FAQ

Drone Surveys enable you to capture extensive and reliable data from places inaccessible to you. Survey drones offer high-resolution orthomosaics & comprehensive 3 Dimensional (3D) representations. Drone Surveys contribute vital knowledge to empower well-informed decision-making during the initial stages of construction site mapping, surveying, or inspection of infrastructure.

It ensures that users maintain control and anticipate failure to secure maximum goodwill of their assets. Wind Turbine Blades, highways, and power lines frequently probed through this novel drone technology. When compared to conventional ‘at-height’ working, it reduces the significant risk for the workers during an inspection.

One fundamental parameter of drone surveying is a spatial presentation, typically known as GSD (Ground Sampling Distance) in photogrammetry terms. In brief, it symbolizes the interval amongst two consecutive pixel centers on the ground. GSD relies on the resolution, focal range, and flight elevation of the drone camera. Equinox Drones use professional surveying drones such as the DJI Phantom Pro 4 to attain 1cm level accuracy in our surveying results.

Since drones have distinct applications, they have grown to become an integral component to various private and governmental organizations. We have made our place in several industries through quick, reliable, and safe deliveries. Catering to military bases, and to the mapping of agricultural land surveys, our technology can do it all. Using innovative survey drones, artificial intelligence, and a plethora of advanced sensors like thermal, RGB, Lidar, etc. we extend our drone technology to many.

Every project requires customized drone operation plans because they are all different. Taking the example of aerial photography, we subsequently execute drone operations:

• Research and Development : Includes learning, gathering information about projects, studying aviation charts, and the atmosphere surrounding the targeted regions to identify any risks or hindrances.
• Planning : Permits us to compose a foundation to approach projects and resources needed in terms of equipment, personnel, costs, etc.
• Execution : Before actual implementation, a pre-flight evaluation of the drone’s condition is crucial. The plan is then put into action on the field as per demand.
• Analysis : We feed various software gathered to get technical information. Video editors are also a part of this stage and use their expertise for added creativity.

A few functions carried out and acknowledged by aerial technology are aerial photography/videography, aerial surveys, traffic monitoring, military surveillance, use in the construction industry, power line inspections, agricultural land inspection, healthcare, logistics, Solar panel and wind turbine maintenance, etc.

UAVs and drone surveying enable getting comprehensive data from remote, hazardous, or unsafe locations. We accumulate more substantial detailed information in a more condensed method, granting this to be more cost-effective for users when opposed to traditional methods. Therefore, drone surveying delivers exceptional results with greater urgency, practicality, and security.

Short for unmanned aircraft systems, UAS is an unmanned aircraft operated autonomously or remotely without a pilot. UAS is a term used for rather advanced unmanned aircraft, not for civilian applications.

A Geographic Information System, GIS, is a computer operation employed to obtain, store, review, and display data associated with positions of the Earth's surface.

Also known as 'First-person View, FPV is a method to navigate radio-controlled aircraft or other varieties of UAVs from a pilot's perspective

A Global Positioning System, or GPS, is a satellite-based navigation system that is present almost everywhere. It enables users to determine endless locations, speed, time synchronization, etc.

A Digital Terrain Model (DTM) is a representation of the Earth's terrain/surface topography. It is essential for the visualization and analysis of landscapes, similar to DEMs.

A Digital Elevation Model, DEM, is a comprehensive 3D model depicting terrain elevations on the Earth's surface. Using LiDar ground points or raster grid, DEMS are developed.

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDaR) is a practice to estimate distances through the illumination of laser light to measure the reflection via high-quality sensors. The time taken for these reflections, along with their wavelengths, are used to construct 3D models of the target.

RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue light. It is a model where these colors are combined in various orders to produce an extensive display of colors. Drone cameras are often furnished with RGB cameras to capture these colors and recreate real-time visual data.

Stockpile Management is the method of organizing, stocking, tracking, and managing inventory to reduce or eliminate any contamination or pollution through materials. UAVs are cost-efficient, accurate, and reliable equipment employed for stockpile management in industries such as construction, mining, etc.

Livestock Monitoring is a systematic method to monitor all animal activities, their products such as milk, diseases, transportation activities, etc. Drones are often employed to keep an eye on cattle farming, herding, monitoring, and overall farm and animal security.

The maximum height that an agricultural drone can fly ranges from approximately 50-100m high. Above this, a special authorization must be procured.

Crop scanning is a simple way to analyze and evaluate the health of the crops using a range of frequencies of near-infrared light. They can obtain the levels of protein, moisture, oil, carbohydrates, etc. in the crops.

Crop Spraying with UAVs/Drones is a way to precisely spray fertilizers, pesticides, or necessary chemicals on the farming field and crops to retain maximum crop health and guard them against any fungal or bacterial infections.

Drones equipped with Multispectral cameras can efficiently allow the agricultural industry, specifically farmers, to maintain crops, soil, fertilizing, and irrigation procedures. They obtain accurate information due to their remote sensing capabilities that utilize Green, Red, Red-Edge and Near-Infrared bands to seize both visible and invisible pictures of crops. For effective agricultural practices, UAVs with multispectral cameras are a must.

• Improved Production
• Effective farming systems
• Higher safety
• Quick-decision making
• Less wastage of resources
• Evidence for Insurance claims

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is built from a mixture of visible red light and Near-Infrared Light. Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE)uses a blend of NIR light and a frequency band within visible red and NIR light. Which one to use depends on the maturity stage of the crops.

NDVI correlates with chlorophyll and can identify crop health in early growth stages. However, if you're dealing with dense crops, then NDRE is the right choice. Farmers often use a combination of both NDRE and NDVI to monitor accurate crop health.

Thermal and Multispectral Cameras are different kinds of cameras with distinct wavelengths in the visible and invisible electromagnetic spectrum. Multispectral cameras capture near-infrared radiation (NIR) and invisible ultraviolet light. Thermal cameras measure the surface temperature of the project or object.

Drones are often furnished with multiple types of sensors. A few common types of sensors include-

• Distance Sensors - Such as Light-Pulse Distance Sensing, Radio Detection and Ranging, Magnetic-Field Change Sensing, Sonar-Pulse Distance Sensing (Ultrasonic)
• Time of Flight Sensors ( for Range Imaging)
• Thermal Sensors
• Orientation Sensors- Such as Accelerometers, Inertial Measurement Sensors

The types of Aerial Photographs depend upon the position of the Drone's camera axis. They are classified as Vertical photographs, Low oblique photographs, or High oblique photographs. A vertical photo is when the camera axis is focused toward the surface as vertically as possible. In contrast, the camera axis is directed at an angle to the ground for oblique photographs

Scale in Aerial Photography is the ratio of the distance between two points on a captured picture to the real measure between the same two points in reality. It helps retain an accurate perception of what appears in the image and is crucial for vertical Aerial Photography.

Aerial photogrammetry captures images from the sky at height through Drones or UAVs equipped with high-resolution cameras and requires higher investment and infrastructure support. In contrast, Terrestrial photogrammetry involves photography through handheld cameras positioned on tripods, towers, or other necessary platforms that require lesser investment.

• Choose the right drone for you
• Don't rotate too much
• Be mindful with the settings
• Use suitable filters
• Keep lighting in mind
• Be considerate of wildlife
• Try bracketing pictures
• Shoot panoramic photos for a broader perspective