Tips For Dealing With An Aerial Imagery Acquisition Project
If you're preparing to hire a company that provides aerial imagery acquisition services, there will be a few things to straighten out before they can do the job. You'll want to know a bit about the equipment they're using, and there will be concerns about the flight itself. Let's take a look at the four biggest issues you should be concerned with.
Can You Fly There?
Before you get too far into an aerial imagery acquisition effort, the first question you need to address is whether it's even legal to fly in the area. Most companies will be using drones, but even these aircraft are increasingly being restricted in their flight paths. Operators for any company that's running a for-profit business will have to pass an FAA flight test and get certified. Even recreational pilots have to fork over $5 to register their vehicles.
Most restrictions are fairly predictable. You likely won't be flying near any military installations, sports stadiums or large gatherings. If you're curious to know whether you can fly in a particular zone, there's also a website where you can check for restrictions. Restrictions may also apply to the days of big events, too.
What's the Weather Going to Be Like?
Planning around the weather is essential, particularly if a project is going to require long flight times. Make sure the company you're working with offers alternate dates in case flights have to be scrubbed. Similarly, you should inquire about any potential cancellation fees and whether cancellation past a certain date will mean forfeiting a deposit.
Flight Time is a Big Deal
In any aircraft, there's always a balancing act between weight and flight time. Given that most drone vehicles are electrically powered, gaining even a few minutes of flight time may entail added a lot of weight for battery storage. Capabilities are also limited in the same way, but modern high-definition cameras are now light enough that this isn't a huge limiting factor as long as the job doesn't require a special lens.
Digital File Formats
You'll likely want your pictures as soon as possible. To accomplish this, it's wise to plan ahead regarding digital file formats. If superior precision is necessary for a project, you'll likely want the images delivered in a format like TIFF rather than a lossy and compressed format like JPEG. You may also need to supply an SD memory card to get your images right away.
If you still have questions about what you need to do, contact an aerial imagery acquisition company.
