The general components needed for mapping are:
- Drone (UAV) – fixed wing or multirotor
- Mapping Flight Planning software (controls drone in capturing numerous images with proper overlap)
- Most multirotors use either as an iOS or Android app (e.g. Pix4D capture app, Map Pilot for DJI (our favorite) or Drone Deploy)
- Fixed wings tend to use a Windows program through a laptop or tablet
- Post-Processing Software (where the heavy lifting is done – takes the images and provides the various output products)
- Desktop (e.g. Pix4D or AgiSoft Photoscan) or,
- Online Processing (Drone Deploy or Maps Made Easy)
- Optional Additional Software (such as Virtual Surveyor or Global Mapper)