Photogrammetry Checklists - Aerial - Terrestrial - Processing

Checklists are among the most common and practical tools for organizing and completing tasks. Whether you need to plan a project, prepare for a trip, or remember your daily chores, a checklist can help you stay on track and avoid forgetting anything important. Creating a 3D model from scratch with aerial or terrestrial photogrammetry is a multi-step process that greatly benefits from having a checklist. Let us divide the photogrammetric scanning process into two distinct areas - aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry and make a few high-level checklists that can help you to keep things on track.

Aerial Photogrammetry Checklist

Aerial photogrammetry workflow benefits the most from having a checklist because there are a lot of essential steps that may take little time to do and are easily forgettable until it is too late. What follows is a comprehensive but high-level checklist for all stages before actual data processing.

Before leaving home or office:

• Check the weather forecast for the area and time of flight
• Check the airspace classification and obtain authorization if needed
• Check NOTAMs for any potential hazards or restrictions
• Survey the site using online maps or satellite images
• Check that the mobile app and firmware for all components are up to date
• Check the battery charge on your drone and remote controller
• Insert and check if your memory card is working properly
• If you are using a flight planner, plan your flight in advance if necessary
• Pack all necessary equipment and accessories for you and your drone

Read more:
Weather Conditions for Aerial Photogrammetry

At the site:

• Choose a safe and convenient location for take-off and landing
• Inspect the physical condition of the drone and its propellers
• Check that the camera gimbal is unobstructed and free to move
• Turn on the drone and controller and establish a connection
• Calibrate the compass and IMU if required
• Check that the GPS signal is strong and stable
• Load your planned flight or plan your flight
• Check your camera, RTH, and obstacle avoidance settings
• Take off and land to check for any abnormal behavior

During flight:

• Maintain a visual line of sight with the drone
• Follow local rules and regulations regarding altitude, speed, and distance.
• Avoid flying near people, animals, buildings, power lines, etc.
• Monitor battery level, flight time, telemetry data, etc.
• Monitor your camera behavior and live feed exposure
• Return to home if the battery is drained or something goes wrong

Read more:
Nadir Scanning without Flight Planner
Orbital Scanning without Flight planner

After flight:

• After landing safely, turn off the drone and controller
• Remove the warm battery from the drone
• Store all equipment securely in a case or bag
• Review footage or photos captured by the drone

Additionally, we recommend reviewing the gathered photos on a large screen for critical jobs. This checklist does not encompass other data collection, such as GCPs or scale bars, as these processes deserve lower-level checklists on their own.

Terrestrial Photogrammetry Checklist

Similarly, we present a high checklist for a terrestrial photogrammetric shoot.

Before taking photos:

• Ensure your subject can be physically scanned using photogrammetry
• Clean or otherwise prepare your subject for capture if necessary
• Choose a location that has even and diffuse lighting, or
• Set up your lighting, background, and mounting mechanism
• Clean your camera lens and sensor if necessary
• Set your camera to manual mode and adjust exposure settings
• Choose what autofocus type and technique you will use
• Choose your file format and disable all post-processing filters in the camera
• Take a few test shots to check for any abnormalities

While taking photos:

• Take photos from different angles and distances, covering all sides of the subject
• Overlap each photo by 80% with the previous one, or
• Take orbital-type photos with plenty of coverage on the subject
• Do not move or change anything in the scene between photos
• Zoom in and check photos periodically during the shoot

Read more:
3D Asset Creation With Photogrammetry
Cross Polarization Photogrammetry
Macro Photogrammetry

Data Processing in Pixpro

Finally, we made a short post-capture checklist that explicitly describes a workflow in Pixpro and applies to aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry workflows.

After taking photos:

• Copy your photos to your storage location
• Group your pictures according to your needs and name folders carefully
• Inspect all photo groups for failed images, delete those images
• Convert raw photos to jpegs if necessary
• Create a new Pixpro project, name it, and choose its coordinate system
• Process the 3D structure and Dense point cloud steps, or
• If you are using GCPs - run the 3D structure step only and then add GCPs
• Crop your dense point cloud to your subject only
• Process any additional required layers from a cropped dense point cloud
• Inspect all processed layers and begin data export and analysis.

Read more:
Photogrammetry Fails and Issues Part 1
Photogrammetry Fails and Issues Part 2

Conclusion

You can download and print these checklists and use them in the field or at your workplace. A quick glance at a checklist may save you some headaches afterward. We have all been there when forgetting a memory card or charging the remote controller sets us back hours from completing a task and might even result in missing a window of good weather for aerial photogrammetry. Download the checklists from the drive link below in a convenient printable form: Printable PDF