Scanning (Structure & Corridor)

Overview

Corridor Scan

A Corridor Scan creates a flight pattern following a polyline, commonly used for surveying linear features like roads.

Important Considerations:

• Elevation: Calculations assume ground elevation is the same as the launch location.
• Terrain Following: If elevations vary significantly, use "Terrain Follow" to maintain a consistent altitude and avoid obstacles.

Structure Scan

A Structure Scan creates a grid flight pattern over vertical surfaces (e.g., walls) around a polygonal or circular ground footprint.

• Applications: Visual inspection or creating 3D models.
• Flight Path: The vehicle flies around the structure in layers at specific altitudes and distances.

Creating Scans

How to Create a Corridor Scan

1. Select Plan from the "Fly/Plan Tools" menu.
2. Select Pattern from the tools menu to open the Polyline toolbar.
3. Choose a polyline option:

• Basic: Adds a single polyline.
• Trace: Allows manual polyline input.

4. Drag vertices (gray dots) to adjust the shape.
5. Click the (+) symbol between vertices to add new ones.

How to Create a Structure Scan

1. Select Plan from the "Fly/Plan Tools" menu.
2. Select File or Pattern to open the Polygon toolbar.
3. Choose a polygon option:

• Basic/Circular: Adds a square or circular footprint.
• Trace: Allows manual input.

4. Drag vertices to adjust the shape or click the (+) symbol to add new vertices.

Settings and Configuration

General Grid Settings

• Width: Set the scan width around the polyline.
• Turnaround Distance: Additional distance outside the survey area for vehicle turns.
• Images in Turnarounds: Check to capture photos during turns.
• Rotate Entry Point: Swaps the start and end points.

Terrain Following

• Relative to Launch: Altitude relative to the launch point.
• AMSL: Altitude relative to mean sea level.
• Terrain Frame: Altitude relative to terrain heights queried from servers.
• Tolerance: Accepted deviation from target altitude.

Structure Scan Editor

• Start Scan from Top/Bottom: Sets the scanning direction.
• Structure Height: Total height of the object.
• Scan Distance: Distance from the structure to the flight path.
• Entrance/Exit Alt: Altitude used to avoid obstacles when traveling to/from the scan area.
• Scan Bottom Alt: Adjusts the bottom of the scan to be above ground level.

Camera Configuration

You can select a known camera, custom camera, or manual mode.

• Manual Mode: Manually specify Layer Height, Trigger Distance, and Gimbal Pitch.
• Known/Custom Cameras: Automatically calculate layer heights based on:

• Orientation: Portrait or Landscape.
• Overlap: Front Lap (top-to-bottom) and Side Lap.

Ground Res: Required image resolution.