As with so many other market applications that require extensive data collection and precise measurements, drones have radically changed the face of both mapping and surveying. Some conflate the two, but they are different. This article discusses the law and policy that apply to these operations as well as practical tips about how they are conducted.
Topics: drones; data collection; mapping; surveying; cartography; topography; survey licensing; state law; architecture, engineering and construction (AEC); point clouds; 3D models; 3D visualization; ground control points (GCPs); GPS receivers; geodetic datums; local coordinate systems; real time kinematics (RTK); post processed kinematics (PPK); aerial mapping; data processing; computer-aided drawings; digital elevation models (DEM); litigation; law suits