✈️ Flight Plan Creation
Flight plan creation is the process of designing a drone mission to safely, efficiently, and accurately capture the images required for your project. This step combines technical setup with strategic planning to ensure optimal coverage, image quality, and data usability. Key factors include altitude, speed, flight path, image overlap, and camera settings.
The following steps outline the process of creating a flight plan:
🔹 a. Define the Area of Interest
- Project Limits: Outline the target survey area and include a buffer zone (e.g., 15 meters) for complete coverage.
- Traffic Considerations: Identify any areas that may require vehicular or pedestrian traffic control.
🔹 b. Determine Display Zoom Level
Use zoom levels to estimate the required image resolution for viewing or analysis:
| Zoom Level | Resolution (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Zoom 20 | 14.93 cm/pixel |
| Zoom 21 | 7.46 cm/pixel |
| Zoom 22 | 3.73 cm/pixel |
| Zoom 23 | 1.87 cm/pixel |
Note: Resolution varies slightly depending on latitude (closer to the poles = higher distortion).
1.7cm GSD
3.6cm GSD
14.8cm GSD
- Set your Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) to be equal to or better than the desired zoom resolution.
- Each increase in zoom level requires 4× more disk space, with diminishing returns, how much detail do you need.
🔹 c. Set Flight Parameters
Altitude (AGL – Above Ground Level)
- Altitude is calculated from camera specs and desired GSD.
- Higher altitude = fewer images, lower detail.
- Lower altitude = more detail, more images.
Flight Speed & Motion Blur
| Condition | Shutter Speed | Blur @ 12 m/s |
|---|---|---|
| Sunny | 1/2000 sec | ~6 mm |
| Cloudy | 1/725 sec | ~16 mm |
- Motion blur should be less than 1/3 of your GSD.
- For 2.4 cm GSD, limit blur to ~8 mm → Max speed ~6 m/s in cloudy conditions.
Overlap Settings
- Front overlap: Set camera to trigger every 1 second (greater than 80%).
- Side overlap: Typically 50–75%, depending on terrain.
- Linear/corridor projects may desire tighter overlap near centerline (crisper image, more vertical) and more distortion outwards.
- Extra passes may be required for return flights or extended coverage.
Flight Path / Pattern
- Use a grid (lawnmower) pattern for broad coverage.
- Limit each flight to under 25 minutes to leave buffer for safe return.
- Flight line spacing and direction directly impact overlap and efficiency.
🔹 d. Terrain Awareness
- Use a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) or terrain-following mode to maintain a constant AGL over uneven terrain.
- Ensures uniform GSD, prevents exposure issues, and improves accuracy for 3D models.