As drone technology evolves, more and more construction and inspection companies are taking advantage of modern drones. While the number of aerial surveying drone options can be daunting, DSLRPros is here to help ensure that your organization is provided with the best drone packages and solutions based on your unique use case, budget, and support needs.
Construction projects are often spread across a large area, which can become difficult to manage without the proper tools. Drones are one of the best ways to address this logistical problem. For building inspection use cases, you will be able to accurately view, monitor and track the structure, construction process and take thermal checks on the exterior of the building’s surface using our drone kits. This imaging ability allows you to safely and quickly check the status of a building to find defects, leakages, and corrosion issues without needing to spend on additional personnel and equipment. Our drone experts at DSLRPros are ready to help your organization with solutions specially configured to assist with your building inspection or construction requirements.
DSLRPros is the professional's choice for custom-built drone solutions specifically tailored for construction, inspection, surveying, and mapping use cases. One of our friendly and experienced drone experts will work with you to find the best equipment for your specific needs.
The Perfect Drone Solution For Your Use Case
DSLRPros offers specialty drone packages from a variety of drone manufacturers that have each been specifically designed for different verticals. From ourAutel EVO II 640T Roof Inspection Package, theDJI Mavic 3 Enterprise Series, to theDJI M350 RTK Ultimate 3D Mapping, each package comes complete with everything needed to get the job done.
With DSLRPros, you'll get the right equipment at the right price, with the best customer and technical support and service in the industry, and top tier in person training at your location- included free of charge with many packages.
Each of our professional drone kits are designed to quickly, safely and efficiently provide you with actionable data. Ultimately, determining which solution is best depends on your specific needs, and which sensor/camera payload technology is best suited to capture that data.
Main Types of Sensors
Whether you work in urban planning or land surveying and need an aerial surveying solution to easily capture drone images for use in digital elevation models or you require the absolute accuracy of DJI Zenmuse L2 LiDAR camera to generate point cloud digital terrain models, or radiometric thermal imaging drone to quickly and safely acquire accurate measurements of industrial infrastructure heat signatures, DSLRPros has specific equipment tailored to that use case.
Most drones payloads incorporate one or more of these three types of imaging sensors:
Optical Cameras
Payloads like theDJI Zenmuse H20orZenmuse P1capture very high resolution images in the visible spectrum. In other words, they capture traditional photos and videos. But these are more certainly not your average drone cameras for taking selfies and vacation videos. Each payload carried utilizes highly sophisticated drone mapping technology and precise gps coordinate data that is shared with the airframe. When paired with the M300 drone, these payloads are able to capture data that can be used for a variety of specialty use cases.
The P1 is a full frame camera specifically designed for drone photogrammetry. Photogrammetry is the process of gathering numerous aerial photographs of a subject and transforming them into high-resolution 2D or 3D models from which precise measurements may be deduced. This can be accomplished with specialized drone mapping software used for image processing that finds common features in images and combines them to construct a photo mosaic that accurately depicts a place.
Orthom*osaic Mapping
Using different photogrammetry software can result in different outputs from the aerial data and images captured, such as orthom*osaic maps, 3D point cloud models, and Digital Surface Models.
Photogrammetry can also be used to accurate volumetric measurement, allowing for data analysis of the resulting 3D map, which provides a very accurate model from which measurements of materials and supplies can be easily made.
TheH20is a high resolution 20 MP camera that offers an incredible 23x hybrid optical zoom with active image stabilization and EIS- perfect for drone inspection uses where you need detailed imagery but can't get too close to the subject. With a 1200m laser rangefinder, night scene mode and an IP44 rating, the H20 is a powerhouse tool for professional drone operations.
High resolution images and videos of the construction site
Detailed imaging for industrial inspection at a distance
Thermal Sensors
Unlike Optical sensors, thermal sensors don't capture light that we can see with the naked eye. They capture heat. More specifically, they capture infrared radiation that objects emit, known as a heat signature. Thermal cameras with radiometric capabilities are able measure the exact temperature of any item in their field of view.
This data is incredibly important in industrial inspection. Accurate temperature data can be used to determine errors or issues in a number of inspection scenarios.
During a building or roof inspection, thermal aerial images can help pinpoint where insulation is thin and heat is escaping. This imaging ability allows you to safely and quickly check the status of a building to find defects, leakages, and corrosion issues without needing to spend on additional personnel and equipment.
Thermal drones are often used to inspect solar panels. As the drone flies over the solar panels, it is able to take a wide image of the surface, and very easily detect thermal anomalies which signal an issue.
Thermal camera images are able to be customized for different types of data analysis through the use of various color palette settings.
The thermal imaging color palettes typically range from a hot white configuration in which hot items are displayed in white and cooler ones in black, to a hot black configuration in which the color patterns are reversed. Color palettes can show heat in different ways, such as the rainbow setting, which displays the hottest items as red, yellow, or orange, while the coldest are displayed as blue or black.
There are many exciting thermal payloads available for different use cases.
For drone pilots who want to be able to capture both optical and thermal imagery, many commercial drones offer Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR) solutions that integrate both visible and thermal sensors.
This is helpful when an inspection requires the ability to take accurate heat measurements, as well as traditional images, which can aid in identifying any externally visible damage to the subject, or aid in locating the exact spot that needs repair.
TheDJI H20T is a EO/IR version of the H20. It offers the same specs as the H20, but with the added benefit of an integrated radiometric thermal camera. TheMavic 3 Enterprise Series, Autel EVO II Enterprise 640T, and the Autel Evo II Dual 640T also include dual sensors.
TheFLIR Vue TZ20-Ris a unique payload as it offers something others don't. With two thermal sensors with different focal length lenses, the TZ20-R is able to provide thermal imaging at up to 20x zoom with far more clarity than competitors. Because of the dual sensors, the TZ20-R has four times as many thermal pixels on target as other thermal payloads, which rely on digital enhancement to get a closer look at the subject. This results in a blurrier picture the more the image is zoomed in.
LiDAR
One of the most exciting technologies to become much more accessible with the rising popularity of drone surveying and inspections is LiDAR.
LiDAR, which stands forLight Detection and Ranging, involves sending laser pulses and determining how long it takes for the lasers to return to the sensor. With the help of inertial measurements and satellite positioning data, the drone's LiDAR sensor can determine exactly where a point is located in space.
LiDAR point clouds are formed by combining these points with specialized point cloud software. The method is highly accurate, though the maps need to be paired with other data to add more detail, including color.
Compared to other methods used by mapping drones, LiDAR is excellent for mapping very small items. LiDAR data, for instance, can be used to generate a point cloud that includes thin cables and electrical lines. In addition to being able to work in low-light conditions, the technology can also penetrate through thick foliage to collect spatial data, resulting in an accurate digital terrain model.
A second advantage is that, since LiDAR point clouds are direct measurements, they have a relatively smaller file size than high-resolution photographs used in photogrammetry. As a result, it is faster to post-process LiDAR survey data than photogrammetry models, which can be very valuable for customers who prioritize efficiency or want to complete an aerial mapping mission within a fixed time.
TheDJI L1is a compact and affordable LiDAR + RGB aerial survey solution for the M300.
The L1 integrates a Livox Lidar module, a high-accuracy IMU, and a RGB (optical) camera with a 1-inch CMOS sensor, all on a 3-axis stabilized gimbal. When used with the P1 and the DJI Phantom 4 RTK, the L1 becomes a triple-sensor solution for aerial surveying, capable of producing photogrammetry, LiDAR point clouds, and high accuracy PPK results. This package is a one-box-solution for creating a digital twin from above and can be used for a wide range of applications.
Conclusion
Ultimately, determining which solution is best for your construction or inspection project depends on your specific needs and the data you want to collect. Whether you need detailed optical imagery, thermal analysis, or precise LiDAR mapping, DSLRPros offers a wide range of drone packages and sensor payloads to cater to your requirements.
Feel free to reach out to our knowledgeable drone experts to discuss your project and get personalized recommendations on the best drone solution for your needs. With the right drone equipment, you can significantly improve efficiency, accuracy, and safety in your construction and inspection operations.
Contact DSLRPros to get started with your specialized drone solution today!
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