Photogrammetry is defined as the science of making measurements from photographs, and the output is usually a map, a 3D model or drawing of real 
world objects or land masses. UAV photogrammetry is the use of UAVs to create these 3D images, and they can be used to collect accurate data from various areas. As the UAV flies along the way point, which is an autonomously programmed flight path, there are multiple overlapping photos of the model or ground that are taken. These pictures are then geometrically corrected into a true scale and adjusted so that they adhere to a standard geographic coordinate system.
Various applications are used to transform the pictures taken into 3D models such as Altitude, DroneDeploy, and Pix4D. These apps provide one with cutting edge technology and innovative tools that help generate accurate 3D aerial or oblique images from the camera mounted on the UAV. The app that is being used does create the path that the UAV will use to fly.
UAV photogrammetry is used by professionals who require measurements, research and technical injection such as archaeologist, architects, cartographer’s topographers, surveys, and managers. It is mostly employed in sectors that require precise 3D objects for their projects such as Forestry Management and Planning, Oil and Gas Exploration, Flood Modeling, Mapping and Cartography, Coastline Management, Pollution Modeling, Transport Planning, Quarries and Minerals (Volumetric and Exploration), Urban Planning, Archaeology, Cellular Network Planning. Drone operators can offer unique and innovative eyes with added value to their clients.
There are various types of photogrammetry, but the common one is Aerial photogrammetry and Close-Range photogrammetry. In aerial photogrammetry, a camera is mounted on a UAV, and it is usually pointed towards the ground so as to take photos. These spots are processed in a stereo plotter which is an instrument that lets an operator be able to see two photos at once in a stereo view and are automatically processed for Digital Environ Model (DEM) creation. When you want to take 3D models of statues and monuments the camera is positioned horizontally on the UAV.
To get the best out of UAV photogrammetry, you need to consider the following:
- The quality of the 3D model pictures should be clear as possible. When you zoom the images, the small features should not be blurry.
- For maximum sharpness, remove everything that is on the way and shot in RAW and add more megapixels.
- Having good quality lighting is important in photography. Shallow depth is a bad thing as it gives blurred details and confuses the software being used so conspire to have bright and even lighting which provide high detail, sharp and flat imagery. Good lighting also allows you to have a high shutter speed, hence reducing motion blur.
- If you are mapping a building or a sculpture and you don’t need the background, consider masking it out so as to give the software high-resolution information.
- Make sure that you have everything you need to capture with because it would be difficult to go back and re-shoot the same exact conditions.
At AerdiA we focus heavily on producing quality photogrammetry media for all of our clients. If you feel that our services would be of value to you, please feel free to connect with us below.