Discussion of the Big Three Technologies for Remote Sensing using Drones
At Illinois Drone Photography and Mapping, we’re proud to offer cutting‑edge solutions that leverage drone technology. Incorporating drone tech into your operations isn’t just about keeping up — it’s about making smarter decisions, managing resources efficiently, and achieving the highest standards of precision. The result is reduced delays, controlled expenses, and, ultimately, higher profitability.
We back innovation with safety and professionalism. Our pilots are FAA Part 107 certified, and every mission is planned and flown to industry best practices.
Photogrammetry
Photogrammetry creates accurate measurements and 3D models by analyzing overlapping photographs captured from multiple perspectives.
- Flight planning: altitude, overlap, and path are planned for coverage and accuracy.
- Capture: the UAV records overlapping nadir/oblique images at regular intervals.
- Geo data: GNSS + IMU time/pose supports georeferencing.
- Processing: images are matched, triangulated, and converted to dense point clouds.
- Outputs: point cloud, mesh/orthomosaic, and CAD/GIS‑ready deliverables.
LiDAR
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) emits laser pulses to generate very dense, accurate point clouds — ideal where vegetation or complex structures make photogrammetry alone insufficient.
- Efficient coverage over large or vegetated areas
- High‑accuracy ground models (DTM) under tree canopy
- Applications: topography, earthwork, utilities, forestry
Thermal Imaging
Thermal (infrared) cameras detect heat patterns and temperature differences, revealing issues that are invisible to the eye.
- Detect hotspots, moisture, and heat loss
- Industrial inspections (electrical/mechanical), pipelines, bridges
- Agriculture & environmental monitoring
Choosing the Right Tool
These technologies are complementary. Photogrammetry excels for visual context and textured surfaces; LiDAR penetrates vegetation for reliable terrain; thermal exposes heat‑related anomalies. We often combine them to meet survey‑grade accuracy and reporting needs.