Master Drone Surveying: Data Capture, Processing & DGPS

THEORY AND PRACTICAL TOPICS COVERED:

Day 1: Introduction to drone and its importance in modern world with different use cases.

• Course Introduction and Focused Objectives with Learning Outcomes

• Departmental Visits of entire premises:

• 1. Drone Manufacturing Unit with different showcasing of drone

• 2. Drone Designing Department

• 3. Drone data processing department

• Introduction to Drone & its applications in various sectors

• Historical background and evolution of drone technology.

• Introduction to drone technology and its applications

• Importance of drone-based mapping compared to traditional methods in various sectors.

• Understanding the benets and limitations of using drones for different projects.

• Importance of drone in utilities infrastructure with its use cases.(Pipeline /Power-plant/ /Solar Panel)

• Key Components and types of Drone with its Rules & regulations

• Understanding the benets and limitations of using drones for inspection.

• Basic understanding of the working principles of photovoltaic systems.

• Presentation of successful mapping projects executed by our company.

Day 2: Overview of drone data components, capturing and basic flying of drone

• Overview of how drones are utilized for mapping.

• Discussing the importance of aerial data in modern mapping techniques.

• Breakdown of essential drone components and their functions (e.g., flight controllers, motors, sensors).

• Understanding Drone Controls & Introduction to flight modes.

• Discussing the challenges faced during drone-based mapping and how to overcome them.

• Important Mission Planner Settings for Data Capturing in various conditions.

• Conducting a simple flight to understand controls by our expert.

Day 3: Comprehensive Guide to Sensor Types, Pre-Flight Preparation, Data Collection, and Mission Planning Techniques

• Introduction to various types of Sensors: Cameras/Optical/ RGB/Multi-spectral/Hyper-spectral/ Lidar/IR. Gas/ Magnetic Sensors.

• Detailed study on how each sensor is used in different fields like agriculture, mapping, and envi ronmental monitoring.

• Demonstration of Cameras, Optical, RGB, Multi-spectral, LiDAR and Magnetic Sensors.

• Optimizing mission configurations for specific surveying tasks, like corridor mapping or 3D modelling.

• Setting up missions with specific altitudes, waypoint management, and payload integration.

• Ensuring sensors are properly calibrated, performing checklists for flight readiness, and configuring data collection settings.

• In-depth explanation of focal length, shutter speed, ISO, aperture, and their influence on data quality.

• Using Mission Planner Software to calculate required overlaps, sensor angles, and number of images for effective data collection.

Day 4: Drone Training: Payload Usage, Live Data Capture, and Post-Flight Data Management

• Understanding various payload types (cameras, multispectral, thermal, LiDAR)

• Practical setup and calibration of payloads for specific missions.

• Real-time flight and mission execution using different payloads.

• Capturing data for various applications: surveying, agriculture, inspection.

• Planning and executing complex flight patterns.

• Ensuring data accuracy and coverage through overlap and GSD considerations

• Understanding the types of data generated (images, videos, point clouds, etc.)

• Importance of metadata and data organization for future

Day 5: GNSS & DGPS for Mapping: RTK and PPK Integration with Drone Technology

• Explanation of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and DGPS (Differential GPS).

• Basics of satellite navigation systems and types of errors.

• Sources of DGPS corrections (base station, satellite-based augmentation systems)

• How GNSS and DGPS contribute to the accuracy and reliability of mapping data

• Overview of EMLID STUDIO software with different settings and processing

• Setting up the base and rover for RTK surveys

• Hands-on demonstration of setting up and using GNSS and DGPS with drone/ Marking GCPS(RTK/PPK/CORS).

• Real-time data collection exercises to showcase the difference in accuracy

Day 6: Photogrammetry and Aerial Data Processing: Principles, Terminologies and Workflow

• Principles of aerial photography and types of photographs used in drone surveys.

• Important technical terms used in photogrammetry to understand and interpret data captured.

• Examples for calculation of flying height, scale and area covered.

• Types of scales and their importance.

• Importance of relief displacement in drone data processing.

• Relation between flying height and ground relation with respect to camera parameters

• Stereoscopic vision and depth perception for 3D creation.

• Data collection, management, and data processing structural workflow for drone data processing.

• Ground sampling distance(GSD) and its importance in drone data processing.

Day 7 : Google Earth Pro for visualization and Remote Sensing Analysis for drone data Interpretation

• Use of google earth to create AOI boundary and to know elevations

• Basic Accessories, Types of software used for drone data processing.

• Identify the area of interest for the project on google earth pro for visualization.

• Make KML boundaries If area is known and shared with field team.

• Pre-processing steps, including data organization and quality control.

• Geotagging of data in mission planner, Emlid studio & QGIS

• Basics of remote sensing and its applications.

• Electromagnetic spectrum and its importance.

• Energy Interaction with Ground Objects and its terminologies.

• Importance of atmospheric windows and sensor design and its concepts.

• Spectral reflectance and image interpretation are keys to identify objects in a better way.

Day 8 : Drone Data Processing Techniques : Vegetation Indices, Resolutions and processing outputs

• Different Different resolutions in remote sensing and their importance for relevant use case.

• Introduction to vegetation indices and their applications in agriculture.

• Exploring common vegetation indices such as NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index)

• Live demonstration of NDVI generation in QGIS for basic understanding

• Drone data processing in different software’s for basic understanding of different tools available to generate various datasets"

• Data processing and generating different outputs without GCPS for basic understanding

• Understanding of basic outputs and their uses(Orthomosaic, DSM, DTM, Point Cloud)

Day 9 : Drone Data Processing and Analysis Using AGISOFT: DSM, DTM, Orthomosaic, and 3D Modelling

• Overview of AGISOFT software and its applications in drone data processing.

• Step-by-step guide to inputting GCPs into AGISOFT for accurate data processing.

• Detailed explanation of the data alignment and optimization process.

• Best practices for quality checks and ensuring accurate GCP placement.

• Explanation of point cloud generation and classification of ground points.

• Methods for filtering and separating ground points from non-ground elements.

• Producing accurate DTMs and their importance in various mapping applications.

• Use cases for 3D models in construction, archaeology, urban planning, and more.

• Detailed process for contour generation at various intervals.

• Practical exercises in generating and customizing contour intervals in AGISOFT.

Day 10 : Drone Data Integration in GIS: Mapping, Attribute Creation, and Spatial Interpretation

• Introduction to GIS and its use for drone datasets

• Importance of coordinate system for drone data processing

• GIS data formats and layers

• Understanding of spatial data

• Preparation of different maps and exporting maps to various formats

• Working on attribute table for storing & managing data.

• Geotagging toposheets in QGIS to understand Georeferencing

• Digitization on drone outputs for better understanding and creating different attributes

• Sample for practice of Digitization, attribute generation, aera calculation and map preparation

• Different case studies on GIS & spatial analysis to understand GIS in better way

   so, we can use same for drone outputs for better interpretation.

Day 11 : Advanced Drone-based Data Processing: LiDAR, Multispectral & Thermal Applications

• Processing of Multispectral datasets and thermal datasets.

• Calculation of volumetric analysis.

• Introduction to LiDAR Technology, Different terrestrial LiDAR scanners

• Concepts of Lidar & Drone Lidar Preprocessing

• Hands-on demonstration of a terrestrial LiDAR scanner

• Setup and calibration of the scanner

• Downloading and organizing scan data

• Understanding point cloud data: Structure and characteristics

•  Data storage and management/ Data Cleaning and Classification/ Basic editing and adjustments

   tools/ Generating 3D models from point clouds/ Exporting data to different formats.

Day 12 : Future Trends, Skills Assessment, Resource Management, and Certification

• Discussing future trends related to drones.

• Mock practical exam using drone data to assess understanding.

• MCQ based test to know technical knowledge

• Flying settings and understanding of data capturing methods as well as processing methods.

• Resource management (hardware, software, teams) in large-scale projects.

• Distribution of Certification with brief discussion on learning