GeoCue Group (via its formerly wholly owned AirGon subsidiary) has completed the integration of the new DJI Phantom 4 RTK (P4 RTK) into our widely used Airborne Sensor Processing Suite (ASPSuite). ASPSuite is used at hundreds of customer sites as the post-processing solution for our wildly successful Loki direct geopositioning system for DJI and other manufacturer’s drones. ASPSuite enables integration of the P4R with third party L1/L2 GNSS base stations such as systems from Septentrio, Leica, Trimble, TopCon, CHC and others in a high accuracy Post-Process Kinematic (PPK) workflow. In addition to performing Post-Processed Kinematic (PPK) processing, ASPSuite includes support for options often required in engineering grade surveys such as:

• vertical transforms (e.g. ellipsoid to country-specific geoids)
• creation of and transformation between collection datums and local coordinate systems (“site calibration”)
• application of antenna static and dynamic lever arm corrections
• and, of course, full support for Loki direct geopositioning systems

Currently, the DJI D-RTK-2 base station (optionally available) for the P4R can only be used in RTK mode and then only if it is being sited on a known location.  The D-RTK-2 does not currently allow access to an observation file, preventing it from being stationed using an online positioning service such as OPUS, AUSPOS, Canadian Geodetic Survey services and so forth.  An additional consideration in our integration into ASPSuite was that professional surveyors already have survey kit that they need incorporated into this workflow.

Camera Calibration Service

GeoCue is offering camera calibration services for the P4R for those customers who wish to do minimal or control-free high accuracy mapping projects (the DJI “calibration” is an image de-warping algorithm, not a proper photogrammetric calibration). In a recent test of a GeoCue-calibrated P4R using an OPUS positioned base station and ASPSuite, we achieved about 4 cm horizontal and 5 cm vertical network accuracy (RMSE) with no ground control points.  While not quite as accurate as a Loki solution, these results are remarkable for a low cost drone.

DJI Drone + ASPSuite Processing Software Bundles

GeoCue as an authorized DJI Enterprise Dealer, offers several bundles to satisfy the needs of the survey community:

ASPSuite + Survey Grade Base/Rover kit + DJI Phantom 4 Pro RTK drone 

This bundle is for customers who need the ability to collect check points or to add ground control points as well as use the base for the network tie for the P4R. This option includes camera calibration.

ASPSuite + Survey Grade L1/L2 Static Base Station + DJI Phantom 4 Pro RTK drone

This is for customers who are entering the drone mapping business but do not currently own a base station. This option includes camera calibration.

ASPSuite + DJI Phantom 4 Pro RTK drone

This kit includes camera calibration. It enables a full photogrammetric workflow in PPK mode using the customer’s L1/L2 base station.  This is the highest accuracy method of performing drone surveying.

ASPSuite Only

this is for customers who have a survey-grade L1/L2 base station, already own the P4R drone and now need a proper surveying workflow. This offer includes camera calibration (customer pays to/from shipping to GeoCue for their P4R).

All options include online training and one year of customer support.

Drone Mapping Workflows Available

In addition to the above, GeoCue offers a full range of data processing software, cloud-hosted data management, consulting and training services for drone mapping workflows. We have partnered with hundreds of engineering, mining and industrial firms as well as government agencies, providing high accuracy drone mapping solutions. When accuracy and reliability matter, customers select GeoCue.

For additional information and system quotations, please contact us via email at [email protected] or call 01-256-461-8289.