Flight Planning
Flight Planning
DMCII-230e
UAV Systems
Small Format
LiDAR
Leica ALS60
Flight Planning Software
Track Air
Mission Pro
Flight Plan Preparation– Dale 10/5/16
As with any project, using the right tool for the job will go a long way in making that project successful. That is especially true when planning photogrammetric photo missions or data collection. We currently use two different software platforms when planning such missions. Track Air has long been an industry standard when planning missions from a single SPOT photo, to large complex projects over varying terrain. However, there is no direct output from Track Air to produce the file format required for today’s digital cameras and sensors. Mission Pro is a second generation digital planning software that can output flight plans to a variety of systems and file formats.
The standard planning specifications for film, or analog systems are based on a 9” X 9” format camera. Photogrammetric mapping standards require a specific scale of imagery that is suitable to produce maps at a given scale. As all film cameras were essentially the same, flight planning was the same between many of the different cameras. As analog film has given way to direct digital image collection, the variety of sensors, formats, lens configurations and pitch of CCD’s demands that camera specific flight plans must be created to best suit the needs of the project scope, schedule and cost.
Film “scale” has become digital image pixel resolution or Ground Sample Distance (GSD). However, the basic principles for photogrammetric image acquisition still apply. The standard base length, or distance between photos is 40% of the scale or GSD. (or 60% forward overlap) The standard distance between flight lines is based on a 70% scale or GSD, which requires 30% overlap of the adjacent flight lines. The distance between photo centers and adjacent flight lines is called the “Neat Model”. This allows that any two consecutive images in a line of flight, or “pair” of stereo images is the source for 3D mapping of the earth’s surface and man-made features.
The following will discuss the specific planning requirements based on a desired imaging system.
Basics
- Verify project outline conforms to customer’s project requirements.
- Verify project specifications or requirements for the flight plan. (scale, GSD, camera or sensor type) based on customer dialog or scope of work.
- Prepare the flight plan in accordance with client provided specifications.
- QC flight plan to verify the plan adheres to project specifications/requirements.
- Export flight plan in the required format, and send to the customer for review and approval (kml, shapefile)
- Upon final customer approval, forward the flight plan to Flight Operations for project setup.
- Flight Ops will prepare a sensor specific flight plan, disseminate to the crews.
Analog (Film) flight planning is completed in Track Air. The area to be planned must first be converted to dxf format using Global Mapper. All flight planning is done in WGS84, Degree, Minute and Second geographic coordinate system format.
- Area of Interest (AOI) is imported into Track Air in dxf format using SNAP XYZ module.
- Area of Interest (AOI) is transferred to SNAP Plan module.
- Flight Lines are created in SNAP Plan, based on project specific requirements for camera, scale, forward lap, side lap, and coverage requirements.
- Ground elevations for each flight line are extracted and applied using 3D planning in SNAP Plan.
- Photo Identifiers are applied to individual lines and photos (001-001)
- Final flight plan is saved in Track Air with the “Client” as the Project, and the plan as the “Flight Plan” name.
- Final flight plan is Exported in zip file format.
- Flight plans are saved to the “Crew Downloads” Folder where the plans are available for download via the Midwest web site, by the flight crews.
- Flight plans may also be emailed to flight crews as the project schedule dictates.
Digital flight planning may be completed in Track Air, but Track Air is unable to export the DMCII flight plan in the required format. (afl and apf files) used in ZI Inflight, so subsequent steps must be added to create the DMCII files.
The area to be planned must first be converted to dxf format using Global Mapper. All flight planning is done in WGS84, Degree, Minute and Second geographic coordinate system format.
- Area of Interest (AOI) is imported into Track Air in dxf format using SNAP XYZ module.
- Area of Interest (AOI) is transferred to SNAP Plan module.
- Flight Lines are created in SNAP Plan, based on project specific requirements for camera, scale, forward lap, side lap, and coverage requirements.
- Ground elevations for each flight line are extracted and applied using 3D planning in SNAP Plan.
- Photo Identifiers are applied to individual lines and photos (001-001)
- Final flight plan is saved in Track Air with the “Client” as the Project, and the plan as the “Flight Plan” name.
- A “Planning Report” is exported from Track Air to be used in creating the DMCII flight plans. (Degree and Decimal Minute format, with Photo Identifiers)
- Utilizing a Python Scrip, the Planning Report is used to create the .apf and .afl file formats used in ZI Inflight.
- Flight plans are saved to the “Client Folder” where the plans are exported every night for download via the Midwest web site by the flight crews.
- Flight plans may also be emailed to flight crews as the project schedule dictates.
Should you find anything that is not clear or an error, please send an email to: admin@midwestaerialphoto.com