First experience of using TOPODRONE DJI Air 2S PPK for survey & mapping and how to get 3-5 cm XYZ accuracy

We would like to share a new example how to convert consumer DJI Air 2S drone to affordable survey UAV with TOPODRONE PPK & synchronization system on board.

Yesterday we made drone survey over the area of 10 hectares with roads, buildings, powerlines. It takes us less than 20 minutes to prepare survey double grid mission in Dronelink APP with 75%/70% overlapping and made flight with 6 m/s flight speed.

Fig. 1. Mission planning in Dronelink app.

All data processing workflow was easy as 1-2-3 steps.

First we performed post processing of GNSS data to get precise coordinates and geotag photos in TOPODRONE Post Processing software.

Next all photos were uploaded to 3Dsurvey photogrammetry software and bundle adjustment was performed with using of precise XYZ position of photos only.

Fig. 2. Drone photos processing in 3Dsurvey.

To evaluate the accuracy of the bundle adjustment 10 located in different parts of the area GCPs were uploaded to 3Dsurvey software. Just one GCP was used as reference point to calibrate block of images in altitude and all other were used as check points and we were impressed by outstanding accurate results shown at screenshots.

Fig. 3. Location of checkpoints.

Fig. 4. Location of checkpoints.

Fig. 5. Location of checkpoints.

Fig. 6. Location of checkpoints.

Finally a pretty good 3D point cloud was generated with high details of road signs, power and light power poles, roads, buildings, bridges etc.

Fig. 7. Points cloud shows high details of road signs, power and light power poles, roads, buildings, bridges etc.

Fig. 8. Points cloud shows high details of road signs, power and light power poles, roads, buildings, bridges etc.

Fig. 9. Points cloud shows high details of road signs, power and light power poles, roads, buildings, bridges etc.

Fig. 10. Points cloud shows high details of road signs, power and light power poles, roads, buildings, bridges etc.

Accuracy result was amazing! It was difficult to believe that an inexpensive DJI Air 2S easy to use drone with additionally installed PPK module provides 3-5 cm XYZ accuracy of high detailed point cloud.

Fig. 11. Accuracy report.