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. In case you 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 be taught to fly with out breaking the financial institution if I dunk it in water. My aim 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 suggest?
- Is there actually sufficient work within the U.S. for all of the registered business drone pilots? I really feel like I’m late to the sport.
- Given the looming U.S. ban on DJI, ought to I put money into a business/enterprise DJI product, or would that be a nasty transfer? Options appear costly, and I’m additionally contemplating working in Europe. Do American drone firms launch SDKs for off-brand mapping software program?
I like a very good multi-part query! SO a lot to work with right here! For starters, I’m glad you’ve began with a drone that’s inexpensive. I all the time suggest new pilots begin with a low cost, toy drone that they will 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. One of the best GIS programs particular to drones and photogrammetry
Since you have already got a GIS background, you’re in an important place to get into drone mapping. I’ve already put a reasonably intensive information to the greatest drone mapping programs. In fact, the perfect course for you is likely to be a bit totally different primarily based in your current expertise. You’ll probably need to go together with a program that depends on a software program you have already got or are conversant in.
Although, right here’s a fast tl;dr of some drone mapping and GIS programs you would possibly need to look into.
Finest on-line mapping course: Pilot Institute’s Drone Mapping, Modeling & Surveying Bundle
Value: $299
Time to finish: ~10 hours
What you’ll be taught:
- Drone mapping fundamentals
- Easy methods to create fashions with Bentley ContextCapture and Pix4D
- Sensible flight planning methods (3.5-hour devoted module)
- Processing photographs into high-quality maps utilizing DroneDeploy, Metashape, and Pix4D
This course is nice for somebody who needs a broad overview quite than a deep dive right into a single software program. Because you’re already considerably conversant in GIS, this is likely to be an effective way to brush up on ideas and get hands-on with drone-specific software program.
Finest in-person mapping course: UAV Coach’s Drone Mapping Necessities 2-Day Workshop
Value: $1,999 (consists of lunch!)
Areas: Main U.S. cities (Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Houston, and many others.) Try the record of upcoming workshops right here.
What you’ll be taught:
- RTK & PPK ideas (vital for high-precision mapping)
- Arms-on drone mapping workouts
- Processing RTK/PPK knowledge utilizing Pix4D Mapper and Emlid Studio
- Networking with drone professionals
Sure, it’s expensive, however for those who choose hands-on studying, the real-time suggestions could 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’s the proper time to enroll in a type of GIS programs and land an important job in drones.
Not stepping into drones now’s 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 for those who wouldn’t have touched that cash in any other case, then right this moment it’s nonetheless a superb transfer. In fact, investing in March 2020 would have been higher in hindsight, but it surely’s inconceivable to time the market. Both manner, investments made in both of these months are value much more right this moment.
That’s how it’s stepping into drones. You may need had far more alternatives to get into the sector in 2013 (that’s once I began this web site!). However what is going to you say 10 years from now?
Don’t await the proper 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 business progress is accelerating, not slowing down. In response to the International Drone Trade Assessment 2024 from Drone Trade Insights, international business drone flight hours hit 10.8 million in 2024, which is already a 29% improve 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 for those who rely by whole takeoffs versus hours, whole business flights reached an estimated 19.5 million in 2024, in accordance with DII.
Associated learn: Profession change? Right here’s the place the drone jobs are
So far as the place the work truly is, most drone companies are small groups. Must you need to pivot to a profession in drones, know that 55% of drone firms have fewer than 10 workers, in accordance with DII’s International Drone Assessment. Fortunately for you, most business drone pilots work in area of interest industries (mapping, inspections, agriculture, and many others.), which suggests experience—like GIS abilities—go a great distance.
In the event you’re nervous about competitors, don’t be. The largest alternatives are in specialised fields like mapping and surveying. That GIS expertise of yours? That’s your golden ticket.
3. Must you put money into a DJI enterprise drone?
Is it nonetheless sensible to purchase DJI drones amidst proposed DJI drone bans? That is the place issues get somewhat hairier. I undoubtedly do not have a crystal ball. If I did, I’d have taken far more benefit of investing within the inventory market in March 2020!
I can also’t let you know 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’s loads of proposed laws to ban DJI drones together with the Drones First Responders Act.
In the event you’re making an attempt to land a gig by way of a authorities contract, know that lots of these federal gigs within the U.S. don’t let you use DJI drones. Some non-public shoppers additionally don’t rent contractors who use DJI drones given knowledge safety considerations.
That mentioned, you should still need to take into account DJI drones. Mid-level mapping drones just like the Mavic 3 Enterprise supply the perfect price-to-performance ratio in the marketplace. In the meantime, DJI’s software program ecosystem is essentially the most mature. Many third-party mapping functions like DroneDeploy and Pix4D are optimized for DJI drones.
That mentioned, for those who’re targeted on touchdown U.S. drone mapping gigs, it may very well be sensible to put money into 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 value than comparable DJI merchandise, however your choices embody 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 generate profits in drones. I put collectively a full information to the perfect Half 107 take a look at prep programs, however listed below are my high suggestions:
Finest Total: Drone Pilot Floor Faculty
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 assist with a Half 107 success coach
- Weekly reside Zoom instruction choices
- Cross assure: In the event you fail after passing a follow take a look at, they cowl your $175 take a look at price
Why I like it: I (Sally, The Drone Woman!) personally used Drone Pilot Floor Faculty as my solely examine useful resource—and I handed on my first strive. Their supplies are clear, concise and repeatedly up to date for FAA rule modifications.
Enroll in Drone Pilot Floor Faculty right here.
Finest 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 go assure
Why take into account it? In the event you’re enrolling of their on-line mapping course, then it could possibly make sense to remain in the identical Pilot Institute ecosystem. Plus, it’s a tad cheaper than Drone Pilot Floor Faculty, assuming no coupons.
Enroll in Pilot Institute right here.
In fact, you may 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 totally free.
Glad flying!
In case you have a query for Drone Woman, contact her right here.
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