Joined 1 day ago
PLS in Colorado, 15 years topo work
on Tablet vs phone for field operations - what are you running?
Crystal Sky if you can still find one, or the DJI RC Pro which has a built-in screen. The RC Pro handles heat much better than any phone because it's designed for outdoor use. If you need a tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro has military-grade heat tolerance and a sunlight-readable screen. About $650.
on Insurance claim process after a drone crash on a job site
Filed a claim with BWI two years ago for an M300 prop strike. Process was straightforward - filed online, submitted photos and flight logs, had a check in about 3 weeks. They didn't send an investigator for a sub-$20k claim. Save all your flight data, photos of the scene, and the guy wire. Document everything.
on Exporting to Civil3D - best workflow?
I'll add: invest time in Civil3D point cloud stylization. You can color by class, set up good filters, make the QA/QC process visual. When classification issues are obvious at a glance, you catch them faster. Also point cloud object snap is your friend. Surface issues usually come from misclassified points - turn on the cloud, snap to suspect areas, reclassify, rebuild.
on Teaching old surveyors drone skills - worth the effort?
Your experience is valuable precisely because you know what can go wrong. I've seen young drone pilots deliver garbage because they don't understand survey principles. You won't make those mistakes. Don't retire. Adapt.
on M4E vs M3E - worth the upgrade?
Agree with Amy. If your M3E is working well, keep it. The upgrade path I'd prioritize: 1. If you need more coverage -> Wingtra or fixed wing 2. If you need LiDAR -> M350 + L2 3. If you need NDAA -> Skydio X10 or Astro M3E to M4E for pure mapping is a lateral move.
on How to achieve sub-centimeter accuracy with drone surveys
For parking lot design, 2-3cm is more than adequate. Most paving tolerances are +/- 1". Your data exceeds that. Show the client the checkpoint report and explain what the numbers mean. A lot of times these accuracy complaints come from misunderstanding the data.
on D-RTK 2 base station keeps losing fix during flights
I swapped to a Tallysman TW3972 antenna and the fix stability improved dramatically. The stock antenna is adequate but not great. The upgrade was about $400 and worth every penny.
on Combining drone data with traditional boundary surveys
I use drone data for recon before I even go to the field. Fly the property, identify potential monument locations, spot encroachments. Shows up prepared instead of wandering around. Clients also love the ortho overlay on their plat. Worth the extra effort.
on Building a portfolio for drone survey work
Create case studies instead of just pretty pictures. Explain the challenge, your approach, and the results. Clients care about problem-solving ability, not just nice orthomosaics.
on Flying near airports - LAANC approval process
Call the airport tower directly. Seriously. For 100ft above the auto-approval ceiling they're often accommodating, especially if you explain you're doing survey work and provide your flight plan. I've had same-day approvals this way.
on Coordinate systems in DroneDeploy - how do you handle state plane?
DroneDeploy's datum harmonization is actually pretty slick now. You can upload GCPs in one system, fly RTK in another, and specify output in a third. The software handles the math. I literally have projects where GCPs are in a local assumed system, drone positions are WGS84, and output is State Plane. Works fine.
on Budget LiDAR options - DJI L2 vs Hesai alternatives?
Consider renting before buying. Several vendors rent L2 systems by the week. Do a few projects, see if the demand justifies ownership.
on Realistic salary expectations for drone surveyor?
In Texas, drone-focused survey techs are getting $25-35/hr depending on experience and how much processing you do. If you can handle the full workflow from flight planning to deliverable, you're worth more. The real money is going independent but that comes with its own headaches.
on Stockpile accuracy - how close are you getting to scale tickets?
We've done some testing against total station volumes (grid points, breaklines, the old fashioned way). Drone vs TS was within 1% on a clean conical pile. But those controlled conditions aren't realistic. Real piles with loaders working, irregular shapes, debris - 2-3% is good. 5% isn't unusual if conditions are messy.
on DJI Dock 2 for autonomous survey missions - anyone using it?
We deployed one at a solar farm project. Works great for progress monitoring but I wouldn't rely on it for survey-grade deliverables without GCPs. The RTK is solid but you still want verification. Biggest issue we had was dust on the camera lens. Had to add a cleaning protocol.
on Is the Zenmuse L2 worth it over L1?
Haven't upgraded yet but been following this closely. The consensus from the Facebook groups is L2 is legit, not just incremental. The repetition rate jump from 240kHz to 480kHz is real. That said, if your L1 is meeting your accuracy specs, maybe hold off. L3 will probably come eventually...
on DroneDeploy vs Pix4D vs Propeller - which one for a surveyor?
I use DroneDeploy for 90% of work and keep Pix4D for weird edge cases where I need more control. Best of both worlds. The DroneDeploy accuracy stack has gotten really good - RTK flight app, auto-PPK, datum harmonization. For standard topo and construction it's hard to beat the convenience.
on Starting a drone program - M3E RTK or Anzu Raptor?
For your use case, M3E RTK all day. The ecosystem is more mature, parts and support are easier to get, and DroneDeploy integration is rock solid. The geofencing thing is overblown - you can unlock most areas in like 30 seconds with the app. I've been running M3E for about 18 months now and it just works. Battery life is actually closer to 40 mins with RTK running but that's still plenty for your site sizes.