Africa Surveyors January-February issue 2023 digital

AERIAL SURVEY
Drone is an important tool for the world to have when it
comes to aerial surveys, as it allows us to get more accurate
and detailed data without spending as much money on it.
In Africa, a vast amount of land is still
unmapped. Using drones, this can
be easily achieved at a fraction of
the cost. This allows for fast and accurate
mapping in both 2D and 3D. This technology
can be used by a number of industries,
including construction, land surveying,
mining, inspection, agriculture and forestry,
emergency management and humanitarian
response.
Aerial Surveying in Africa
The use of drones for aerial surveying in
Africa has been increasing significantly. It has
become a more environmentally friendly form
of surveying, which is ideal for remote and
difficult-to-reach areas. UAVs are also more
flexible, allowing them to access areas that
would otherwise be difficult or impossible for
manned aircraft.
One of the major technological breakthroughs
that has been made in the field of aerial
surveying is the use of LiDAR (Light Detection
And Ranging) sensors. This helps to see
through trees and ground cover, which can
make it harder for an aerial vehicle to capture
detailed and accurate imagery.
This type of sensor is essential for highly
accurate surveys like mineral exploration,
geophysical surveying and environment
monitoring. It has also made it possible to
collect high-density point cloud data for use
in Geographic Information Systems.
Aerial Digital Imagery
The use of aerial digital imagery has been
increasing in Africa over the years. This is
mainly because it is faster and easier to
collect than traditional analogue techniques,
as well as providing excellent spatial and
spectral resolutions.
During the past decade, Africa has witnessed
a significant change in the aerial digital
imagery sector. This was primarily because
of the development of a number of different
specialized sensor technologies which allow
for a range of different applications.
Another key change in the aerial digital
imagery sector has been the emergence of
new software and algorithms that allow for
greater accuracy and efficiency. Moreover, this
has enabled users to have more flexibility
when it comes to the way they use this data.
Aerial digital imagery can also be used for
more precise crop surveys, such as when
determining the crop yield in a given area or
analyzing the effects of different soil types.
This can help farmers to better manage their
crops in order to maximize their yield.
It can also be used for assessing the condition
of a site and identifying potential hazards.
This helps to protect the environment and
improve the safety of both people and
animals.
The development of drones with advanced
imaging technologies is changing the way
we do surveys in Africa and globally. This
has created a market that is growing rapidly
and is expected to continue doing so in the
coming decades.
This is an important tool for the world to
have when it comes to aerial surveys, as it
allows us to get more accurate and detailed
data without spending as much money on it.
It has also been proven to be safer and more
efficient than traditional methods.
Image:microdrones
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January-February issue l 2023 21