How weather can effect your uav image collection

UAV’s have given us the ability to capture high-resolution images from above, becoming an invaluable tool for a wide range of industries offering us the ability to vastly improve capture times and accuracy . However we are somewhat limited by weather conditions which can have a significant impact on the accuracy and quality of the data collected through aerial photogrammetry. In this blog, we will explore the effects of weather on aerial photogrammetry mapping and surveying, and how to mitigate these effects to achieve optimal results.

Wind

Wind is one of the most significant weather factors that can affect aerial photogrammetry. Strong winds can cause instability in the drone's flight lines, resulting in blurred or distorted images. This can lead to pilot induced inaccuracies in the 3D models created from the data, making the data unusable it’s intended purpose. To avoid this it’s a good idea to utilise the many online resources (such as meteoblue or metcheck) to make sure the speed is within the operational envelope of your chosen aircraft.

Rain and Snow

Rain and snow also impact uav photogrammetry. Wet conditions can deposit droplets on the camera lens which can interfere with image quality. Similarly, water ingress from rain snow can cause the aircraft as a whole to malfunction. Some aircraft may be ip rated, but this won’t stop water droplets ruining your image quality

Temperature

Extreme high temperatures can also impact the performance of your aircraft High temperatures can cause the battery to overheat, reducing the drone's flight time and overall performance. On the other hand, cold temperatures can cause the battery to drain faster, reducing the drone's flight time. To reduce these effects, it is important to keep the  battery at a the temperature specified by the manufacturer before launching, your aircraft may offer the option to use specialised batteries that are designed to operate in extreme temperatures.

Cloud Cover

Cloudy or overcast weather can reduce the amount of light available for the sensor, This will mean that manual camera settings become essential. Personally some of the best results I have produced have been in overcast conditions.  It reduces baked in shadow on your images which can be difficult to deal with unless you are shooting in RAW.

To produce optimal images it’s absolutely critical to check prevailing conditions before flying (also for safety sake) Think about how it will affect your image collection, set your camera up accordingly and you should see your results improve!