Ask Drone U

Today's show is about using software for mapping the interiors of a building. Our caller for today, Gary is a long-time ADU listener. He just happened to tune in to one of our older shows where we talked about using the Insta 360 for mapping the interiors of a building. So, Gary went ahead and purchased the Insta 360 for his next drone job where he is doing construction progress monitoring for an interior buildout. However, recent updates to a mapping software makes it far easier to use your drone to capture this interior data. Tune in to receive some of the latest and most exciting updates! Enjoy! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [01:30] Today's show is brought to you by our 3D modeling class [02:00] Today's show is about interior 3D modeling [05:28] Now, we have a drone mapping software that allows us to map building interiors [06:34] Why do we at Drone U use Matterport for mapping interiors of a building? [08:00] Taking 360-degree images of a construction site using DroneDeploy

Today's show is about flying drones in National Parks. Back in January, US Filmmaker Gordon Price sued U.S. Attorney General William Barr. The contentious issue was the fees that Gordon had to pay to shoot in a National Park. The outcome of this case left many in the drone industry confused, and wondering if they can or cannot fly in National Parks with the right permits. On today's show, we break down the outcome of this civil court case to reveal what it means for the drone industry. You will learn whether or not this court ruling has reversed the June 2014 memo which prohibited drones from flying in National Parks. In addition to drone photography and videography, we also reveal the impact of this case outcome on still photography and videography. Some of the other questions that we answer on this show: Does this new court ruling affect both Part 107 and recreational pilots? Can drone pilots fly in the wilderness area? What is "low-impact" filming? Is low-impact filming permissible in National Parks? Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [03:35]Can you film in national parks with a photography permit? [05:10]Join us for our 3D interactive modeling class [08:25]Today's question is about flying drones in national parks [09:29]Price vs. Barr - Filmmaker sues the government over "unconstitutional" permit fees [10:10]As per the guidance released by the NPS on Feb 22, filming activities are allowed if you have a permit [12:27]How does this court ruling impact drone pilots and ground photographers? [14:30]Do drones fall under the low-impact filming category? What impact does this ruling have on drone pilots? [16:43]Does this new ruling reverse the June 2014 memo which prohibited drone pilots from flying in National Parks? [19:20]Understanding the "low impact filming" category and all related exceptions; do drones fall in the "low-impact" category? [24:40]What about tethered drones? Can you fly tethered drones over National Parks? [27:55]Can drone pilots legally fly in the wilderness areas? [30:30]Does this new ruling permit videographers to fly in National Parks while prohibiting still photographers/ [32:00]Can you fly your drone over National Parks as long as you take off and land from non-NPS land?

Today's question is about flying the same shot on multiple days and seasons. Our caller for today, Ryan from Indiana is a landscape photographer who has come up with a great question about flying the same shot on multiple days or seasons. Is it possible to get your drone to fly the same path and shoot at the same angles again and again? On today's show, you will learn how to do exactly that using the Litchi app. Additionally, you will also learn how to eliminate variables so that you can get consistent data again and again. Thanks for the great question, Ryan. Fly Safe! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [01:14]Today's question is about flying the same shot on multiple days/seasons [02:38]Flying the same point multiple times using the Litchi App [03:15]Eliminating variables when flying the same shot multiple times [05:07]How to get your drone to flying the same camera path again and again [09:00]Importance of continuous learning

Today's show is about flying drones in areas of heavy interference like NYC. Our caller for today, Guy from NYC has come up with an interesting question. As you may be aware, an old avigation law makes it illegal to fly drones in NYC. However, we might see this archaic law being scrapped shortly. So, Guy is wondering if he can use drones to conduct visual facade inspections of tall buildings. On today's show, you will learn the best and safest drones to fly in areas of heavy interference such as NYC. If you found this show interesting, you might want to check out our detailed blog post, Flying Drones in NYC - Drone Laws Explained Enjoy! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [01:32]Today's question is about flying a drone in areas of heavy interference [03:00]Avoiding over-reliance on technology and learning to fly in manual mode [05:00]Newer crop of drones with powerful range-finders [05:33]Why the Skydio 2 is NOT a safe drone to fly [08:02]Drone U Recommended drones for facade inspections in interference heavy environments [09:25]Would it be a good use of DJI's new FPV drone for visual inspections? [10:00]Flying the Phantom with prop guards [10:20]Is it legal to fly a drone in NYC? ?????

Today's show is about marketing a new drone business. Our caller for today, Ian is all of 16, and he just got his Part 107 license. Like most drone pilots, Ian wishes to start off with real estate before moving on to more complicated (and lucrative) jobs. But, he is finding himself discouraged by the intense competition. How can Ian make a dent in a marketplace dotted with older, far more experienced pilots? And how can he come up with a great and irresistible offer? Drawing from their considerable experience, Rob and Paul share some nuanced tips to help Ian out. Among other things, you will learn how to leverage autonomous systems to massively scale up your business. You will also get some branding tips so that you can showcase your skills in the right way. Thanks for the great question, Ian. Fly Safe! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [02:04]Our sponsor for today is our new sales class [05:37]Today's question is about starting young and marketing a new drone business [07:02]How can you get people to trust you when you are young? [08:20]Coming up with your own unique mechanism to stand out in a crowded market space [11:03]How have some drone pilots drastically scaled up their business in the wake of covid? [12:05]How can you provide more value and greater convenience to your customers? [13:26]Two growth areas that you should be exploring right now [14:40]Marketing yourself the right way [16:40]Can you get more drone jobs if you fly FPV? [17:35]With the massive stimulus, is the construction industry set for a boom? [17:47]Creating autonomous systems for attaining massive scale [19:27]Check out our comprehensive Business Class for some detailed insights [21:08]Do you have a good website that showcases your skills? ??????

Today's show is about drone mapping software and acquisition strategies. Our caller for today, Bob has come up with a great follow-up question today. Bob listened to our previous show, "Which Pix4D Version Should I Use for Mapping a Roof?" And he has some in-depth questions about mapping software and acquisition strategies. Specifically, how can you prevent jagged lines in drone models? Can the use of manual tie-points help you create better-looking models? On today's show, you will learn that your acquisition strategy is program-dependent. We discuss different mapping software like Drone Deploy, Pix4D Mapper, and Pix4D React. And reveal our preferred acquisition strategy for each software. If you are a professional mapper looking to up your game, today's show will be particularly interesting to you. Enjoy! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [02:02]Today's show is brought to you by PROPS and our Mapping Bootcamp [04:26]Today's question is about creating lifelike and beautiful drone models [07:11]Is your acquisition method program-dependent? [07:47]What is the recommended acquisition strategy for Pix4D React? [09:42]Choosing the right processing template and how it impacts your map quality [12:10]Using MTP's for combining data sets of two separate projects [14:20]Why aligning rather than merging datasets is preferable [15:15]Why consistent white balance is important for creating MTP's [16:40]Are there any processing engines that do not require MTP's? [18:40]Can you create an accurate 3D model using cloud-based software like DroneDeploy? ?????

Today's question is about free drone mapping software. Our caller, Ken from NJ wants to get into drone mapping. And while he wants to improve his mapping skills, understandably, he does not want to spend hundreds of dollars after mapping software right now. So, are there any free mapping software that Ken can use as a practice tool? On today's show, we discuss different options like Open Drone Map, Capture Reality, and even Pix4D and Drone Deploy. This show will be particularly useful for those who are contemplating getting into the lucrative mapping industry. Enjoy!   Resources: Drone Mapping Guide - https://learning.thedroneu.com/what-is-drone-mapping-software/?v=1 Free Drone Map - https://www.opendronemap.org/ Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [02:10]Today's show is brought to you by Drone U's Mapping Bootcamp [03:22]Today's question is about free mapping software [04:37]Drone U Recommended free mapping software to help you get started [05:47]What are the capabilities of Capture Reality's free software? [06:34]Hone your mapping skills by getting a free two week trial with Pix4D Mapper or Drone Deploy [12:35]Watch out for our next show where we shall be talking about DJI's FPV Drone   ?????

Today's show is about the DJI Mavic Air 2. Can you build a long-term, profitable business with this entry-level DJI drone? Our caller for today, John is a new drone pilot who has recently invested in the DJI Mavic Mini 2. John is facing buyer's remorse as he feels that he should have gone for a more powerful, sophisticated drone instead. While he was looking for a commercially viable option, he is worried that he has wasted his money after a "toy". Has John made a wrong purchase? Can he carve out a place in the marketplace when there are other pilots flying more powerful drones like the Mavic 2 Pro, Phantom, and Inspire?  Tune in to find out. Thanks for the great question, John. Fly Safe! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [01:24]Toy or tool - how do you treat your drone? [03:00]Is the DJI Mavic Mini 2 a good option for Part 107 pilots? [04:13]Today's show is made to you by our newest drone program, PROPS [06:15]Today's question is about the DJI Mavic Air 2? [08:35]Can you build a profitable drone business with great skills but an inferior drone? [09:09]Is the DJI Mavic Air 2 a good drone for shooting real estate videos? [10:06]Mavic 2 Pro vs. Mavic 2 Air - how do they compare? [10:52]What are some of the disadvantages of owning entry-level DJI drones like the Mavic Air 2 or Mavic Mini 2? [11:50]Can you shoot smooth cinematic shots with an entry-level drone? [12:41]So, is the DJI Mavic Air 2 a commercially viable drone? [14:10]Why Paul still swears by the Phantom 4 Pro [16:07]Can you build your business with just an iPhone and Osmo? ????

Today we compare different drone mapping software and reveal the most accurate option so that you can avoid any legal liabilities. Our caller for Trav is from Australia and has a question about drone mapping. And specifically, drone mapping software. Trav wants to know which processing software can produce the most accurate drone maps so that he avoid any legal liabilities. Great question, Trav. This question is particularly relevant to drone uses like surveying. More and more drone pilots are getting into trouble with Surveying Boards when they don't follow the right systems and workflows. On today's show, while we recommend the best mapping software option for Trav, we also reveal some best practices so that you can avoid human error, inaccuracies, and the ensuing legal liabilities. Thanks for the great question. Fly Safe! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [01:28]How will DJI's new FPV drone impact the drone industry as a whole? [04:39]Following the right systems and workflows for avoiding legal liabilities [07:33]Today's question is about drone mapping accuracy [10:47]Accurate drone maps are a function of mapping engines and human skills [12:25]The correct way to mark a GCP [15:00]Understanding GSD [17:36]As per statistical research, which is the most accurate processing engine [20:09]Why it is imperative to zoom in when marking GCP's [21:06]Understanding ellipsoid error and how to minimize it [23:10]Which is the most popular point cloud constructor? [23:10]Is Drone Deploy more accurate than Pix4D when it comes to building orthomosaics? [23:54]Pix4D Desktop vs. Pix4D Cloud - which is the best option for generating accurate drone maps? [24:39]Why are so many drone pilots getting into trouble with the Board of Surveyors? [31:55]Some more tips for generating accurate drone maps ????

Today's show is about flying at night without a waiver. Our caller for today, Bob has called in with an extremely relevant question today. Bob's question is about flying at night without a waiver. With daylight waiver to fly at night all set to become history, is there any benefit to applying for a Wide Area Authorization? Additionally, he is also wondering about the procedure to fly in controlled airspace near an airport that is not LAANC-enabled. With the recent changes to Part 107, drone pilots shall soon be able to fly without a waiver. On today's show, you will receive some latest information and expert tips so that you can legally fly at night without a waiver. Part 107 pilots will also get some great value from the latter half of the show where Paul reveals how you can capture data in a zero grid area even when you don't have the necessary permission to fly. We also discuss if it is possible for pilots to get the necessary flight permissions and operate profitable drone businesses in cities like Las Vegas and New York. Thanks for the great question, Bob. Fly Safe! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [03:07]Today's show is brought to you by our Mini Landing Pads and our all-new PROPS Flight School [08:57]Today's question is about flying at night without a waiver [10:53]How to get Wide Area Authorization in LAANC-enabled airports [12:09]New Part 107 Drone Rule changes eliminating night-time waivers [12:55]Expert tips to help you get your night-time waiver approved [15:29]Controlled airspace leading to non-compliance and illegal flights in Vegas [18:33]Getting the necessary flight permissions by building relationships with the ATC [22:10]Can you get permission to fly in a zero grid area? [23:13]Hacks to legally capture data in a zero grid area even if you don't get the necessary permissions to fly [24:47]Holding the FAA accountable - With airspace approvals being so difficult, what can drone pilots possibly do? ???