Drone mapping software program can serve many functions, together with producing maps, level clouds, 3D fashions and DEMs. It’s utilized in many industries, together with agriculture, oil and fuel, city planning, land administration and extra.
And there are tons of drone mapping softwares on the market to know; DroneDeploy and Pix4D are two of the largest names, each of that are cloud-based and intensely user-friendly. Nonetheless, a number of different platforms exist as options to those two giants, together with Agisoft Meta Form, Propellor and WebODM.
So which one is greatest for you? Aaron Parnell, proprietor and Chief Pilot of Unmanned Aerial Operations — which is an aerial imaging, aerial video and drone mapping firm primarily based in North Carolina — reviewed 5 main drone mapping software program merchandise to find out the perfect for every use case and finances.
All of the mapping engines reviewed right here provide instruments akin to quantity, space, slope and distance measurements, and most additionally provide map outputs akin to topographic maps, aid maps, and 3D Fashions. A few of these apps, akin to Propeller, additionally provide extra measurements and map outputs.
DroneDeploy: The most effective for most individuals who aren’t on a finances
DroneDeploy ranks as one of the user-friendly platforms there may be — and it’s one of many largest cloud software program platforms designed for industrial drones that you just’ll discover. Its clients have mapped a mixed 200 million acres for the reason that San Francisco-based drone mapping firm launched in 2013. DroneDeploy additionally claims that its software program is used throughout greater than 400,000 job websites in additional than 180 international locations worldwide.
Why DroneDeploy is nice
Nice causes to make use of DroneDeploy embody in-app flight planning, actual time orthomosaic constructing, cloud primarily based processing and sharing, and the truth that the software program helps a number of manufacturers of drones in addition to a number of fashions made by these manufacturers.
For a lot of, DroneDeploy supporting many alternative drones is a large think about selecting DroneDeploy. DroneDeploy helps drones not particularly made for mapping, which is an enormous deal to the brand new pilots who could not personal a $12,000 mapping drone.
Among the many drones supported by DroneDeploy are a few of DJI’s hottest (and never notably costly) drones, together with:
DroneDeploy additionally helps the Skydio 2 drone. See the total listing of DroneDeploy-supported drones right here.
Whereas drone is in its identify, DroneDeploy doesn’t simply restrict itself to flying robots both. The corporate’s 360 Walkthrough software program launched again in 2020 to perform with each aerial and any on-the-ground 360-cameras (hand-held or robotic), focused primarily at permitting customers to construct a complete, digital reconstruction of any job website.
DroneDeploy has a number of plans to select from, every with completely different value factors that supply more and more extra options as you go up in value. Amongst these are Ag Lite (which is particularly designed for precision agriculture use circumstances), Particular person, Superior, Groups and Enterprise.
The truth that DroneDeploy is cloud-based is one other large benefit of the software program. Even when your laptop has terabytes of storage, you’ll possible profit enormously from cloud-based mapping software program. That’s as a result of downloading maps and fashions places an excessive toll in your reminiscence utilization. In contrast to regular pictures akin to JPEG’s and PNG’s, orthomosaic DSMs and DTMs use massive quantities of knowledge to retain high quality and GEO referencing.
One other standout instrument provided by DroneDeploy is the positioning comparability to earlier surveys. Development firms extremely worth this as a result of development is well seen. Just like how engineers will layer blueprints to see how the mission will come collectively, DroneDeploy permits enterprise to do the identical as a digital mannequin.
Since DroneDeploy is a paid service, the shopper assist you’ll obtain is top-notch. Past intensive DroneDeploy assist documentation, there’s additionally a DroneDeploy group discussion board. Or, you possibly can click on ‘Assist’ from inside your DroneDeploy mission to speak with a DroneDeploy worker.
Why DroneDeploy may not be a match for you
DroneDeploy is among the many costliest drone mapping softwares on the market, and its price ticket shouldn’t be precisely clear both.
Particular person plans begin at $329 per 30 days, however that’s provided that you decide to a yr. If you wish to use it with out the year-long dedication, you’ll pay $499 per 30 days. Plus, the upgraded model of the software program with extra bells and whistles will run a fair heftier $599 per 30 days (that’s greater than $7,100 per yr).
What occurs if you happen to’re not a sole proprietor or entrepreneur? When you’re searching for a model to your whole staff, you’ll need to name DroneDeploy to request a demo. Whereas it’s dearer than the person plan, DroneDeploy shouldn’t be clear concerning the precise value — you’ll need to name to seek out out, and it’ll range primarily based in your staff.
Pix4D: the perfect drone mapping software program if you happen to’re on a tighter finances
Pix 4D is a cloud-based mapping software program program designed for photogrammetry, which is a mode of mapping that creates pictures of land by utilizing massive numbers of photographs. These photographs are then composited collectively as full-color, textured pictures.
Pix4D has been round since 2011, when it began as a by-product of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Pc Imaginative and prescient Lab in Switzerland.
Why Pix4D is nice
Pix4D is particularly helpful given its excessive diploma of customization, permitting you to keep away from paying for options you don’t want (and solely paying for those you do). In contrast to DroneDeploy, which presents subscription tiers, Pix4D allows you to purchase the items of the software program you need, such because the flight planner, the processing platform, or a map editor. Inside these choices, extra superior instruments can be found primarily based on a tier system just like Drone Deploy.
Since Pix4D is a paid service, the shopper assist you’ll obtain is top-notch with a assist line to name, a assist heart to message, and loads of on-line boards to skim by way of.
Pix 4D’s cloud software program is just like Drone Deploy in that it’s shareable and your maps will all be saved on their servers. Nonetheless, you do have the choice to obtain onto your drive. Pix4D’s outputs, particularly their orthomosaics, are very spectacular. This software program’s means to provide glorious and correct orthomosaics is considerably unmatched within the enviornment of cloud-based processing software program.
One thing particular about Pix4D is the LiDAR processing instruments. The opposite mapping engines on this listing don’t provide LiDAR processing. When you can visualize the purpose cloud from the LiDAR scan in all of the mapping engines on this listing, utilizing Pix4D means that you can course of, visualize and export a LiDAR dataset into Autocad.
Why Pix4D may not be a match for you
Regardless of being our finances choose, notice that this software program remains to be comparatively costly to run. With plans ranging in value from $58 a month to $315 a month, you’ll spend much less cash than you’d utilizing DroneDeploy, nevertheless it nonetheless received’t come low cost.
Propeller: The most effective for building firms
Propeller is a platform that’s primarily based on a mannequin of pay-per map course of. (For instance, Propeller supplies their aerial mapping resolution at $250 per map).
Why Propeller is nice
You’ll obtain all map outputs from this one processor akin to your orthomosaic, DTM, 3-D mannequin, plant well being, together with an enormous array of measurement instruments to look at and analyze your job website with.
The drones really useful for utilization with Propeller software program embody the Phantom 4 RTK and the Wingtra One.
Since Propellor is a paid service, the shopper assist you’ll obtain is high notch. Just like the opposite paid apps listed, Propeller presents a assist name line that responds swiftly. Additionally they embody a messaging platform for assist, and you’ll request a name if essential.
Whereas DroneDeploy and Pix 4D each provide measurement instruments as nicely, Propeller blows them each out of the water with instruments akin to:
- Elevation Distinction
- Street Grade
- Floor Space
- Design to Design
- Quantity from Lowest Level
- Earthworks Progress
- Elevation Historical past
- Cross-Part Comparability
- Examine to Earlier Survey
- Berm Examine
- Examine to Newest Design
This software program is geared extra in the direction of firms utilizing an inner drone inside their mapping division, versus a pilot searching for a mapping software program to make use of for their very own enterprise. That’s as a result of paying $250 for a map is just a wiser monetary transfer if you happen to solely plan on conducting a mapping mission, say, as soon as a month. For an organization that intends to make many extra maps than that, the per-map price of Propeller is probably going not financially value it.
Why Propeller may not be a match for you
The largest downside of Propeller is that It requires you to make use of what’s known as an Aeropoint (which is a highly-precise, sensible floor management level) in an effort to course of your imagery with any accuracy. Whereas Aeropoints are nice for each freshmen and survey veterans given their simple use and excessive precision, they’re removed from wallet-friendly; an Aeropoint prices simply over $1000.
One other downside of this software program is that you just’ll have to discover a flight planning app to execute your automated flights (propeller doesn’t provide one). The drones really useful for utilization with propeller software program are the Phantom 4 RTK and the Wingtra One. That are each costly drones costing upwards of 10,000 {dollars}.
WebODM: The most effective free drone mapping software program
For these with a background in GIS, utilizing WebODM in tandem with one other software program QGIS, OpenDroneMap stands out as the proper alternative for you. Think about this software program duo to be the perfect different for individuals who could not wish to make investments hundreds of {dollars} right into a cloud-based mapping software program.
Why WebODM is nice
WebODM is an area drone mapping software program (that means it runs in your laborious drive) that gives customers related map outputs as that of Drone Deploy, Pix4D, and a few of Propeller. It additionally permits for an array of measurements to be taken within the software program. In an effort to use WebODM, you must have a grasp on GIS. GIS is brief for Geographic Info Techniques, or in different phrases: digital mapping. Unmanned Aerial Operations (UAO) makes use of net ODM in tandem with the open supply GIS platform, QGIS. This enables UAO to course of drone imagery into maps, fashions and measurements, with an accuracy larger than most platforms.
Why WebODM may not be a match for you
On condition that it’s an open supply platform, WebODM requires some information of coding for set up.
WebODM’s assist line shouldn’t be the identical as these different mapping engines. To get assist, you’ll have to submit within the WebODM discussion board and hope somebody solutions your query.
Whereas cost-effective, these two softwares usually are not precisely essentially the most user-friendly.
Agisoft Metashape: Nice for creating 3D fashions
Agisoft Metashape is a cloud primarily based and native imagery processing platform targeted on processing and delivering 3D fashions. Whereas this software program does provide a measurement instrument, it’s restricted when in comparison with Propeller.
Why Agisoft Metashape is nice
Agisoft Metashape’s 3D mannequin outputs are a homerun, and are by far the perfect on this group of drone imagery software program.
Since Agisoft Metashape is a paid service, the shopper assist you’ll obtain is top-notch. You’ll have the ability to name the assist line if you happen to run into hassle, ship an electronic mail to assist, or examine the boards utilized by Agisoft’s customers
Just like Propellor within the plethora of distinctive instruments that Agisoft Metashape presents are:
- Dense level cloud: enhancing and classification
- Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) registration
- Floor management factors / scale bar assist
- Stereoscopic measurements
- Hierarchical tiled mannequin era
- 4D modeling for dynamic scenes
- Computerized energy line detection
- Satellite tv for pc imagery processing
Why Agisoft may not be a match for you
Agisoft is a paid service, starting from $179 to $3,499. Like the opposite softwares, the extra you pay, the extra you obtain. Nonetheless on this case, you solely have two choices: Pay $179 for the processing instrument — permitting you to take your drone imagery and create a mannequin — or pay $3,499 for the total package deal which incorporates instruments that might not be related to you as a drone pilot akin to 3D modeling texture instruments used for industries like online game design.
In contrast to the opposite firms listed right here, Agisoft is a Russian firm. For these wishing to make use of merchandise made in the US, keep away from this one.
The underside line
Most of those platforms provide free trials, permitting you to check out each to personally decide which software program is greatest for you.
Earlier than making a choice, perceive your finances, how typically you intend on utilizing the software program, and your means to navigate and leverage the software program to your wants.
Whereas lots of the software program options provided by these drone mapping firms are extremely expensive, it might prove that lots of them finally fall in value to stay aggressive.
-By Aaron Parnell
Go to Unmanned Aerial Operations for extra from Aaron. When you’d prefer to submit a visitor submit, contact The Drone Lady right here.
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