Complete surveying and mapping projects can be with drones.
Practical difficulties faced currently in India:
- Unrealistic pricing, competition and under quoting
Since most of the surveyors are usually subcontractors to some engineering consultant, there is scope for under quoting by the surveyor or the main consultant which results in poor quality of work.
- Increase in the surveyor’s scope of work
To save time and cost, clients prefer a single agency to undertake all the pre-construction activities like survey, related investigations, securing the boundary, pre engineering services like geotechnical, geological & hydrological investigations, site grading, access roads, sourcing water, environmental clearance etc. Survey of underground buried utilities, meteorological data etc., are also included in the surveyor’s work scope. The above requirements demand a high level of multi-tasking and multi skill set.
- Local opposition at site while surveying
This is a growing problem and can be quite serious. Usually the locals are agitated when a survey is carried out that may involve the acquisition of the locals’ land. This puts the surveyor at risk of physical assault by the locals and loss or damage to expensive surveying equipment.
- Usage of age old technologies
Surveying was confined to basic theodolite, plane table, sight rule and levels followed by manual drafting. It was gradually replaced by electronic distant measuring devices (EDMs) followed by low order Total Stations and GPS with limited range of focus, storage capacity, battery backup, accuracy etc.
The benefits of drone deployment into surveying:
The usage of Drones are rapidly expanding as it can vastly reduce the time spent on projects by collecting accurate surveying data in a much shorter timeframe. Because of this, their ROI (return of investment) is considerable.Drones also eliminate the need for humans to physical access to reach dangerous terrain. To put it simply, this technology makes companies more efficient, profitable, and safe.
- Reduce field time and survey costs
Capturing topographic data with a drone is more faster than land-based methods and requires less man power. You ultimately deliver your survey results faster and at a lower cost.
- Provide accurate and exhaustive data
Total stations only measure individual points. One drone flight produces thousands of measurements, which can be represented in different formats (orthomosaic, point cloud, DTM, DSM, contour lines, etc.). Each pixel of the produced map or point of the 3D model contains 3D geo-data.
- Provides real-time maps:
The aerial maps created by drones can be used for real-time mapping like distance between two points, Particular area measurement, elevation slope, surface area and actual area of the selected field.