I am wondering what the capabilities of thie Mavic 3E to create double grids from DJI apps or other third party apps for flight plans necessary for 3D Modeling. I usually use Pix4D Capture as the flight aquisition app previously with a Phantom 4 Pro, but currently it is not supported due to specifications DJI has not released.  This is a huge need for our high accuracy volumetric surveys and I want to make sure I can replace the P4P with something with the same capabilities.

High accuracy with P4P? You mean P4R or I imagine you are using GCPs.  

If P4P the result should be better in terms of positioning with the M3E + RTK module + NTRIP or PPK.  
If P4R no significant difference.

In terms of image quality it should be very close to P4P.  

Double grid, with UGCS you can create it on a computer then import it into Pilot2.

We used just the Phantom 4 Pro (P4P) with GCPs by using a high accuracy GPS to get those locations. Then we used Pix4D Capture to create our flight plan.

What is UGCS? Do you know if there is anyway to create the double grid right on the smart controller?

UAV_1976 Posted at 3-13 10:42
We used just the Phantom 4 Pro (P4P) with GCPs by using a high accuracy GPS to get those locations. Then we used Pix4D Capture to create our flight plan.

What is UGCS? Do you know if there is anyway to create the double grid right on the smart controller?

UGCS is a flight planner.

Apart from creating two flight plans 90 degrees apart.  No, there is no double grid option in pilot 2.

On the other hand, there are oblique missions made to increase the precision of 3d models.  Which include two double grid.

I see. Seems like quite an expensive flight planner when Pix4D offers one for free.

Do you know if an orthomosaic can be created from the oblique image double grid?

UAV_1976 Posted at 3-13 12:25
I see. Seems like quite an expensive flight planner when Pix4D offers one for free.

Do you know if an orthomosaic can be created from the oblique image double grid?

You can use UGCS indefinitely for free.  
You have to create an account with a hotmail address.  Then you buy a version with your credit card.  This will open 14 days trial.  You click on cancel the subscription before the end of the 14 days, so no amount will be charged to your credit card.  
You can start over as many times as you want with a different email address, and with the same credit card.  

They've raised their prices a lot recently and they've become a bit like DJI.  They easily tend to ignore you when you send them emails for various questions. Its sad !

The Enterprise and Expert versions are not very useful.  The best is the PRO version (the cheapest).  More than enough for the M3E.

But the features make it still worth having.

DroneDeploy is well on its way to supporting RTK if it hasn't already.  This may be a way to explore.

Yes you can make an ortho mosaic from smart oblique.

LV_Forestry Posted at 3-13 12:37
You can use UGCS indefinitely for free.  
You have to create an account with a hotmail address.  Then you buy a version with your credit card.  This will open 14 days trial.  You click on cancel the subscription before the end of the 14 days, so no amount will be charged to your credit card.  
You can start over as many times as you want with a different email address, and with the same credit card.  

I see. Thanks for the advice. I will give Oblique a chance and go with the DJI Mavic 3E.

For what you need there is only one drone fully integrated: Evo 2 Ent. from Autel.

Geo_Drone Posted at 3-22 23:15
For what you need there is only one drone fully integrated: Evo 2 Ent. from Autel.

Can you elaborate a bit more? What's different about it? Do you have any datasets to share with us?

LV_Forestry Posted at 3-22 23:34
Can you elaborate a bit more? What's different about it? Do you have any datasets to share with us?

Autel have a long history in mapping, being fully integrated in all mapping software. Pix4D fully support it.
You have multiple options for passing through, also settings for precision and quality, the software is adjusting by itself the passes needed...
Also if remains without juice, is making RTH, you change the batt and is resuming from the point left, giving you an infinite surface for mapping.
Not to mention some special modes for flying that DJI does not have that gives you an easy work (point and fly...will fly to the point touched on screen, and so on).
If you do not need centimeter precision, you can try Autel Evo2Pro, have same advantages and is around 1300-1500 euro/usd at this point as second hand without many flights...will also give you an accuracy that we have tested to be around 3cm, that is more than good.
Search it on Youtube...there is some videos with it.
For mapping Autel is my 1st choice....for cinematic footage DJI Mavic 3 is my 1st choice.
Cheers.

Geo_Drone Posted at 3-23 05:34
Autel have a long history in mapping, being fully integrated in all mapping software. Pix4D fully support it.
You have multiple options for passing through, also settings for precision and quality, the software is adjusting by itself the passes needed...
Also if remains without juice, is making RTH, you change the batt and is resuming from the point left, giving you an infinite surface for mapping.

Thank you for this description.  I don't see any additional features or advantages over a DJI drone.  

What about after-sales service?  With DJI, the repair takes a some 15 days and during this time the local seller often lends replacement equipment.

I'm curious how to get 3cm with a non RTK/PPK drone.  Can you share a dataset?  $1500 for 3cm, I'm very interested.

LV_Forestry Posted at 3-23 06:10
Thank you for this description.  I don't see any additional features or advantages over a DJI drone.  

What about after-sales service?  With DJI, the repair takes a some 15 days and during this time the local seller often lends replacement equipment.

After sales in EU is slow, in USA is fine.
From 15 x Evo2Pro, only 1 had issues in 3 years...is strong built...I cannot say the same on DJI, starting A2S I have exchanged every model at least 2 times in 6 months, the record is at Mini3Pro with 7 exchanges.
Main advantage is that the drone is built for mapping, all is optimized. Also the sensor quality is optimized for sharpness and low light.
Probably depends on each person how is used...For me Mapping=Autel, Commercials = DJI.

Geo_Drone Posted at 3-23 23:13
After sales in EU is slow, in USA is fine.
From 15 x Evo2Pro, only 1 had issues in 3 years...is strong built...I cannot say the same on DJI, starting A2S I have exchanged every model at least 2 times in 6 months, the record is at Mini3Pro with 7 exchanges.
Main advantage is that the drone is built for mapping, all is optimized. Also the sensor quality is optimized for sharpness and low light.

I'm a bit puzzled by all the numbers you're posting.  3cm, 7 repairs...

The OP wants to make precision volumetric measurements.  There is no miracle, you either need a drone with RTK/PPK, M3E or Autel with RTK receiver.  

Or consumer drones with the possibility of planning mapping, so especially not the M3 for the moment, and you also need a maximum of GCP.

LV_Forestry Posted at 3-24 02:51
I'm a bit puzzled by all the numbers you're posting.  3cm, 7 repairs...

The OP wants to make precision volumetric measurements.  There is no miracle, you either need a drone with RTK/PPK, M3E or Autel with RTK receiver.  

Will work if you put cross pass on E2P.
We have built maps and 3D models for oil pipes on terrain, were perfect. Also you have the adjustments that are made using GCP's.

Mini3 was for some commercial works inside city, had issues with fog, only the 7th worked fine.

RTK can be used for under cm precision, but this is only for some projects that require extreme precision. Also RTK station is required and adds a lot at costs.

I usually use Pix4D Capture as the flight aquisition app previously with a Phantom 4 Pro, but currently it is not supported due to specifications DJI has not released.  
The Mavic 3E is listed as one of the supported drones for DroneDeploy.

Geo_Drone Posted at 3-27 03:12
Will work if you put cross pass on E2P.
We have built maps and 3D models for oil pipes on terrain, were perfect. Also you have the adjustments that are made using GCP's.

I think above all you are a baby topographer and you have no idea how to go about it.  

Wanting to give advice is good, but it's even better to go through the learning process first.

I recommend that you go read this to introduce you to what RTK is, and on the cheap:
https://forum.dji.com/thread-285647-1-1.html

With this you can certainly reach 3cm.  Below the centimeter you should not dream anyway.

I'm willing to believe you can reach 3cm with an Autel drone not equipped with RTK, but I want to see the dataset.

As Labroides showed you, it seems that you don't know a lot about the enterprise range and these third party options.

Don't see anything offensive in this, but please limit the misinformation.  There are many beginners who come to the forum, the idea is to provide the most honest information according to demand of everyone.  

No, Autel is not a miracle solution to all the shortcomings of the M3 consumer.

Why not just try using smart oblique mission setting with the inbuilt DJI Pilot 2 and see if it meets your needs?  PIX4D capture isn't yet compatible but others are such as DroneDeploy and Map Pilot are which support that type of double grid flight.

LV_Forestry Posted at 3-27 09:30
I think above all you are a baby topographer and you have no idea how to go about it.  

Wanting to give advice is good, but it's even better to go through the learning process first.

I work in mapping with 13 drones Evo 2Pro & Enterprise.
I talk exactly in knowledge of what you can do...
And I know how RTK works, how GCP is used for correcting the errors on mapping and how to work with base stations as we have them.
And with base station you can reach 1cm error in cross mode, also in cross model mapping and using 2 GCP for correction you reach 3cm accuracy....

Is only a matter of how much accuracy you need and how much time you have...in most cases, even 10cm is OK and you can stay on base mapping...but when you have to map oil ducts, you will need this accuracy and need cross mapping...at inspections we use ground stations RTK's for cm accuracy, can be easily achieved but you will need 3 x time for that area mapping.

I cannot post models as all are commercial under contracts with oil companies, would cost us our relation with them to post it.

Cheers.

Geo_Drone Posted at 3-27 23:55
I work in mapping with 13 drones Evo 2Pro & Enterprise.
I talk exactly in knowledge of what you can do...
And I know how RTK works, how GCP is used for correcting the errors on mapping and how to work with base stations as we have them.

LV_Forestry Posted at 3-28 01:19
[view_image]

I told in forum what is the capability of Autel and precision that can be achieved.
So he can see each variable and decide what is the "high accuracy needed".

You will be surprised to see that at some projects "high accuracy" means <=10cm and not centimeter precision.

Geo_Drone Posted at 3-28 02:28
I told in forum what is the capability of Autel and precision that can be achieved.
So he can see each variable and decide what is the "high accuracy needed".

I invite you to do the survey of a stockpile of what you want, sand, wood... change the position or the resolution of 10cm, you will form your own opinion.

Here the OP is talking about volumetric measurements, not oil pipes. Do not confuse precision with accuracy with GSD.

LV_Forestry Posted at 3-28 03:05
I invite you to do the survey of a stockpile of what you want, sand, wood... change the position or the resolution of 10cm, you will form your own opinion.

Here the OP is talking about volumetric measurements, not oil pipes. Do not confuse precision with accuracy with GSD.

For this I told you, in double cross pass you can achieve 3cm error in measurement, as I have talked about measurements and not CM/PX.

Also if you fly lower, you will get also a better cm/px ratio, having a boost in details.

GSD formula is simple, as you have a 20MPx on E2P, results will be very good. Actually at flights at around 80m high you can achieve 1.17cm/px GSD and can be improved as you fly lower (0.40 cm/px at around 30m high)...
Also you have possibility of double grid and gimbal angle that will give a boost in 3D perspective quality.

Rectangular Dual Grid will have the best result in 3D model of scene.