Subsequent up in our “Ask Drone Woman” collection is a multi-part query about GIS programs, getting a job in mapping and DJI’s future within the U.S. You probably have a query for Drone Woman, contact her right here.
I’m a metropolis planner with 18 years of expertise and a background in GIS (although it’s been some time since I used it closely). I not too long ago bought a refurbished DJI Mini 3 to study to fly with out breaking the financial institution if I dunk it in water. My purpose is to maneuver into drone work as a non-public contractor or worker, and I plan to get my Half 107 this summer time. I’ve just a few questions:
- Is there a web based GIS, drone mapping, or photogrammetry program you’d advocate?
- Is there actually sufficient work within the U.S. for all of the registered industrial drone pilots? I really feel like I’m late to the sport.
- Given the looming U.S. ban on DJI, ought to I spend money on a industrial/enterprise DJI product, or would that be a nasty transfer? Alternate options appear costly, and I’m additionally contemplating working in Europe. Do American drone corporations launch SDKs for off-brand mapping software program?
I like a superb multi-part query! SO a lot to work with right here! For starters, I’m glad you’ve began with a drone that’s reasonably priced. I all the time advocate new pilots begin with a low-cost, toy drone that they’ll afford to lose. A refurbished but nonetheless high-quality drone is the way in which to go!
Okay, shifting on to every a part of your query:
1. The most effective GIS programs particular to drones and photogrammetry
Since you have already got a GIS background, you’re in an excellent place to get into drone mapping. I’ve already put a reasonably intensive information to the finest drone mapping programs. In fact, the very best course for you is likely to be a bit completely different primarily based in your current expertise. You’ll probably need to go along with a program that depends on a software program you have already got or are acquainted with.
Although, right here’s a fast tl;dr of some drone mapping and GIS programs you may need to look into.
Greatest on-line mapping course: Pilot Institute’s Drone Mapping, Modeling & Surveying Bundle
Value: $299
Time to finish: ~10 hours
What you’ll study:
- Drone mapping fundamentals
- How one can create fashions with Bentley ContextCapture and Pix4D
- Sensible flight planning methods (3.5-hour devoted module)
- Processing pictures into high-quality maps utilizing DroneDeploy, Metashape, and Pix4D
This course is nice for somebody who desires a broad overview moderately than a deep dive right into a single software program. Because you’re already considerably acquainted with GIS, this is likely to be a good way to brush up on ideas and get hands-on with drone-specific software program.
Greatest in-person mapping course: UAV Coach’s Drone Mapping Necessities 2-Day Workshop
Value: $1,999 (consists of lunch!)
Places: Main U.S. cities (Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Houston, and so on.) Try the record of upcoming workshops right here.
What you’ll study:
- RTK & PPK ideas (essential for high-precision mapping)
- Arms-on drone mapping workout routines
- Processing RTK/PPK information utilizing Pix4D Mapper and Emlid Studio
- Networking with drone professionals
Sure, it’s expensive, however if you happen to desire hands-on studying, the real-time suggestions may be invaluable. This course additionally consists of free entry to UAV Coach’s on-line mapping course ($199 worth).
2. Is it too late to start out a drone profession?
Completely not. If something, now could be the right time to enroll in a type of GIS programs and land an excellent job in drones.
Not entering into drones now could be like skipping out on investing on the high of a bull market in January 2020. Investing all of your financial savings within the inventory market in January 2020 would have felt like a mistake if it’s March 2020. However if you happen to wouldn’t have touched that cash in any other case, then in the present day it’s nonetheless a superb transfer. In fact, investing in March 2020 would have been higher in hindsight, however it’s not possible to time the market. Both manner, investments made in both of these months are value much more in the present day.
That’s how it’s entering into drones. You may need had far more alternatives to get into the sphere in 2013 (that’s once I began this web site!). However what is going to you say 10 years from now?
Don’t look ahead to the right time to get in, or want you had enrolled in a type of GIS programs in earlier. Simply begin now! That’s as a result of drone trade progress is accelerating, not slowing down. Based on the World Drone Trade Assessment 2024 from Drone Trade Insights, world industrial drone flight hours hit 10.8 million in 2024, which is already a 29% enhance from 2023. A plurality of these drone flight hours are occurring in Asia, which leads with 3.8 million flight hours, adopted by Europe and North America. In fact, drones typically aren’t flying for greater than an hour. So if you happen to rely by whole takeoffs versus hours, whole industrial flights reached an estimated 19.5 million in 2024, in keeping with DII.
Associated learn: Profession swap? Right here’s the place the drone jobs are
So far as the place the work truly is, most drone companies are small groups. Do you have to need to pivot to a profession in drones, know that 55% of drone corporations have fewer than 10 workers, in keeping with DII’s World Drone Assessment. Fortunately for you, most industrial drone pilots work in area of interest industries (mapping, inspections, agriculture, and so on.), which implies experience—like GIS abilities—go a good distance.
Should you’re fearful about competitors, don’t be. The most important alternatives are in specialised fields like mapping and surveying. That GIS expertise of yours? That’s your golden ticket.
3. Do you have to spend money on a DJI enterprise drone?
Is it nonetheless sensible to purchase DJI drones amidst proposed DJI drone bans? That is the place issues get a little bit hairier. I undoubtedly do not have a crystal ball. If I did, I might have taken far more benefit of investing within the inventory market in March 2020!
I can also’t inform you about what is going to occur to potential bans on Chinese language drones within the U.S. going ahead. There’s no outright ban but, however there may be loads of proposed laws to ban DJI drones together with the Drones First Responders Act.
Should you’re attempting to land a gig by way of a authorities contract, know that a lot of these federal gigs within the U.S. don’t will let you use DJI drones. Some personal purchasers additionally don’t rent contractors who use DJI drones given information safety considerations.
That mentioned, you should still need to contemplate DJI drones. Mid-level mapping drones just like the Mavic 3 Enterprise supply the very best price-to-performance ratio in the marketplace. In the meantime, DJI’s software program ecosystem is probably the most mature. Many third-party mapping functions like DroneDeploy and Pix4D are optimized for DJI drones.
That mentioned, if you happen to’re targeted on touchdown U.S. drone mapping gigs, it might be sensible to spend money on both an American-made drone, or one that’s made overseas however from an organization trusted by the U.S. authorities. Brace your self for a far greater worth than comparable DJI merchandise, however your choices embrace the Freefly Astro Prime drone, the Parrot Anafi USA drone and the Sony Airpeak S1.
4. Bonus: getting your Half 107 license
You talked about getting your Half 107 this summer time. Woo! You’ll want a FAA Half 107 license to earn money in drones. I put collectively a full information to the very best Half 107 check prep programs, however listed below are my high suggestions:
Greatest Total: Drone Pilot Floor College
Value: $299 (Use coupon code DRONEGIRL100 to avoid wasting $100!)
Time to finish: 15-20 hours
What you get:
- 350+ FAA follow questions
- 17-page cram sheet (WAY higher than longer e-books)
- Limitless 1:1 help with a Half 107 success coach
- Weekly reside Zoom instruction choices
- Cross assure: Should you fail after passing a follow check, they cowl your $175 check price
Why I like it: I (Sally, The Drone Woman!) personally used Drone Pilot Floor College as my solely research useful resource—and I handed on my first attempt. Their supplies are clear, concise and repeatedly up to date for FAA rule adjustments.
Enroll in Drone Pilot Floor College right here.
Greatest to pair together with your on-line mapping course: Pilot Institute
Value: $249
Time to finish: 15-20 hours
What you get:
- Lifetime entry
- 20 quizzes + 15 hours of video lectures
- Cash-back cross assure
Why contemplate it? Should you’re enrolling of their on-line mapping course, then it could actually make sense to remain in the identical Pilot Institute ecosystem. Plus, it’s a tad cheaper than Drone Pilot Floor College, assuming no coupons.
Enroll in Pilot Institute right here.
In fact, you’ll be able to take a type of programs in tandem with the GIS programs, or break them aside. A drone pilot’s Half 107 license is legitimate for two years however it may be simply renewed on-line without spending a dime.
Blissful flying!
You probably have a query for Drone Woman, contact her right here.
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