Saturday Shopping Plaza
Scouting out the shopping plaza before a mapping job.

Nicely done. A steady stream of customers coming and going. What I find strange is the festoons of overhead cables everywhere.

Blériot53 Posted at 3-17 07:06
Nicely done. A steady stream of customers coming and going. What I find strange is the festoons of overhead cables everywhere.

They wanted me to map this location at 65 ft. Which probably would have hit the poles in the area. That's why I manually fly it first to see the height. There are lots of obstacles. It's clear at 85 ft. We have quite a bit of overhead lines all over the place.

BetterBizTech Posted at 3-17 07:26
They wanted me to map this location at 65 ft. Which probably would have hit the poles in the area. That's why I manually fly it first to see the height. There are lots of obstacles. It's clear at 85 ft. We have quite a bit of overhead lines all over the place.

Much of the cabling over here is underground - which is fine aesthetically, but it's a real pain when they have to be dug up again for repairs.

Blériot53 Posted at 3-17 07:33
Much of the cabling over here is underground - which is fine aesthetically, but it's a real pain when they have to be dug up again for repairs.

I guess that's why we still use telephone poles in some places. There must be a formula on when it pays to put the wires underground. Everytime there's a storm that causes repairs I wonder why the utility companies keep them above ground.

Impressive footage Charles.    From an aerial perspective you can quickly tell who knows how to properly park within the lines in their spot and who doesn't.  Great to see all the solar panels in use.

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-18 03:05
Impressive footage Charles.    From an aerial perspective you can quickly tell who knows how to properly park within the lines in their spot and who doesn't.  Great to see all the solar panels in use.

I just scouted the lot to make sure I wasn't going to hit anything at the height. They originally wanted 65 ft. This was at 85 which I was much more comfortable with.

BetterBizTech Posted at 3-18 03:54
I just scouted the lot to make sure I wasn't going to hit anything at the height. They originally wanted 65 ft. This was at 85 which I was much more comfortable with.

Can't blame you for wanting that extra 20 feet of comfort zone.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-18 08:40
Can't blame you for wanting that extra 20 feet of comfort zone.

When it comes to automated flight I get a little nervous. Especially when anon pilot is making the flights.

BetterBizTech Posted at 3-18 10:26
When it comes to automated flight I get a little nervous. Especially when anon pilot is making the flights.

That's when you want to put on a helmet with a dark visor so you can't watch the inevitable crash happen.

I'm very careful about who flies my drones.  The grandkids go to my "ground school" and then have to pass a short flying proficiency test.  Then I observe them closely and go into the settings and set a short max distance and altitude.  So far they've done really well.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-18 11:30
That's when you want to put on a helmet with a dark visor so you can't watch the inevitable crash happen.

I'm very careful about who flies my drones.  The grandkids go to my "ground school" and then have to pass a short flying proficiency test.  Then I observe them closely and go into the settings and set a short max distance and altitude.  So far they've done really well.

The only other person that flies my drone is my visual observer. I give her the easy flights to practice on. I have 23,000 flights on a simulator and about 1,000 flights on DJI drones. I take my flights seriously. Before I take an automated flight I check it against google, then I fly it manually to test the altitude and obstructions.   I may re-write the whole flight myself if I don't like it. Then I'm still nervous.

BetterBizTech Posted at 3-18 14:33
The only other person that flies my drone is my visual observer. I give her the easy flights to practice on. I have 23,000 flights on a simulator and about 1,000 flights on DJI drones. I take my flights seriously. Before I take an automated flight I check it against google, then I fly it manually to test the altitude and obstructions.   I may re-write the whole flight myself if I don't like it. Then I'm still nervous.

I still get a bit nervous when I fly in a new location, even though I have checked it out before flying.  There was this one spot that looked like it had great potential.  No overhead wires and very few trees but a really nice, large pond.  After about seven minutes of flying out of nowhere about a dozen birds came flying and and buzzed very close to my drone.  I ascended quickly and then departed that area.

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-19 02:17
I still get a bit nervous when I fly in a new location, even though I have checked it out before flying.  There was this one spot that looked like it had great potential.  No overhead wires and very few trees but a really nice, large pond.  After about seven minutes of flying out of nowhere about a dozen birds came flying and and buzzed very close to my drone.  I ascended quickly and then departed that area.

You never know what you are going to get in a new location.

BetterBizTech Posted at 3-19 04:26
You never know what you are going to get in a new location.

So very true.  I used to have a pesky hawk that would buzz my drone at take off and landing nearby my boat.  Finally, I had enough and took a little target practice so he is no longer a nuisance.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-19 10:10
So very true.  I used to have a pesky hawk that would buzz my drone at take off and landing nearby my boat.  Finally, I had enough and took a little target practice so he is no longer a nuisance.

Another one bites the dust.

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-19 10:10
So very true.  I used to have a pesky hawk that would buzz my drone at take off and landing nearby my boat.  Finally, I had enough and took a little target practice so he is no longer a nuisance.

I'm a little nervous. I just purchased a Mavic 3E. Decided to take the plunge. I am hoping I can use it for photo and video too.

BetterBizTech Posted at 3-19 12:14
Another one bites the dust.

That reminds me of a song by Queen.

Another one bites the dust
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust (yeah)
Hey, I'm gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust

BetterBizTech Posted at 3-19 12:15
I'm a little nervous. I just purchased a Mavic 3E. Decided to take the plunge. I am hoping I can use it for photo and video too.

Congrats!  That's a beast of a drone.  Fantastic specs.  No doubt you'll put it to use quickly.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-19 14:44
That reminds me of a song by Queen.

Another one bites the dust

He was an amazing artist. Queen was talented.

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-19 14:46
Congrats!  That's a beast of a drone.  Fantastic specs.  No doubt you'll put it to use quickly.

I just got an RFP to do some environmental work along with these commercial parking lot flights. I figured it's spring. I might as well pull the trigger and make it happen. It's a little scary, but that's part of the fun.

BetterBizTech Posted at 3-19 15:49
He was an amazing artist. Queen was talented.

The original lead singer, Freddy Mercury, not only had a spectacular voice but also exhibited quite the flamboyant stage persona.  I saw them perform live in a concert at Wembley Stadium the summer of 1986.  

BetterBizTech Posted at 3-19 15:51
I just got an RFP to do some environmental work along with these commercial parking lot flights. I figured it's spring. I might as well pull the trigger and make it happen. It's a little scary, but that's part of the fun.

I have no doubt you'll be able to do the work without a hitch.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-20 08:09
The original lead singer, Freddy Mercury, not only had a spectacular voice but also exhibited quite the flamboyant stage persona.  I saw them perform live in a concert at Wembley Stadium the summer of 1986.

He knew how to get the audience going. And coming out in those days wasn't easy.

BetterBizTech Posted at 3-20 08:22
He knew how to get the audience going. And coming out in those days wasn't easy.

No doubt about that.  I read that he died shortly after coming out.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-20 08:33
No doubt about that.  I read that he died shortly after coming out.

Eventually he got AIDS. He's a legend

BetterBizTech Posted at 3-20 14:12
Eventually he got AIDS. He's a legend

Yeah, not too many could duplicate his performances.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-21 03:11
Yeah, not too many could duplicate his performances.

Their Bohemian Rhapsody song was amazing.

BetterBizTech Posted at 3-21 03:37
Their Bohemian Rhapsody song was amazing.

I remember that song.  

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality
Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go, little high, little low
Any way the wind blows doesn't really matter to me, to me

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-21 08:56
I remember that song.  

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?

That's the one. a mixture of rock and classical. Probably the first of it;'s kind.

BetterBizTech Posted at 3-21 19:13
That's the one. a mixture of rock and classical. Probably the first of it;'s kind.

It was a bit of a crossover song.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-22 01:56
It was a bit of a crossover song.

I think this song exposed their talent.

BetterBizTech Posted at 3-22 03:32
I think this song exposed their talent.

I believe you are right about that.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-22 13:24
I believe you are right about that.

The mixed opera, classical and rock. Our generation never was exposed to that.

Very nice to see. Especially those sidings in the back.

Montfrooij Posted at 3-25 23:53
Very nice to see. Especially those sidings in the back.

Thank you. Most of the mapping I'm doing now isn't very creative.

BetterBizTech Posted at 3-26 04:07
Thank you. Most of the mapping I'm doing now isn't very creative.

I can see why.
But still, those sidings look great. Not sure if they are still in use.

Montfrooij Posted at 3-26 04:58
I can see why.
But still, those sidings look great. Not sure if they are still in use.

I was racing against the clock to get the map done so I had no time to explore. I may have to shoot it again. will keep you posted.

BetterBizTech Posted at 3-26 04:07
Thank you. Most of the mapping I'm doing now isn't very creative.

That was hard to find, but found it.
https://www.google.com/maps/plac ... F1t_wq8v0?entry=ttu
Siding is no longer in use from the looks of it.

BetterBizTech Posted at 3-26 05:09
I was racing against the clock to get the map done so I had no time to explore. I may have to shoot it again. will keep you posted.

Yeah, battery + agenda....

Montfrooij Posted at 3-26 05:11
That was hard to find, but found it.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Boonton+Cleaners/@40.9089266,-74.3981299,213m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x89c3062397269787:0xcb4b492beb8f0a6a!8m2!3d40.9080968!4d-74.3980472!16s%2Fg%2F1t_wq8v0?entry=ttu
Siding is no longer in use from the looks of it.

That's the place and those are the rails.