I was just wondering what some of your thoughts (or concerns) are on the new Phantom 4 RTK?
At this point there is little to gather on accuracy of the mapping other than what is posted by DJI advertising. As a surveyor, I am trying to determine the advantages of the system.
Concerning GCP’s and checkpoints… My normal procedure is to set twice the GCP’s than are needed for accurate georeferencing of the mapping. I use half the points as GCP’s and the other half as check points. I need these check points to validate my mapping. Does the RTK eliminate the need for check points? Not for me. I need that proof, that I am providing accurate mapping. Maybe it just eliminates the points I would use as GCP’s? But still, I must collect positions of check points, either conventionally or with GPS to verify my mapping. So there is still ground work I must complete.
Also, concerning RTK. In GPS RTK surveying, we normally collect topo quality points by observing the point for three seconds, maintaining a static position. “Control” quality observations require three-minute static observations. I wonder what quality positions are obtained from a Phantom moving at 10 mph.
I am not trying to shoot down the new technology. Actually, I am eager to justify the purchase of the new unit. I am just trying to understand and put a time/cost savings value of the RTK vs the normal mapping with GCP’s and check points.
At this point there is little to gather on accuracy of the mapping other than what is posted by DJI advertising. As a surveyor, I am trying to determine the advantages of the system.
Concerning GCP’s and checkpoints… My normal procedure is to set twice the GCP’s than are needed for accurate georeferencing of the mapping. I use half the points as GCP’s and the other half as check points. I need these check points to validate my mapping. Does the RTK eliminate the need for check points? Not for me. I need that proof, that I am providing accurate mapping. Maybe it just eliminates the points I would use as GCP’s? But still, I must collect positions of check points, either conventionally or with GPS to verify my mapping. So there is still ground work I must complete.
Also, concerning RTK. In GPS RTK surveying, we normally collect topo quality points by observing the point for three seconds, maintaining a static position. “Control” quality observations require three-minute static observations. I wonder what quality positions are obtained from a Phantom moving at 10 mph.
I am not trying to shoot down the new technology. Actually, I am eager to justify the purchase of the new unit. I am just trying to understand and put a time/cost savings value of the RTK vs the normal mapping with GCP’s and check points.