The Grid mission is meant to plan and fly polygonal mission shapes with a single grid flight pattern for 2D maps or a double grid flight pattern for 3D models. It is suitable for most environments that require flexible boundaries or complex mapping shapes and ensures that images are taken with the gimbal pitch and the overlap required for optimal processing.

How to position and design the mission 

Once entering the Grid mission , the default mission shape is displayed over the basemap at the current location. 

The following actions can be performed. 

1. Move the survey area: the survey area can be displaced by tapping on the center cross and dragging the shape to a new location.
2. Move a vertex: tap on a vertex and drag it to a new position to extend or reduce the survey area.
3. Remove a vertex: two adjacent vertex can be merged by dragging one on top of the other one.
4. Add a vertex: a vertex can be added by tapping on the “+” icon displayed over a segment.
5. Rotate the flight lines: tap and rotate within the survey area to modify the direction of the flight lines.

The How to design a grid mission onboarding guide is automatically displayed the first time a grid mission is entered and is always accessible in the general settings of PIX4Dscan (Help > Onboarding guides > Grid mission). 

Define the mission properties

The following mission information and settings are available on the right panel.

• Mission information: 
  • Time: estimated duration of the mission execution.
  • Area [m2, ft2]: area covered by the mission.
  • GSD [cm/pixel, inch/pixel]: distance between two consecutive pixel centers measured on the ground. The GSD depends on different parameters such as the camera specifications, the flight height, and the camera angle.
• Mission settings: 
  • Flight pattern:
    • Use Single grid pattern to take images perpendicular to the ground (nadir), with the overlap required for optimal processing. Recommended in the following cases: main interest in 2D map outputs, relatively flat surface (e.g. earthworks, fields), large area.
    • Use Double grid pattern to take images from multiple sides (oblique), with the overlap required for optimal processing. Compared to the single grid, this pattern is recommended for flying closer to objects in order to capture more vertical details. 
      
  Note: Double Grid is recommended in the following cases: main interest in 3D model outputs, surface with height fluctuations or objects (e.g. buildings, forest), small and medium area (the flight time is doubled compared to single grid pattern). 
  • Flight height [m, ft]: height of the mission in reference to the take-off location. The range is 10 - 150m.
  • Front overlap [%]: percentage of an image covered by the next one at the ground level with respect to the flight direction. The range is 20 - 90%.
  • Side overlap [%]: percentage of an image covered by an adjacent one (in adjacent flight line) at the ground level. The range is 20 - 90%.
  • Camera angle [°]: angle of the camera during the mission execution. The range is 0° - -90° (nadir).
  • Drone speed [m/s, mph]: speed of the drone during the mission execution. The maximum speed depends on the selected front overlap and flight height. The slider allows selecting percentages (10% steps) of the maximum speed. 

To generate the best 2D and 3D outputs, we highly recommend using the default mission settings values according to the selected flight pattern:

Parameters	Single grid	Double grid
Front overlap	80%	80%
Side overlap	70%	70%
Gimbal pitch	-90°	-70°

Camera parameters such as white balance (WB) and exposure compensation values (EV) can be set when the drone video feed is enlarged and when the drone is not flying a mission:

• White balance: 
• Automatic: automatically optimizes the white balance.
• Sunny: optimizes the white balance for sunny weather conditions. 
• Cloudy: optimizes the white balance for cloudy weather conditions.
• Exposure value: exposure value compensation whose values range from -3 to 3.

Tap Start mission. The drone enters the In mission mode and the mission starts. An estimate of the time remaining until completion is displayed throughout the whole mission.

Plan and fly an Orbit Mission around a target point. It ensures that the images are taken from all angles, with the overlap required for optimal processing. Recommended in the following cases: main interest in 3D model outputs (point cloud, mesh, etc.); isolated object (e.g. house); small area.

Define the mission properties

The following mission information and settings are available on the right panel.

• Mission information:
  • • Time: estimated duration of the mission execution. 
    • Area in m2
    • GSD cm/px 
• Mission settings:
  • • Flight height: defines the height of the mission (10m - 250m). 
    • Images per orbit: defines the number of images per orbit (20 - 180). 
    • POI height: defines the height of the point of interest (0m - 140m). 
    • Camera angle: defines the angle of the camera and is managed automatically. 
  Note: The Restore button can be used to reset the settings to their default values.

  Camera parameters such as white balance (WB) and exposure compensation values (EV) can be set when the drone video feed is enlarged and when the drone is not flying a mission:

  • • White balance: 
      • Automatic: automatically optimizes the white balance.
      • Sunny: optimizes the white balance for sunny weather conditions. 
      • Cloudy: optimizes the white balance for cloudy weather conditions.
    • Exposure value: exposure value compensation whose values range from -3 to 3.

  Tap Start mission. The drone enters the In mission mode and the mission starts. An estimate of the time remaining until completion is displayed throughout the whole mission.

Plan and fly a Cylinder Mission around a tall object. It ensures that the images are taken at different levels and from all angles, with the overlap required for optimal processing. Recommended in the following cases: main interest in 3D model outputs (point cloud, mesh, etc.); isolated object (e.g. tall building); small area.

Define the mission properties

The following mission information and settings are available on the right panel.

• Mission information:
  • • Time: estimated duration of the mission execution. 
    • Area in m2
    • GSD cm/px 
• Mission settings:
  • • POI min height: point of interest minimum height (base). The value should be at least 10 m lower than the POI max height. Tap Set to current to set the value to the current height of the drone (0m - 240m). 
    • POI max height: point of interest maximum height (top). The value should be at least 10 m higher than the POI min height. Tap Set to current to set the value to the current height of the drone (10m - 250m). 
    • Mission min height: minimum height at which the drone will fly the mission (cylinder base). The value should be at least 10 m lower than the mission max height. Tap Set to current to set the value to the current height of the drone (10m - 240m). 
    • Mission max height: maximum height at which the drone will fly the mission (cylinder top). The value should be at least 10 m higher than the mission max height. Tap Set to current to set the value to the current height of the drone (20m - 250m). 
    • Verticals: number of vertical lines in the cylinder mission (4 - 20). 
      
    • Front overlap: frontal overlap between successive images in the vertical lines (60% - 90%). 
    • Camera angle: defines the angle of the camera and is managed automatically.  

Camera parameters such as white balance (WB) and exposure compensation values (EV) can be set when the drone video feed is enlarged and when the drone is not flying a mission:

• • White balance: 
    • Automatic: automatically optimizes the white balance.
    • Sunny: optimizes the white balance for sunny weather conditions. 
    • Cloudy: optimizes the white balance for cloudy weather conditions.
  • Exposure value: exposure value compensation whose values range from -3 to 3.

Tap Start mission. The drone enters the In mission mode and the mission starts. An estimate of the time remaining until completion is displayed throughout the whole mission.

 

Detailed recommendations on how to scan cell towers can be found in How to scan cell towers.

Set the cell tower lowest point (optional) 

This step can be skipped if the lowest point of the cell tower is at the same elevation as the drone take-off position.

An animated description will guide the user to determine the cell tower lowest point reference:

• Align the drone with the lowest point of the tower.
• Ensure the camera angle is 0°.
• Point the camera at the base of the tower.
• Tap on Next to confirm the current tower lowest point reference.

Set the cell tower center 

An animated description will guide the user to determine the cell tower center reference:

• Place the drone on top of the tower (several meters above for safety)
• Ensure height is higher than 10 m.
• Ensure the camera angle is -90°.
• Point the camera at the center of the tower.
• Tap on Next to confirm the current tower center reference.

Set the cell tower highest point

An animated description will guide the user to determine the cell tower highest point reference:

• Align the drone with the highest point of the tower
• Ensure height is higher than 10 m.
• Ensure the camera angle is 0°.
• Point the camera at the top of the tower.
• Tap Next to confirm the current tower highest point reference.

Cell tower project panel 

The project panel is divided into 3D Model and Visual inspection categories containing all the missions to efficiently reconstruct and inspect cell tower assets.

It also shows the cell tower reference values recorded at the previous stages and provides the ability to reset them. The references will be used in some of the missions to automatically set specific settings such as the mission maximum height and the camera angle in Helix, Cylinder, and Single vertical missions.

Select one of the missions and tap Next to enter the mission settings. Upon mission completion, the project panel is automatically displayed (except for the Single vertical mission) so that a new mission can be performed.

3D Model missions

For any of the 3D model missions, camera parameters such as white balance (WB) and exposure compensation values (EV) can be set when the drone video feed is enlarged and when the mission has not been started:

• White balance:
• Automatic: optimizes the white balance automatically.
• Sunny: optimizes the white balance for sunny weather conditions. 
• Cloudy: optimizes the white balance for cloudy weather conditions.
• Exposure compensation: adjusts the exposure with a range from -3 to 3.

Helix

Orbit

Cylinder 

Single vertical

Visual inspection missions

For any of the Visual inspection missions, camera parameters such as white balance (WB) and exposure compensation values (EV) can be set when the drone video feed is enlarged and when the mission has not been started:

• White balance:
• Automatic: optimizes the white balance automatically.
• Sunny: optimizes the white balance for sunny weather conditions. 
• Cloudy: optimizes the white balance for cloudy weather conditions.
• Exposure compensation: adjusts the exposure with a range from -3 to 3.

Underneath orbit

Orbit line of sight 

Manual images  

 

Detailed recommendations on how to scan transmission towers can be found in How to scan Transmission towers - PIX4Dscan. 

Set the transmission tower center 

An animated description will guide the user to determine the transmission tower center reference:

• Place the drone on top of the tower (several meters above for safety)
• Ensure height is higher than 10 m.
• Ensure the camera angle is -90°.
• Point the camera at the center of the tower.
• Tap on Next to confirm the current tower center reference.

Set the transmission tower highest point

An animated description will guide the user to determine the transmission tower highest point reference:

• Align the drone with the highest point of the tower
• Ensure height is higher than 10 m.
• Ensure the camera angle is 0°.
• Point the camera at the top of the tower.
• Tap Next to confirm the current tower highest point reference.

Transmission tower project panel 

The project panel is divided into 3D Model and Visual inspection categories containing all the missions to efficiently reconstruct and inspect transmission tower assets.

It also shows the transmission tower reference values recorded at the previous stages and provides the ability to reset them. The references will be used in some of the missions to automatically set specific settings.

Select one of the missions and tap Next to enter the mission settings. Upon mission completion, the project panel is automatically displayed (except for the Single vertical mission) so that a new mission can be performed.

3D Model missions

For any of the 3D model missions, camera parameters such as white balance (WB) and exposure compensation values (EV) can be set when the drone video feed is enlarged and when the mission has not been started:

• White balance:
• Automatic: optimizes the white balance automatically.
• Sunny: optimizes the white balance for sunny weather conditions. 
• Cloudy: optimizes the white balance for cloudy weather conditions.
• Exposure compensation: adjusts the exposure with a range from -3 to 3.

Orbit

Single vertical

Visual inspection missions

For any of the Visual inspection missions, camera parameters such as white balance (WB) and exposure compensation values (EV) can be set when the drone video feed is enlarged and when the mission has not been started:

• White balance:
• Automatic: optimizes the white balance automatically.
• Sunny: optimizes the white balance for sunny weather conditions. 
• Cloudy: optimizes the white balance for cloudy weather conditions.
• Exposure compensation: adjusts the exposure with a range from -3 to 3.

Underneath orbit

Manual images