The actual flight plan refers to the mission you set up in your drone's auto pilot software. A good plan starts with a consistent workflow.
What you need first
- Known accuracy tolerance
- FAA flight restrictions if applicable
- Site layout and any obstacles that might be present
- Intended launch/landing location
- KML / KMZ boundary of your mapping area
- Ground control plan within your boundary
Important Auto Pilot Parameters
- Clearly defined site boundary uploaded to your controller
- Lidar parameters if applicable, including sample rate, return mode, scan pattern
- Overlap
- Flight Altitude
- Terrain Awareness (if elevation change is >1/4 flight altitude)
- Margin (to ensure flight lines expand far enough beyond the boundary and GCPs for rich data)
- flight segmentation settings for large or long linear projects
For many mapping missions, modern autopilot software handles the path generation once the operator outlines the site and sets the key parameters. That makes flight planning easier, but it does not eliminate judgment. The operator still has to decide whether the auto-generated plan adequately covers their area of interest and remains within regulation.
Standardization wins: The planning process should be repeatable and reliable, but the planning outcomes should be project specific.
What to watch for
Long skinny sites, steep topography, busy job sites, tree lines, power infrastructure, and changing surface conditions can all contribute to your input parameters.
Sensor specific parameters for Lidar
Zenmuse L3
L3 Recommended Settings:
- Select "Zenmuse L3" for payload, and select "lidar mapping" This will collect both lidar and photogrammetry data.
Payload Settings:
- Return Mode - Octa
- Sample Rate - Max allowable
- Scan - Non Repeat
General Settings:
- Leave "Calibration Flight" On (the drone will fly a few calibration flight lines prior to beginning the mission.
- Flight Altitude - 300'-400'
- Speed - default OK, can slow it down if needed especially in low light conditions for the photogrammetry sensor
In Advanced Settings:
- Side Overlap - 61% (75% visible)
- Front Overlap - 75%
- Shooting Mode - Distance Interval Shooting
- Adjust course angle as desired
- Margin - 0' (or as desired)
Zenmuse L2
L2 Recommended Settings:
- Select "Zenmuse L2" for payload, and select "lidar mapping" This will collect both lidar and photogrammetry data.
Payload Settings:
In payload settings:
- Return Mode - Penta
- Sample Rate - Max allowable
- Scan - Non Repeat
General Settings:
- Leave "Calibration Flight" On (the drone will fly a few calibration flight lines prior to beginning the mission.
- Flight Altitude - 200'-300'
- Speed - default OK, can slow it down if needed especially in low light conditions for the photogrammetry sensor
In Advanced Settings:
- Side Overlap - 68% (75% visible)
- Front Overlap - 75%
- Shooting Mode - Distance Interval Shooting
- Adjust course angle as desired
- Margin - 0' (or as desired)
General best practices for Photogrammetry
- Single back and forth flight pattern (no crosshatch)
- 75% front and 75% side overlap
- Nadir Imagery only (Straight down, negative 90-degree gimbal angle)
- Fly at least 1 flight line beyond your GCPs and flight boundary