Economics of Mapping Using Small Manned and
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Orrin H. Thomas, Charlie E. Smith, and Benjamin E. Wilkinson
Abstract
Specific professional bids to perform aerial data collection
using large manned aerial vehicles (
LMAV
), small manned
aerial vehicles (
SMAV
), and small unmanned aerial systems
(
UAS
) were used to generate general bid models. From these
bid models, it was determined what collection methods were
competitive for particular jobs based on the project area,
distance from the airport or office, and the modeled bids from
competing methods. This approach is followed by a discus-
sion of each platform’s limitations and versatility. Results
indicate that
UAS
and
SMAV
and can compete efficiently on
aerial photogrammetric mapping up to at least 1,000 acres
when the equipment gets enough usage. It is conjectured that
this methodology will exert significant downward pressure on
the cost of high-end sensors.
Introduction
The overarching goal of this investigation was to determine
if aerial data collection companies can collect data more
economically using small unmanned aerial systems (
UAS
) or
small manned aerial vehicles (
SMAV
) instead of large manned
aerial vehicles (
LMAV
).
It is important to note that this investi-
gation endeavors to compare bids, i.e., not necessarily costs.
For
LMAV
, the modeling is a parameter fit to bids solicited
from three professional aerial mapping firms with decades of
experience. Bids for newer collection methods (e.g., various
UAS
configurations) and proposed collection methods (e.g.,
single engine Cessna and small helicopters) were prepared
based on estimated costs, usage rates. Requests for proposals
were prepared for nine sites. All of them were to be mapped
with no larger than a 0.3 foot
GSD
to collect 1.0-foot contours,
vector features, produce orthophotos, and possibly do volume
calculations. The proceeding requirements were chosen
because they are typical for
LMAV
operations. Hence, there
is a market where
UAS
could gain a share. Also, it has been
demonstrated that
UAS
currently in use can achieve
ASPRS
accuracy specification for 1-foot contours (David Day, 2016).
The nine projects were:
• “Palm Coast”: a two-mile route survey along a major
commercial street.
• “Jacksonville”: a 25-acre parking lot near a professional
sports stadium.
• “Tomoka”: a 620-acre L-shaped area of undeveloped
land.
• “Sarasota”: a 630-acre square area of farmland.
• Five quarries:
−− “Buchanan”: a 270-acre rectangle.
−− “Doswell”: a 450-acre T-Shaped area.
−− “Rocky Point”: a 250-acre oval area.
−− “Strasburg”: an 1150-acre irregular shape.
−− “Winchester”: a 630-acre rectangle.
The first four projects are located in central and northern Flor-
ida. The five quarries are located in northern Virginia. Of these
nine sites, seven were real jobs, and the remaining two (Palm
Coast and Sarasota) were hypothetical, but representative of
realistic projects. Of the seven real bids, six were won by one
of the professionals who prepared bids for this study. The firm
was awarded the quarry work for three consecutive years.
When bids were requested from the professionals, they
were given the option to create similar hypothetical sites to
bid or provide similar bids they had already prepared. One
prepared bids for all nine of these specific sites, and another
prepared bids for the five quarries and then chose four of their
own hypothetical sites to bid (referred to as “Cumberland,”
“Goshen,” “Lynchburg,” and “Richmond”). The last prepared
bids for all nine specific sites and then on nine additional
sites closer to their base of operations to provide bids for proj-
ects within the same distance range as the other companies.
Interviews with
SUAS
,
SMAV
, and
LMAV
pilots were used to
estimate some of the costs and flying times. The rotary wing
UAS
used for the bidding was also assembled and tested by
the Mapping Resource Group (
MRG
), a mapping company
owned by one of the authors.
The Aerial Collection Platforms
The
LMAV
data collection platforms varied, but are generally
twin engine aircraft with 18 to 24 inch camera holes. The
companies were instructed to bid the jobs as inexpensively as
possible while meeting the design criteria. Two firms chose
to use film (presumably because the film cameras were paid
off years ago and had less overhead). These aerial cameras
used 9 by 9-inch film and a nearly distortionless lenses. When
scanned, the film images range from 250 to 400 megapixels
(depending and the scanning resolution). The other company
used a DMCII-140; a 140 megapixel camera with a modern
global navigation satellite system (
GNSS
) and inertial naviga-
tion system (
INS
) unit.
The representative for the rotatory wing class of
UAS
was a
DJI
S900 airframe (six rotors) with a Pixhawk PX4 flight con-
troller. The payload used was a Sony A7RII 42.4 megapixel
camera equipped with a Nikkor 28 mm lens on a three-axis
stabilized mount (total payload weight 5.1 pounds). Hereafter
this payload/platform is referred to as “the
DJI
.” This configu-
ration was assembled and tested. The maximum unloaded
ascent speed is 10 feet per second. The maximum flight speed
is 60 feet per second. The whole system was constructed for
about $10,000 USD.
Orrin H. Thomas is with Cardinal Systems, Inc., 701 N.
Oceanshore Blvd., Flager Beach, FL. 32136 (
).
Charlie E. Smith (deceased) was with Resource Mapping
Group, 701 N. Oceanshore Blvd., Flager Beach, FL. 32136.
Benjamin E. Wilkinson is with the University of Florida, P.O.
Box 110565, University of Florida, Gainsville, FL 32611.
Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing
Vol. 83, No. 8, August 2017, pp. 581–591.
0099-1112/17/581–591
© 2017 American Society for Photogrammetry
and Remote Sensing
doi: 10.14358/PERS.83.8.581
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING
August 2017
581
