Orthomosaic Mapping with RTK
An orthomosaic map is a detailed, accurate aerial image that's created by stitching together many overlapping high-resolution photos. Orthomosaic maps are used in many industries, including construction, real estate, and agriculture, or anyone wanting a detailed aerial image of a piece of land.
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Because orthomosaic maps use hundreds, or even thousands of images, you are able to zoom in on any part of your map to see that area in detail as if you were directly above it. This is not possible with a traditional single shot or satellite images as the image will be from an angle or will not have resolution once zoomed in.
Any map starts with figuring out what you would like imaged. Once we have an area determined, we will come to your property and run the mission. Results can be delivered in as little as one day, and the mission can be completed many times over a period of time to show changes to the map.
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These missions are often better when done on cloudy days, as it eliminates shadows cast by structures or vegetation.
Once the images are stitched together, you have a complete map of your project that you can view completely zoomed out, or you can inspect individual parts in a high resolution not possible with single photos.
Why Orthomosaic Mapping?
Orthomosaic photos offer significant advantages over solutions like Google Maps due to their superior currency and detail. Unlike Google Maps, which relies on satellite and aerial imagery that can be outdated, drone orthomosaics provide up-to-the-minute, high-resolution data. This allows for precise measurements, detailed inspections, and accurate monitoring of specific areas, crucial for industries like construction, agriculture, and land surveying. Furthermore, drone-captured imagery can be tailored to specific needs, offering customizable perspectives and levels of detail that are often unavailable in generalized mapping services.
The above image shows the same area of a construction project. The left image is from a singular image of the entire property that is zoomed in on a specific area of interest. The picture on the right is the same area zoomed in from an orthomosaic map. The results speak for themselves.
This process can be done as many times as needed using the exact same mission, so you can see how a jobsite or project changes over time. An ortho map can also be gradually expanded with new missions, and is able to cover an enormous area if needed.
What can these maps be used for?
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Construction:
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Site planning and progress tracking.
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Stockpile volume measurements.
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Infrastructure inspections.
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Agriculture:
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Crop health assessment.
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Precision farming and yield monitoring.
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Irrigation planning.
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Land Management:
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Monitoring land changes and erosion.
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Property surveying and boundary definition.
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Forestry management.
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Environmental Monitoring:
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Tracking deforestation and habitat loss.
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Assessing disaster damage.
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Coastal erosion monitoring.
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Infrastructure Inspection:
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Power line and pipeline inspections.
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Road and bridge assessments.
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Archaeology:
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Site mapping and documentation.
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Excavation planning.
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Emergency Response:
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Disaster damage assessment.
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Search and rescue operations.
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What is RTK?
Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) is a high-precision satellite navigation technique used to significantly enhance the accuracy of drone positioning. By utilizing a fixed base station that transmits corrections to the drone's GPS receiver, RTK effectively eliminates common GPS errors, achieving centimeter-level accuracy. This technology is crucial for applications requiring precise location data, such as surveying, mapping, construction, and agriculture, where even small deviations can have significant impacts. Essentially, RTK allows drones to pinpoint their exact location with unparalleled precision, enabling more reliable and detailed data collection. This technology is used on all of our mapping missions.
