This guide provides best practices for flight planning, execution, and data review when mapping large areas that typically require multiple batteries or flight plans.
Creating a large map plan
When you plan a map for a large area, the initial preparation steps help make field work smoother and more efficient.
Review satellite and sectional maps to identify barriers
The first step when planning any large map plan is to scan the satellite maps for potential barriers to your line of sight (LOS). Check your local Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Sectional charts for towers and/or other obstructions. Take this opportunity to understand the roads and landscape and to identify locations to set up, take off, land for battery swaps, and observe the flight.
Division of flight plans
Operators approach flight planning in many ways, especially for larger plans.
Some operators prefer to draw one large mission in DroneDeploy. If this is your preferred flight planning method, create the map plan as you normally would, but ensure the boundaries are large enough to cover the entire area you plan on mapping.
While creating one large map is a useful way to get an overall estimate of flight time, others prefer to create multiple flight plans that divide the Area of Interest (AOI) into more manageable chunks. This method allows you to more easily maintain LOS, plan battery swaps, maintain simple boundaries, and limit the number of tight corners.
Flying a larger map plan
Depending on the size of the flight plan, you may need to use one or more batteries when capturing the imagery using the DroneDeploy Ground App. The following information walks you through the process for changing a battery while capturing a larger map plan.
Monitor drone battery levels
When using the DroneDeploy Ground App, you will see a battery icon in the top sidebar. This icon shows the drone's current battery level. Monitor this level throughout the flight. When the drone battery gets too low, the battery icon turns red, and the remote control warns you with a beeping sound. At this point, you must switch batteries.
Land the drone mid-flight plan
To bring the drone back to its takeoff location, press the red Home button in the bottom right corner of your phone’s screen or press and hold the Home button on the remote control.
Switch drone batteries
After the drone lands, turn off the battery completely. Once the battery is off, remove it and replace the low-power battery with a fully charged battery. Power on the new battery.
Resume flight plans
To resume your flight, open the project and select the Fly button. This opens the flight plan you were previously flying and generates the pre-flight automated checklist. After all the items on the automated checklist are complete, select the Start Flight button in the bottom right corner of your screen. The drone returns to the section of the map that was last captured and continues capturing imagery.
Continue this process until the entire area has been mapped and the flight plan is complete. All of the flight data is saved to the plan you were working on previously, and the upload process does not change for these types of missions.
Reviewing data in the field
Data quality issues can still occur despite following best practices and preparations. Common quality issues include camera malfunctions, missing GPS geotags, and/or missing sections of data.
Beginning data upload in the field alerts you to different quality issues and allows you to resolve the issue prior to leaving the site. To check data in the field, bring multiple micro SD cards to a site and swap them out after each section has been flown.
Best practices
Following these best practices for large area mapping will maximize efficiency and data quality in the field:
Maintain LOS at all times: Ensure the drone remains within your line of sight. Use multiple, smaller flight plans to make this easier.
Monitor battery life closely: Pay attention to the battery icon in the DroneDeploy Ground App and the alerts on the remote control. Bring the drone back to land immediately when the battery is low.
Perform in-field data checks: Review captured images using a fully charged laptop after each flight section. This helps you detect quality issues like missing geotags or sections before you leave the site.
Plan for efficient battery swaps: Identify suitable landing/swap locations during the initial map planning phase. Use a cooler and ice packs to quickly cool batteries for faster charging.
Ensure full equipment prep: Use a master packing list for all missions. Verify that all batteries are fully charged and all memory cards are clear and ready before leaving the office.
Preparing for flights
It is important to maintain a master packing list for all missions, especially those that include larger flight plans. Forgotten or unprepared equipment can waste time or cause a mission to be postponed entirely. For each new mission, consult the sample packing list provided below and ensure all equipment is properly charged and prepared prior to the flight date.
Sample Packing List (based on 450 acre flight):
Drone/Battery: DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise (approximately 60% more efficient), charger and spare batteries
Other: 64GB Micro SD card x2 and reader (one in each case and an extra in each vehicle)
Fully charged laptop and charger (for reviewing captured images in the field)
400w inverter (hardwired to the truck battery; we plan on upgrading to 1000w)
2-gallon cooler (to cool batteries after each flight and get them onto the charger faster)
Stay-dry Ice pack x2 (goes into cooler and does not sweat)
ND lens filters (to prevent whitewash on sunny days)
V2.2