Here’s a handy list of Apps, desktop and web-based software and useful Web sites…  Contact Us if you have any suggestions to add to the list…

MAPPING CAPTURE APPS

The apps are necessary to control the DJI multirotor mapping.  They’re used for developing the flight plan and transmitting it to the DJI multirotor, which will perform an automated takeoff, fly a very precise pattern, capture images at the appropriate point and return for landing.

Map Pilot for DJI (iOS only)

Our Go-To and Favorite Mapping Capture App.  Multiple battery, import .kml files, terrain awareness, solid and reliable…

https://www.dronesmadeeasy.com/Articles.asp?ID=254

Altizure App (iOS and Android)

Controls DJI UAV to capture vertical and oblique photographs. Combining vertical and oblique photographs allows for making more complex 3D models (i.e. building with large overhang). We use this as a backup to Map Pilot for certain situations, primarily in building complex models.

iOS:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/altizure/id1018791616

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.everest.altizure&hl=en

DJI GS (Ground Station) Pro (iOS only)

Works with Phantom 3 Standard/4K/Advanced/Professional, Phantom 4/Pro*, Inspire 1/Inspire 2* Matrice 100/600/600 Pro, A3, N3, and Mavic Pro

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dji-gs-pro/id1183717144?mt=8

Pix4D Capture App

https://pix4d.com/product/pix4dcapture/

iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pix4dcapture/id953486050?mt=8

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pix4d.pix4dmapper&hl=en

Drone Deploy capture app

iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dronedeploy-fast-aerial-data/id971358101?mt=8

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dronedeploy.beta&hl=en

GENERAL FLIGHT PLANNING APPS

These apps help show you where and when it’s safe to fly, by showing restricted areas, weather, sunspot activity and sun angles.

DJI GO

The primary app for controlling DJI aircraft.  We use this app for free flights, updating firmware, changing aircraft settings.  This app needs to be shut down prior to running any other app that controls the aircraft

iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dji-go/id943780750?mt=8

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=dji.pilot&hl=en

B4UFly

An easy-to-use smartphone app that helps unmanned aircraft operators determine whether there are any restrictions or requirements in effect at the location where they want to fly

https://www.faa.gov/uas/where_to_fly/b4ufly/

Hover

(Simple Fly/no-fly indicator for pilots including Real-Time Weather, Fly Zones and Flight Log)

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hover-1-drone-uav-pilot-app!/id947641516?mt=8

UAV Forecast (weather, GPS satellites, solar activity, No-Fly zones)

iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/uav-forecast/id1050023752?mt=8iOS:

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.uavforecast

Dark Sky

Hyper local weather information – with down-to-the-minute forecasts of when the rain will start or stop and up to 10 days of forecast info.

iOS:  https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id517329357?mt=8

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.darksky.darksky&referrer=utm_source%3DDSAppPage

The Photographer’s Ephemeris

Shows sun angles/shadows  for given time and location.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-photographers-ephemeris/id366195670?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

DESKTOP PROCESSING

Pix4D Pro Mapper

This program is at the core of our UAV mapping workflow. It takes the images from any of the capture apps we use and processes them into either final output products, or files to be further processed in either Virtual Surveyor or Global Mapper).  Vertical Aspect is a Pix4D reseller and we offer various levels of training rebates if you purchase through us.

Pix4D Pro Mapper download

https://cloud.pix4d.com/download/

Virtual Surveyor

https://www.virtual-surveyor.com/

Take the output from Pix4D and create terrains in Virtual Surveyor – enabling you to perform the functions of a surveyor at your desktop.  Measure complex volume piles, remove terrain, insert breaklines, generate movies from the 3D model and more…  We liked this one so much we became a reseller.  Contact Us for a demo or to get a coupon code worth up to $175. 

Global Mapper

https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/products/global-mapper.php

The “Swiss Army Knife” program for professional mapping and GIS use.  You’ll need the base program, plus the LIDAR module to manipulate point clouds.

DRONE FLIGHT TRAINING & INFO

FAA Drone Safety Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0dogXd89fs&feature=youtu.be

Flight Training:

How to Fly a Quadcopter https://uavcoach.com/how-to-fly-a-quadcopter-guide/

How to Fly a Drone https://www.jenreviews.com/how-to-fly-a-drone/

DroneSimPro Flight Simulator  https://www.dronesimpro.com/

General Drone Info (Buying guides, battery info, FAA news, etc.) https://www.learningrc.com/

A Guide to Understanding LiPo Batteries https://rogershobbycenter.com/lipoguide/

Battery University (Entire site devoted to learning about batteries) https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/

DRONE INDUSTRY NEWS

Drone Vibes https://www.dronevibes.com/

sUAS News (The Business of Drones) https://www.suasnews.com/

UAV Experts News https://www.uavexpertnews.com/

Commercial UAV News https://www.expouav.com/news/

Drone Life https://dronelife.com/

FAA RELATED

FAA UAS Web Page https://www.faa.gov/uas/

FAA Weather (FlightService 1800wxbrief) https://www.1800wxbrief.com/Website/weatherGraphics;jsessionid=0E6900A970FACF67176280763B42BBDC

FAA – UAS Registration Page https://registermyuas.faa.gov/

Free Part 107 Test Prep https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/fly_for_work_business/becoming_a_pilot/

Commercial Part 107 Online Test Preparation Courses

UAV Gold Seal Ground School https://uavgroundschool.com/

RemotePilot101 https://remotepilot101.com/

Commercial Part 107 Classroom Test Preparation Courses:

Dart Drones https://www.dartdrones.com/part-107-drone-pilot-test-in-person/

INSURANCE

Transport Risk Management (Drone Insurance Broker)

https://www.transportrisk.com/approveduavoperators.html

Verifly (On Demand Drone Insurance) https://verifly.com

LOGBOOKS

Drone Logbook (One-stop Flight log and management solution for the UAV/Drone Industry)

https://www.dronelogbook.com/homePage/index.php

Healthy Drones (Innovative flight data analysis that matters)https://healthydrones.com/

Exmaps – (Your Personal Drone Logbook)https://www.exmaps.com

MAPPING TRAINING ARTICLES

Explanation of Rolling Shutter

https://medium.com/the-science-of-drone-mapping/rolling-shutter-the-drone-mapping-problem-no-one-s-talking-about-138945fe523d#.utjk3qd6a

Tutorial:  Elevation Correction and the Geoid

https://www.unavco.org/education/resources/tutorials-and-handouts/tutorials/elevation-and-geoid.html

Figuring Out Aerial Surveying with a Drone Instead of Arguing About Photogrammetry vs LiDAR

https://www.expouav.com/news/latest/figuring-aerial-surveying-drone-instead-arguing-photogrammetry-vs-lidar/

Article on Ground Control Points

https://trajectorymagazine.com/trajectory-mag/item/1797-ground-control-points.html

VENDORS FOR DJI PRODUCTS

Atlanta Hobby https://www.atlantahobby.com/store/pc/home.asp

B & H Photo https://www.bhphotovideo.com/

DJI Store https://store.dji.com