UAS and Drone Applications

PhotoModeler is a great measurement tool when the camera platform is an unmanned aircraft system (UAS / UAV / drone). While UAS is not a specific application, this page pulls together a number of application areas in one place.

UAS are ideal for capturing large areas from above, as well as inspecting objects that are high off the ground. Modern UAS are more and more accessible with lowering costs and improving cameras - perfect for aerial photogrammetric measurement that PhotoModeler can provide.

PhotoModeler customers are using quadcopter, hexacopter, and fixed wing UAS from many different manufacturers.

Possible UAS applications with PhotoModeler:

  • Stockpile shape and volume measurement
  • Rock slope survey
  • Accident Scene Mapping and Forensics
  • Geological study
  • Site damage inspection
  • Bridge and roadway inspection
  • Agriculture analysis
  • Property, building and re-development survey
  • Small area topo and contour mapping

In addition the following application pages discuss UAS usage:

UAS blog posts and articles:

Other Examples

  • mining stockpile
  • woodchip pile

This project of a large compost and wood chip operation was completed by a customer using 28 photos taken by a Canon IXUS 220HS carried by a UAS / UAV / drone. This project was processed by PhotoModeler Scanner MVS feature - producing great detail with little user input or work. On the associated Stockpile MVS page you can see these PhotoModeler outputs: an Animation video, an interactive SketchFab model, and some screen shots.