Selecting the appropriate base plane ensures that you record accurate volume measurements. This guide explains the different base-plane options and when to apply them based on your terrain.
Overview
DroneDeploy uses a base plane to define the "floor" of a volume measurement. The software then calculates the volume between this floor and the surface of your map.
Availability
Linear Fit, Lowest Point, and Triangulated base planes are available for all paid DroneDeploy Aerial subscriptions.
Custom Elevation and Previous Map comparisons are available for Advanced, Teams, and Enterprise tiers.
Base-plane options
DroneDeploy provides four primary algorithms to estimate the ground surface under an annotation.
Linear Fit
Linear Fit defines the base plane by fitting a flat plane through the edge points of your annotation.
Best for: Stand-alone stockpiles on flat ground.
Usage: Use this as the default for most standard volume measurements.
Lowest Point
This option calculates a horizontal base plane starting from the lowest edge point of your annotation.
Best for: Stockpiles in bins, benches, or piles placed right against each other.
Consideration: This calculation is sensitive to the vertices you create. If the ground is sloped, this option may overestimate volume.
Triangulated
The Triangulated base plane joins all edge points to create a 3D surface under the stockpile.
Best for: Long, thin stockpiles or large piles over 0.5 acres.
Usage: Use this when the ground underneath the pile is uneven or sloped.
Custom Elevation
This allows you to manually input a known elevation value for the base.
Best for: Situations where the ground level is known from a survey or when the stockpile is in a contained area with a known floor height.
How to select a base plane
Open your project in the DroneDeploy web app.
Navigate to the Explore tab and select the Volume tool.
Click to define the perimeter of your stockpile.
In the left-side annotation panel, click the Base Plane dropdown menu.
Select the desired base-plane algorithm.
Key considerations
Slope: Use Linear Fit or Triangulated if the ground under a stockpile is sloped.
Point Selection: Be careful where you click. Selecting a point on a pile of rocks instead of the ground will change the volume accuracy.
Elevation Toolbox: Use the Elevation layer in the toolbox to see the base of a stockpile more clearly when shadows or colors make the Orthomosaic difficult to read.
FAQs
Q: Can I compare volumes over two different maps?
A: Yes. For high accuracy over time, use the Previous Map base-plane option. This ensures the calculation uses the exact same polygon and points from an earlier flight.
Q: How accurate are these measurements?
A: When following best practices, measurements are typically accurate to within 1-2% compared to ground-based laser measurements.
Q: Does it matter if I use numerous points to outline the pile?
A: Yes. Estimated base planes can vary slightly from map to map if the number of points changes. Use consistent point placement for repeatable results.
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