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Aerial land surveys and 3d mapping with drones

How Drones are being used for Aerial Land Surveys and Mapping

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Like any other field, land surveying has gone through a process of evolution over time. Initially, engineers used measuring stations and laser-guided instruments to measure a land they wanted to develop. With the advent of GPS, scientists and engineers could measure a vast patch of land through geo-spatial satellites.

The latest trend in this field is the use of land surveying and 3D mapping drones. Using these drones, engineers can precisely measure and develop rural as well as urban areas much quicker than before.

Major Applications of Surveying and Mapping with UAV’s:

Aerial Land surveys

One of the best uses of drones is to capture a big piece of land with great attention to detail. Since drones are usually flown below 400 ft, the images captured through objects can tell you exactly where the road ends and where the housing starts. The data captured in the form of digital pixels can then be used by engineers to develop a blueprint for building houses or other structures as well as perform aerial inspections.
Drone land inspection Southern California
Drone land inspection

Mining Site Aerial Inspection

When a drone is flown over coal or any other mineral mine, it captures accurate data of pathways which makes it easy for the geologists to identify how to dig the minerals out of the earth. This reduces time and risks faced by quarry workers.

Commercial and Residential Construction

A few years back, mapping a construction site was a colossal task. A team of land surveyors, architects, and construction engineers had to visit a site in order to determine how much raw material will be required to build a structure. Thanks to remotely controlled drones, this is not that big of a task anymore. Accurate and detail-oriented pictures received from drones can be used in mapping software to save time and money for building contractors.
As more and more drones are used for mapping a development site, scientists and engineers are developing sophisticated software technology that can make the best use of images captured through drones.

The latest software use drone images as ‘raw material’ on their dashboard. This dashboard provides essential drag and drop tools to architects who can then create a virtual image of how an area will look like post-construction.

3D mapping with drone photography

The best part about mapping a piece of land through drones is that it allows you to create a three-dimensional image of a development site. High definition images captured through drones from a much lower height than geospatial websites allow you to determine how high and wide each object is on a patch of land.

Based on varying topographic surveys carried out using cutting edge drone based technology, scientists are able to create 3D images of land on their computer screen. This image can then be used to capture minute details including floor plans and window sizes of a building being constructed.

While drones are a great way to map an area of land, users of this remote flying technology should make sure that they are following local, state and government regulations. This helps ensure the safety and security of these flying objects and everything around them!
Drone agricultural inspections
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How Companies Are Using UAV's For Industrial Inspection

How Companies Are Using UAV’s For Industrial Inspection

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The use of drones is not restricted to the world of photography only. There are numerous other areas where drones have brought about a major transformation. These hot tools are currently making a mark in almost every industry, including construction, architecture, and engineering.

If all these uses of drones are unknown to you, prepare to be amazed as you go through this article. The ability of drones to capture impeccable visuals and reach all places has been thoroughly utilized by some of the most important sectors in our society.

Here, you will find all the information you need about using drones for industrial inspection and other purposes in different important industries.

Commercial and Residential Construction

Insights provided by drones let construction workers and building inspectors keep real-time track of a project’s progress. Apart from staying up to date, professionals in the construction industry also use drones to detect any problems early on in the process. This helps them avoid any costly mistakes, which makes the process smoother. Drones play a vital role during the planning phase as well. Project managers can do a better job at site planning with such technology in hand. Furthermore, incorporating drone software helps professionals in the industry gain essential insights and manage projects better.
Aerial industrial inspection Los Angeles
Aerial industrial inspection

Architecture and Design

Architects all over the world are benefitting exceptionally by integrating drones into their work process. The use of high-definition cameras in drones greatly helps architects during the design phase as they have a better idea of the landscape.

The ability of drones to survey the entire construction area and provide access to otherwise hard-to-reach areas helps architects get the real picture. Risk assessment during the design phase has become extremely effective thanks to drones. Moreover, it has become easy for architects to visualize what they are trying to create through powerful visual technology incorporated in drones.
Los Angeles commercial construction UAV services
Commercial Construction UAV capture

Industrial and Civil Engineering

The world of engineering has also witnessed a change due to drone technology. Since drones are able to provide real-time data, engineers are more informed about any dangers associated with their worksite beforehand, thereby reducing the risk of accidents. With clear visuals and comprehensive plans created with vital data captured by drones, engineers are able to increase productivity. Also, keeping an eye on the progress of a project has become significantly simpler because of the use of drones. Monitoring pipelines as well as understanding the structure of land are also some of the ways the engineering sector has benefited from the introduction of drones in the work process.

Wrapping Up

Drone technology has taken the world by storm and brought about many changes in how surveys are being conducted. Rather than relying on measurement data gathered through manual work, professionals can now depend on a much more convenient and effective technology incorporated into drones. Not only are these tools able to provide valuable data, but also cut costs and help companies compete effectively.
Drone engineering services
Drones assisted engineering
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Drone footage for marketing

5 Industries that can benefit from Drone Footage

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We all know that drones originally surfaced to serve military purposes. But since their launch in the mainstream market, drones have been used in various other industries, businesses, and private ventures. From wedding coverage to rescue missions and real estate marketing, camera drones are everywhere and the footage is being used to boost business across the world.

Just remember to follow the rules and regulations pertaining to drone cameras in your local area. Here are 5 industries that are benefitting from drones.
Drone construction photography at sunrise Los Angeles
Drone construction photography

Construction and Land Development

UAV’s or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are rapidly replacing standard land-surveillance methods. In fact, drones are growing in popularity so rapidly that the term ‘bird’s eye view’ is now commonly referred to as ‘drone’s eye view.’ Drones are popular in the construction industry because the revolutionary accessory reduces both time and labor to produce accurate surveys.

Using drone cameras eliminates any human errors as they capture all essential data in less time, but more detail. Construction engineers use drones to map and plan construction projects by getting an orbital view of the entire site.
aerial video marketing los angeles
Create aerial photo

Entertainment and Media

We all see drones hovering above us when we are attending an outdoor event. Whether it’s a concert, book-launch or any other even, drones get clear footage and efficiently cover large areas without succumbing to any turbulence.

Drones are now widely used for news and entertainment purposes as they fill in the gap between ground work and aerial shots. Drones can fly anywhere between 15 and 90 meters and that’s the reason drone videographers get a unique perspective of a music event to capture the true essence of every performance.

Hi-tech and innovative camera drones allow videographers to capture stunning stills and excellent videos to cover the highlights of all major outdoor (and sometimes indoor) events.
Cinematic underpass scene in Los Angeles, CA
Cinematic scene in Los Angeles, CA

Filmmaking and Cinematography

Filmmakers prefer using less expensive, but high-quality drone cameras to shoot versatile shots. Being affordable filmmaking equipment, drones are the best alternatives to dollies, jibs and, sometimes, even helicopters.

Hollywood filmmakers are still waiting for a go-ahead from the U.S government authorities to make drones legal for shooting aerial videos. However, most filmmakers are already using this hi-tech technology to shoot at closer angles and capture better aerial action shots.
Real estate aerial photography
Real estate aerial photography

Real Estate Industry

The real estate industry can greatly benefit from the advanced features in drone cameras. Not only can drones shoot virtual tours of properties, these innovative photography tools can capture stills from unique angles as well. This includes filming and showing off the surrounding areas and neighborhood.

For that reason, real estate companies are promoting their business better with low altitude video footage to attract both buyers and sellers.
Engagement photo aerial shoot
Engagement photo aerial shoot

Weddings and Engagement Parties

Drones continue to transform conventional wedding videography. Imagine covering a destination wedding from hundreds of feet above to capture all precious moments and cover every inch of the venue.

The best part is that you can also use drones for an indoor wedding event. An on-ground operator can see a live preview of the camera feed, so you can customize your footage while it is being shot.

Add some cinematic movements and post production effects to your wedding footage and you get beautiful videos and photos to cherish for the rest of your life. Be aware that depending on the location of your wedding or party you may need to pull a filming permit. Always check the local laws before flying to avoid headaches and possible fines.
Los Angeles, CA drone photo
Los Angeles, CA drone photo

Insurance Providers and Inspection

Like any other industry, drones are playing an essential role in the insurance sector. Insurance providers have faced a major challenge in collecting data associated with property damage for many years now. They feel that when a disaster strikes, they often have to send their valuation staff to a dangerous territory, which makes the disaster valuation riskier. Routine inspection provides insurance for the provider and the asset holder.

As drones evolve with time, so will the procedures in many different industries, including the insurance sector. Drones with a combination of technologies including HD cameras and voice recorders have started to define the future of the insurance industry. Companies that are first movers in adopting these robots can gain a competitive advantage over their peers.

Final Thoughts

Drones are like unmanned helicopters which are capable of capturing beautiful aerial photos and videos. The future looks promising for drones and we are sure to witness several other industries embracing this technology.
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How to Document a Construction Development Project with Drone Video

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In today’s world, investors want to see and be a part of progress. There is no better way to document a commercial or residential construction project than with Drone photography and videography. Whether it’s updates along the way or a full project time-lapse at the end, drone video is not only functional but very impressive. We recommend taking the following steps to ensure the success of your commercial real estate project.

Step One: Hire a Professional Drone Pilot

Always make sure the the drone operator you are working with is FAA certified and carries liability insurance. Drone pilots must be FAA certified to record commercially and in some cases may need to pull special permits in order to shoot.
Sunrise construction drone photo city skyline
Sunrise construction drone photo

Step Two: Come Up With a detailed Plan

Decide what you would like to accomplish with the end footage. Do you want to show investors progress on a project? Do you want to use the footage for later marketing materials or promotional videos? Make sure you know how the final footage will be used before getting started.

Step 3: Plan the Shoot

Coordinate with your pilot and give the direction of what you are looking to see in the final product. Consider the lighting and time of day for your video. Do you want a sunset shoot or sunrise? Colors are most vibrant these times of day. Make sure and check the upcoming weather for the location a few days ahead of time so you can coordinate with your pilot and reschedule if necessary.

Step 4: Day or Night of the Shoot

Make sure and arrive on time so as to respect the time of your photographer and not get charged any additional rates or penalties. Sometimes you might not need to be present for the shoot but make sure and establish this in the previous step of planning.
Construction workers drone photo
Construction workers drone photo

Step 5: Coordinate Video Editing and File Transfer

Let your videographer know if you would like them to edit the raw photos and video or if you are handling it yourself. This will make a difference in price. Editing is additional billing hours, so make sure and have a rough idea of the amount of post-production effort will be needed to avoid any costly surprises in the end. Make sure and also have a plan for handing off the files. Get an outline of the timeframe for the delivery before signing off on the pricing.

Most of the time files are transferred to the client via a cloud storage service like Dropbox, or Google Drive. Alternatively some projects are uploaded directly to social media sites like YouTube or Instagram as the final delivery. Be sure and plan for this in Step 3.

In Conclusion

‘Have a plan, and work your plan’, as they say. Sticking to the plan is the best way to keep your project on budget and on time. Adjustments can be made of course, but also make sure and always make adjustments to your expectations as well.
Construction cranes in Berlin at sunrise
Construction cranes in Berlin at sunrise
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Los Angeles drone construction services

Why Drone Videography is Ideal for Construction Businesses

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If you’re running a construction business, you have probably heard about how aerial photography or videography is impacting complex site operations, survey procedures, calculations, and site evaluations. According to a recent CNBC report, drone deployment is skyrocketing in the construction field. With that being said, it’s reasonable to mention that drones are making high tides in various business sectors. Drones are increasingly becoming popular because companies can use them for a myriad of recreational and business purposes. Let’s explore the benefits of using drone technology in your construction work.
LA drone footage commercial construction development
Skyline drone sunrise photo of building under construction

Drone photography is essential for Project Planning

Oftentimes, site managers find it difficult to evaluate the construction site or progress. Using drones to capture an aerial view brings clear images of the proposed site. In addition, the videos you will get from a drone will provide you with the best details for logistics and production planning. Other than this, photos and videos of job sites taken from sky heights are assisting in evaluating and digitizing the locations for construction purposes. It further allows businessmen to make the right decisions regarding their businesses.

Drones provide vital visual data for site inspections

Inspecting a construction site is not only a time-consuming task, but it can be dangerous too. By allowing aerial photography or videography, drones provide you with a more accurate view of sites in the easiest way.

You can safely perform a visual inspection of various areas, which would otherwise involve high-risks to one’s health and life. Your site managers can watch the footage of the job site safely from their offices. For instance, you can monitor site progress, plan the construction, and make the building process more efficient.
Modern skyscraper construction drone photo
Modern skyscraper construction drone photo

Building Surveys with Drones

Being a site manager, you already know that building surveys involve detailed visual inspection of roofs to determine the building’s condition. Most site instructors or managers find it quite tricky to get access to a roof.

Also, they require ladders or cherry pickers to conduct a survey of the building’s top, which is costly and time-consuming. Using a drone to perform a survey of your building can save both money and time. Furthermore, it mitigates safety and health risks that are usually involved in surveying a roof or accessing dangerous areas. Drones are now being heavily used in the insurance industry to help mitigate risk.

Drone footage Provides Projects Progress Reports

Preparing construction progress reports to record the progress of your job site is quite tricky. Of course, it requires data which you will need to collect from the job site. Without the use of drones, the process will require a lot of time and expense to reach completion. However, a regular drone can help speedily record the visuals of project progress. Insurance providers, both on the property and the workforce may want to see routine inspections done with drones throughout the course of the project.
Construction cranes drone photo
Construction cranes drone photo

Capture the Best Images for Marketing

While your construction project is in progress, you will certainly plan to market it. Remember that a picture is worth a thousand words; saying that, you can use a drone to shoot a video or capture site images for advertising purposes.

You can use these promotional materials on your social media accounts, business website, or even in TVCs and brochures.

The Bottom Line

Now that you have an idea of how drones can help you with your construction business, you must hire a drone photography and videography service to manage your work effectively.
Drone industrial photography
Drone industrial photo
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