Documenting a construction project

[WahooBadger]

A nonprofit animal sanctuary where I volunteer has begun a project to provide better housing for the dogs that reside there. Over the next few months, I will be providing drone coverage of the process with stills and video. I would like to be able to position my drone - Mavic 2 Zoom - at a designated spot once on every mission to so I can put together at the end a start to finish series of photos taken from the same overhead position. The only way I can think of to do this would be to save a single point waypoint mission with a single point of interest, and have the drone take a photo when it reaches the waypoint. Since the actual building will be changing as construction takes place, I'm guessing the point of interest would have to be something that will NOT change, but will allow the construction project to always be in the field of view of the camera.

Ideas/thoughts appreciated. I am 107 certified. Photo from a couple days ago after site was leveled for footers etc.

 

[hank970]

If there's any risk that construction activity on one part of the structure could obscure the drone's view of progress on other parts, then you might want to consider more than one vantage point.

 

[WahooBadger]

If there's any risk that construction activity on one part of the structure could obscure the drone's view of progress on other parts, then you might want to consider more than one vantage point.

I thought about that after I wrote the post, and will do two or three waypoints. If I have one waypoint, can I fly to it and then point the drone directly to the site and shoot photos manually? I've only used waypoints where the drone would take photos at points of interest, or take video while flying the route. The manual was no help on this topic.

 

[DJ Wes]

The only way I can think of to do this would be to save a single point waypoint mission with a single point of interest, and have the drone take a photo when it reaches the waypoint.

I'm pretty sure the minimum number of waypoints in a mission is two. I know this is a requirement for Litchi. It is also most likely a requirement for a native DJI Go 4 mission as well. In any case, all you would need to do is to create two non-coincidental waypoints with the second one having a "take photo" action.

Since the actual building will be changing as construction takes place, I'm guessing the point of interest would have to be something that will NOT change, but will allow the construction project to always be in the field of view of the camera.

By definition, a POI, as they are used in waypoint missions, are static. They are defined by latitude, longitude, and height. You will want to make sure the site is framed with sufficient space around, below, and above the project. No two waypoint missions are flown with precisely the same parameters (there is always some error). Therefore, you will be required to apply offsets in post if it is desired to have the photos show exactly the same position when completed.

I thought about that after I wrote the post, and will do two or three waypoints.

While you could set this up manually, I have a Litchi utility created exactly for this type of project. It is called a "Cardinal Directions Photo Mission". Of course, it would require that Litchi be used instead of Go 4.

Litchi Mission Utilities

Wes Barris

www.litchiutilities.com

 

[Felix le Chat]

A nonprofit animal sanctuary where I volunteer has begun a project to provide better housing for the dogs that reside there. Over the next few months, I will be providing drone coverage of the process with stills and video. I would like to be able to position my drone - Mavic 2 Zoom - at a designated spot once on every mission to so I can put together at the end a start to finish series of photos taken from the same overhead position. The only way I can think of to do this would be to save a single point waypoint mission with a single point of interest, and have the drone take a photo when it reaches the waypoint. Since the actual building will be changing as construction takes place, I'm guessing the point of interest would have to be something that will NOT change, but will allow the construction project to always be in the field of view of the camera.

Ideas/thoughts appreciated. I am 107 certified. Photo from a couple days ago after site was leveled for footers etc.

Old school solution, to save the head scratching. Spray a series of small circles on the grass around the site, however many will cover all the angles you want to shoot

When you want to update the photo sequence: place drone on your GCP (the sprayed spot). Take off in a straight vertical ascent to your predetermined altitude, yaw around to the correct orientation and take your shot.

Rinse & repeat as many times as you need.

K.I.S.... Keep It Simple.

 

[WahooBadger]

Old school solution, to save the head scratching. Spray a series of small circles on the grass around the site, however many will cover all the angles you want to shoot

When you want to update the photo sequence: place drone on your GCP (the sprayed spot). Take off in a straight vertical ascent to your predetermined altitude, yaw around to the correct orientation and take your shot.

Rinse & repeat as many times as you need.

K.I.S.... Keep It Simple.

That is a great idea, that's why I love this Mavic pilots group. I'm going to the site tomorrow and will scope out some likely locations, find an altitude. that will work, and be ready when the next phase of construction gets under way. Thanks.

 

[Felix le Chat]

That is a great idea, that's why I love this Mavic pilots group. I'm going to the site tomorrow and will scope out some likely locations, find an altitude. that will work, and be ready when the next phase of construction gets under way. Thanks.

You're welcome. This is a strategy that works. Used it numerous times documenting the different stages of archaeological digs.

Another good trick is shooting nadir manual pano's of a site ('top down' shots with a minimum of 30% overlap) then running the sequence through a Pano stitcher like ICE or Autopano Giga.

 

[WahooBadger]

I'm pretty sure the minimum number of waypoints in a mission is two. I know this is a requirement for Litchi. It is also most likely a requirement for a native DJI Go 4 mission as well. In any case, all you would need to do is to create two non-coincidental waypoints with the second one having a "take photo" action.


By definition, a POI, as they are used in waypoint missions, are static. They are defined by latitude, longitude, and height. You will want to make sure the site is framed with sufficient space around, below, and above the project. No two waypoint missions are flown with precisely the same parameters (there is always some error). Therefore, you will be required to apply offsets in post if it is desired to have the photos show exactly the same position when completed.


While you could set this up manually, I have a Litchi utility created exactly for this type of project. It is called a "Cardinal Directions Photo Mission". Of course, it would require that Litchi be used instead of Go 4.

Litchi Mission Utilities

Wes Barris

www.litchiutilities.com

I've been thinking about trying Litchi. Is it relatively easy to set up, and/or are there some good tutorials to guide the way?

 

[jvhooser]

If the site has a small footprint, I use Litchi and pre plan an orbit centered on the construction site. This allows me to repeat the orbit each time I fly, and collect both video and interval stills at 2 second intervals.
I work for a bridge construction company and this works great for small bridges, larger bridges I will create a save a waypoint mission to orbit in an oval to cover the area.

 

[JC in New Hampshire]

I'm using Litchi for just such a project right now. My Litchi mission has seven waypoints.

First a waypoint near the launch point in the middle of an area free of trees. Then straight up to an altitude higher than the tree canopy. From there I can cruise from place to place without fear of tree disasters. Then back to the middle of the tree-free area and vertical descent to about 20 ft. Instead of RTH I have the mission end with hovering at the last waypoint so I can manually fly it to me for a hand catch, necessary in snow or dug up terrain.

Most of my picture waypoints have their own camera focus "POI" chosen not for the structure, but for the best framed photo including composure, skyline, waterfront, etc. You can adjust the POIs for both lat/lon and, significantly, altitude too.

I hoped to stitch the photos from a single mission waypoint over time into a time lapse video. It works, but due to wind buffeting of the camera, small GPS errors and such, the video is very "jumpy" Never the less the client is pleased and impressed.