In the ever-evolving landscape of geospatial technology, drones have emerged as invaluable tools for surveying and mapping the Earth’s surface. Among the various techniques employed in drone surveying, planimetrics stand out as a fundamental feature, enabling the capture, analysis, and interpretation of two-dimensional data essential for a multitude of applications.
Table of Contents
“I work as a transportation planner for HDR, an architecture and engineering consulting firm. We have benefited greatly from the planimetrics sidewalk GIS data by providing our clients in the Denver Metro Region with more accurate walkshed information.”
Drone Planimetrics of Roadway
What is Planimetrics?
Planimetrics in drone surveying entail the process of gathering, analyzing, and interpreting two-dimensional or three-dimensional data acquired by drones. This data encompasses imagery and measurements of features like buildings, roads, vegetation, water bodies, and other objects on the Earth’s surface. Three-dimensional planimetric data includes elevation information while planimetric 2D data focuses solely on the horizontal positions of features.
What's included in YOUR GUIDE...
A Proven Roadmap of Success for Implementing Drones in Construction.
A List of Red Flags to Avoid When Hiring Drone Service Providers.
How to Persuade Your Leadership Team to Leverage Drones on Every Jobsite.
Drone Planimetrics of Utility-scale Solar Farm
Importance and Applications in Drone Surveying
The significance of planimetrics in drone surveying is underscored by its wide array of applications across various industries. From urban planning to agriculture, infrastructure management to environmental monitoring, planimetric data serves as a cornerstone for decision-making processes across multiple industries. By harnessing planimetric information, stakeholders can create detailed plansets, monitor changes over time, measure distances and areas accurately, and derive valuable insights crucial for optimizing operations.
Related Article – How Drones Provide Unmatched Value Amongst Construction Stakeholders
How Data is Collected and Processed
Planimetric data collection with drones often relies on high-resolution aerial imagery captured through onboard cameras. Advanced technologies such as photogrammetry and LiDAR make precise data collection possible. Drones using LiDAR generate this data as they fly over the target areas. Through photogrammetry techniques, stereo pair aerial imagery is utilized to pinpoint the exact positions of surface points, allowing for the digitization of any features identified. Vector data generated through this process encompasses both artificial and natural features. These features are depicted three-dimensionally as lines, points, and polygons. Essentially, anything discernible in the imagery can be digitized and incorporated into the dataset. Once this data is collected specialized software can then create detailed maps and models.
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT droneS? START HERE.
Distinguishing 2D and 3D Planimetrics
It’s essential to distinguish between 2D and 3D planimetric mapping. While both aim to represent features on the Earth’s surface, 2D mapping focuses solely on horizontal positions without considering elevation data. On the other hand, 3D planimetric mapping adds an extra dimension of depth and elevation, providing a more comprehensive view of the physical environment. This detailed perspective is particularly beneficial for urban planning, engineering, and architectural design.
Types of Planimetric Mapping
Planimetric mapping encompasses various types, each tailored to specific needs:
- Topographic planimetric maps: Combine horizontal feature representation with contour lines indicating changes in elevation.
- Cadastral planimetric maps: Focus on land ownership and use, depicting property boundaries and rights-of-way.
- Hydrologic planimetric maps: Highlight water bodies’ locations and extents, including rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
- Thematic planimetric maps: Present specific information related to a particular theme, such as population density or land use.
- Orthophoto planimetric maps: Utilize aerial or satellite imagery to provide highly accurate representations of the Earth’s surface.
- Digital planimetric maps: Offer the same information as traditional maps but in a digital format, allowing for easy storage, analysis, and sharing.
Do I Need Planimetics for my Drone Survey?
Planimetrics play a crucial role in enhancing the effectiveness and precision of drone surveys. But under what circumstances should you consider adding planimetrics to your drone survey?
- To Replace Manually Collected Data, Feature Extraction: Planimetrics derived from drone surveys excel in capturing intricate details of surface features. Drones can detect and delineate features such as building footprints, road markings, vegetation types, and utility infrastructure with exceptional clarity. This level of detail is often costly and very challenging to achieve through traditional surveying methods. Any project requiring a high level of detail makes planimetrics an ideal choice for precise data extraction and analysis.
- Detailed Analysis and Monitoring: Drone-based planimetrics allows for efficient analysis and monitoring of changes in landscape over extended periods of time. By conducting regular drone surveys, you can track very detailed changes in land use, vegetation growth, infrastructure development, and environmental conditions. This capability is invaluable for monitoring ongoing projects, assessing the effectiveness of land management practices, and identifying potential risks or hazards in real-time.
- Customization and Integration of Data: Planimetric data derived from drone surveys can be easily customized and integrated into existing workflows and systems. With the flexibility to tailor data collection parameters, such as flight altitude, image resolution, and survey area, planimetrics offer a higher degree of versatility to create very specific data sets needed for each project. This data can be seamlessly integrated with other geospatial datasets, such as LiDAR, GPS, and satellite imagery, to create comprehensive and multi-dimensional analyses. This integration also allows for outputs to other file structures such as CAD programs to marketing materials.
As an example:
Consider a scenario where a construction company is planning to develop a new residential neighborhood. By conducting a drone survey equipped with planimetrics, the company gains access to detailed information about the existing infrastructure, land use, and natural features of the area. This data allows them to accurately assess the feasibility of the project, identify potential challenges or constraints, and optimize the design and layout of the neighborhood for maximum efficiency and sustainability.
This is the same process used by government agencies in the Dallas-Forth Worth area to create development footprints in a multi-year project in development planning that spans from 2008 to 2045, and the city of Denver has several similar projects ongoing that utilize planimetrics for construction development.
Getting Started with Planimetrics
When looking at advancements in drone surveying, planimetrics serves as a benchmark for accurate spatial information essential for a myriad of applications. From urban planning to environmental management, the insights derived from planimetric data shape decision-making processes and drive progress. With continued growth in drone technology and data processing capabilities, the future of planimetrics promises even greater precision and efficiency, paving the way for smarter, more informed solutions to complex challenges.
When looking to hire a drone service company it is always important to check if they are licensed by the FAA and they have experience with planimetrics surveying with drones. The Drone Life pilots are highly trained, licensed, OSHA-certified, and experienced in many different types of commercial projects. By hiring an experienced drone service provider, you can ensure your plans are carried out by professionals who understand the nuances and complexities of your project. Schedule a free consultation today with The Drone Life for more information.
What's included in YOUR GUIDE...
A Proven Roadmap of Success for Implementing Drones in Construction.
A List of Red Flags to Avoid When Hiring Drone Service Providers.
How to Persuade Your Leadership Team to Leverage Drones on Every Jobsite.
