Joined about 2 months ago
Remote site surveyor, Alaska
on NTRIP vs radio link for base-rover corrections - pros and cons
LoRa specifically has been great for us. Lower power than UHF, no FCC license needed (ISM band), and we're getting 3-5km range reliably with small antennas. Won't match UHF for raw range but its way simpler to deploy. The Emlid receivers have LoRa built in which makes the base-rover setup basically plug and play.
on Tablet vs phone for field operations - what are you running?
iPad Mini with a sun shade hood. The Hoodman hood blocks direct sun and keeps it cool enough. Cheaper than a new tablet and the iPad has the best app ecosystem. But honestly, the DJI RC Pro is the right answer if your drone supports it.
on Using Starlink for NTRIP corrections in remote areas
Local base works but you need a known point or a long static occupation to get your base coordinate. On BLM land theres often no control nearby. With NTRIP you're tied to the state network and everything is georeferenced from the start. Plus the Starlink lets us submit data, check email, even do a quick call from the field. It's become standard gear for us on remote jobs.
on Setting up a permanent RTK base station for repeat survey work
We did something similar but with a Reach RS3 and honestly the hardest part was getting the network right. Cell coverage was marginal so we had to go with the point-to-point wireless approach too. Your Ubiquiti setup is basically what we ended up with. How far is your wireless link? We're pushing about 800m and it's been rock solid.
on Drone LiDAR under $10k - is the DJI L2 finally good enough?
For the price, it's hard to beat. We replaced our YellowScan Mapper+ ($60k) with the L2 and the results are 90% as good for 15% of the cost. The processing in DJI Terra is the weak link. We export the raw LAS and process in TerraSolid for serious work.
on Mapping trees is a tricky thing - photogrammetry vs LiDAR
We do a lot of forestry work in the PNW. Full LiDAR is the way to go if the budget allows. The DJI L2 on the M350 is around $15k and it handles tree canopy well. Getting 3-5 returns per pulse. The combination approach works but the stitching between photo-derived and LiDAR-derived surfaces is messy. You end up spending more time on data fusion than you save on equipment.
on Best tablet for field work with DroneDeploy?
I use a Samsung Tab S8 with DeX mode. Cheaper than iPad and the Android version of DroneDeploy is fine. Plus I can use it as a laptop replacement when needed.
on Budget LiDAR options - DJI L2 vs Hesai alternatives?
The Yellowscan Mapper is worth looking at if you want non-DJI. More expensive than L2 but rock solid and great support. Popular in forestry.
on 12,000 acre ranch mapping - Wingtra results
That's an impressive project. How'd you handle the GCP distribution over that size? 85 points on 12k acres is a lot of ground to cover.
on Is the Zenmuse L2 worth it over L1?
Just want to add - make sure you're running PPK with LiDAR. RTK drops under canopy are brutal. Ask me how I know. L2 won't fix bad position data.
on RTK vs PPK - when do you use which?
RTK is great WHEN IT WORKS. The problem is it needs constant connection to corrections - either cell network for NTRIP or radio link to a base. If that connection drops mid-flight, some photos get corrections and some don't. You might not even notice during the flight. PPK logs everything on the drone, then you apply corrections after. Every photo gets corrected or none do. No partial failures. That's why it's more "reliable" even though it's not real-time. I work remote sites in Alaska. Cell coverage is a joke. PPK is the only option and honestly I prefer it now even when I have coverage.
on Fixed wing for DOT corridor work - Wingtra vs Trinity?
Wingtra PPK is rock solid. I'm in Alaska doing remote sites with zero cell coverage - RTK is not an option. Wingtra + base station + DroneDeploy PPK processing has been flawless. Just make sure you log RINEX from your base for the whole flight.