Photogrammetry requires a drone with a high-end digital camera, good stability within the wind, respectable battery life, a suitable flying vary, and mapping software program compatibility.
Which DJI drones are greatest for mapping and photogrammetry?
The most effective DJI drones for mapping and photogrammetry embody the Mavic 3, Air 2S, and Phantom 4 Professional Plus V2.0. You may even use the Mini 3 Professional and Mini 3 in photogrammetry functions.
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 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
Digicam Sensor: 4/3’’ CMOS
Digicam Nonetheless Decision: 20 MP
Digicam 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 record
- It has the biggest digital camera sensor on the record
- It has the best wind resistance stage 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 worth, 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 dimension wanted for this goal, attaining imagery with out distortion even at advanced angles. Taking a set of pictures shall be easy.
Its solely draw back is that it lacks a mechanical shutter to remove distortion of objects transferring at excessive velocity.
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 means, your pictures will look crisp.
Due to its unbelievable flying and transmission vary and lengthy battery life, you’ll be able to cowl huge zones. You may map giant areas utilizing only one battery.
This drone is ideal for topographic surveys of lengthy terrains for agricultural or oil and fuel functions.
If it will get a low battery sign whereas the drone is way away, it routinely determines the most effective 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 – Greatest-value DJI drone for mapping and photogrammetry
DJI Air 2S Fly Extra Combo
Drone with 3-Axis Gimbal Digicam, 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)
Digicam Sensor: 1’’ CMOS
Digicam Nonetheless Decision: 20MP
Digicam 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 need to 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
If you happen to’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 shall be sufficient for brief mapping missions.
You may as well get it in an entire bundle at half the worth of the Mavic 2 Professional. With the bundle, you acquire 93 minutes of flying time. Sure, the bundle comes with two extra batteries!
It’s additionally a secure drone to fly due to the upward, ahead, downward, and backward collision sensors.
Once 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 path. That means, 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 transportable drone with such options, so in the event you’re a newbie wanting the most effective worth to 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 wonderful alternative for journey drones and works greatest for aerial images.
- Excessive-quality digital camera with a gimbal to offer 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 tough though 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 Velocity: 45 mph
Max Flying Time: 30 min
Max Wind Velocity Resistance: 10 m/s (Stage 5)
Digicam Sensor: 1’’ CMOS
Digicam Nonetheless Decision: 20 MP
Digicam Shutter: Mechanical
Inner Storage: No
Exterior Max Storage: U1 128GB microSD card
GPS: Sure
✅ Professionals
- 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 components are tough to search out
If you would like a mechanical shutter digital camera drone that gained’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 at all times 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 strong drone, it’s on the heavy facet. 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 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 outdated drone. Subsequently, it’s very difficult to get spare components for upkeep.
4. DJI Mini 3 Professional– Greatest DJI drone for mapping and photogrammetry with the most effective 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 resist sturdy winds.
- Excessive-quality digital camera for spectacular photos and movies.
- Lengthy battery life provides extra time for attaining an ideal shot.
- Secure and assured flights due to the obstacle-sensing system.
- Foldable and compact to allow simple packing and portability.
- Being light-weight means it gained’t deal with sturdy 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 Velocity: 36 mph
Max Flying Time: 34 min and 47 min
Max Wind Velocity Resistance: 10.7 m/s (Stage 5)
Digicam Sensor: 1/1.3’’ CMOS
Digicam Nonetheless Decision: 48MP
Digicam Shutter: Digital
Inner Storage: No
Exterior Max Storage: U3 512GB microSD card
GPS: Sure
✅ Professionals
- You may 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 may match it in any backpack due to its dimension
❌ 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 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 bushes 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 stage 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 capability to carry out threat analyses is a certain wager.
If 34 minutes of flying time isn’t sufficient to complete your mapping mission, you’ll be able to at all times use the Clever Flight Battery Plus. That means, your Mini 3 Professional will increase its flying time to a powerful 47 minutes.
5. DJI Mini 3 – Greatest finances DJI drone for mapping and photogrammetry
DJI Mini 3 (Customary)
Light-weight and Foldable Mini Digicam 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)
Digicam Sensor: 1/1.3’’ CMOS
Digicam Nonetheless Decision: 48MP
Digicam Shutter: Digital
Inner Storage: No
Exterior Max Storage: U3 256GB microSD card
GPS: Sure
✅ Professionals
- You may 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
If you happen to’re on a really tight finances 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 digital camera, so that you get the identical picture high quality.
The Mini 3 has the benefit of a 51-minute flight time due to the Clever Flight Battery Plus—that means, you are able to do a full recognition photogrammetry mission with no rush.
You may retailer it in any laptop computer bag, and it gained’t break your again. It’s so mild and simple to pocket that you just gained’t thoughts carrying in all places.
This drone will carry out the identical because the Mini 3 however at a lesser worth.
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 will 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 can overlap with precision so you’ll be able to receive correct information comparable to volumes, areas, and distances.
Different drones have smaller digital camera sensors with elevated digital camera resolutions and are nonetheless useful. You need to use the Mini 3 and Mini 3 Professional to take pictures to develop threat 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 photos with out rolling shutter distortion whereas flying at excessive velocity, these drones are pricy.
The Phantom 4 Professional Plus V2.0 is well-priced, however it’s an outdated drone that’s exhausting to search out for buy, and its spare components are additionally powerful to search out.
So drones with digital shutters are viable, as you solely want the drone to cease when taking the pictures. Contemplate this kind of flight mission will increase battery utilization because 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 need to use all these drones with software program like DroneDeploy or Pix4D. With them, your plane can observe particular waypoints, taking the mandatory photographs 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 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.
Then again, 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 means your drone will preserve its place is with the assistance of the GPS module, which consistently calculates the drone’s location for it to be nonetheless at a degree.
Additionally, the drone will need to have at the least stage 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 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 an extended zone, so your drone will need to have a spread of 10 km. That means, you assure the drone can cowl distances with out dropping sign and, consequently, your work.
Greatest DJI drones for mapping and photogrammetry – Ceaselessly requested questions
What’s drone photogrammetry?
Drone photogrammetry entails taking a number of pictures from a excessive altitude of a big 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 clarification.
» MORE: What’s Drone Photogrammetry? (Defined for Inexperienced persons)
What’s cartography vs. topography?
Drone cartography is to overlap the pictures taken to recreate a 2D and 3D map. It’s higher referred to as mapping.
Drone topography is similar 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 will need to register them for this software.