Resource Management
These maps can aid in managing natural resources such as water bodies, minerals, energy resources, and ecological work. They can also be used to monitor forestry work, such as harvesting, planting timber and timber damage.
Disaster Assessment and Response
During or after a disaster (like floods, earthquakes, or wildfires), responders can use orthomosaic maps to assess the extent of damage. Another use is in search and rescue operations and zone mapping.
Architectural Planning & Landscape Planning
From the top down 2D orthomaps, colorized DEM orthophoto, to 3D modeling, architects and landscape professionals can benefit from our drone mapping service.
Drone Mapping Service: Map Accuracy
When talking about drone mapping accuracy always comes up. Just how accurate is the data within the newly created orthomosaic map? The short answer is ‘very accurate’. However, accuracy is broken down across two definitions, Relative and Absolute.
Now, let’s take a quick look at ‘relative’ accuracy versus ‘absolute’ accuracy. It’s good to know the difference and what you require for your project.
Relative Accuracy
Think of it as having ‘internal consistency’. Relative accuracy is how well the different parts of your map fit together. It’s like measuring the distance between two trees on your map – the relative measurement should be close to the actual distance between the trees in real life.
Therefore, relative accuracy does not require a fixed reference point: A map with high relative accuracy doesn’t necessarily match up and fit precisely with real-world geographic coordinates (if it did it would have absolute accuracy).
Good for:
• Measuring distances and areas within your map.
• Visually inspecting a site without needing a precise geo-location lock.
Absolute Accuracy
Compared to relative accuracy, absolute accuracy is how closely your map aligns with its true position on Earth, using real-world coordinates (like latitude and longitude). Think of being able to pin your map to a precise position where it fits exactly in the world.
Absolute accuracy requires the use of globally positioned ground markers: Achieving absolute accuracy requires ground control points (GCPs). GCPs are ground markers of known GPS coordinates that will need to be placed in the survey area.
Good for:
• Overlaying your map on existing geographic data.
• Planning projects that need precise alignment with real-world features.
Orthomosaic Accuracy In a nutshell
Relative accuracy: Your map is like a puzzle where the pieces fit perfectly and measurable data from within the map can be utilized.
Absolute accuracy: Your puzzle is also correctly positioned on the globe.
Disclaimer
While Above & Beyond Imagery is capable of aerial data collection used in mapping and orthomosaics, contractors and project managers should know that we do not provide or interpret survey grade information. For projects where measurements count within a global position, you still need to rely on a licensed surveyor/survey engineer. Therefore, Above and Beyond Imagery’s data gathering does not replace the need for a licensed land surveyor in any State. This is not exclusive to our business. All drone data collection services cannot interpret at absolute accuracy unless they have a surveyor on staff.
Notwithstanding, Above and Beyond Imagery is available to work with licensed surveyors as requested.
Drone Mapping Service: In conclusion
All in all, drones are powerful tools that enable the creation of highly precise orthomosaic maps. These maps assist various sectors in making informed decisions and efficiently managing work resources. This of course saves time and money.
Above and Beyond Imagery located in Hudson, Wisconsin, serves the counties of St Croix, Dunn, Polk, and Pierce. If you have a need for our drone mapping service, please reach out to use through on Contact Page or directly below.