Applied Drone Mapping: 
From Collection to GIS Integration

Text

2026 WAGISA Conference, Bellevue, WA 
May 19, 2026

Schedule

Part I & II

Introduction

Drone Program

1.1

Flight Operation 

Text

Sections

Part III

1.1

Flight Data Processing

Data Integration 

Q & A plus

Discussion

Data Processing Software

• Work flow

• Software Discussion

Introduction

• Name

• Organization, if there's one

• Purpose of the workshop

• Level of understanding & Goal 

• Expectation of the workshop

1.1

RPAS - Remotely Piloted Aircraft System

FAA Definition: Remotely piloted Aircraft system operated by a pilot via ground control or on-board computer. 

Background Information

RPAS Categories

Small  

• Size: 1 - 2 meters ( 3 ft - 6.5 ft), < 55 lbs.
• Control: Visual line of sight, Radio control
• DJI M3E, M400,  ScanEagle

Medium

• Size: Equivalent to a car, ~ 1000 lbs.

Large 

• Size: > 30,000 lbs.

Two Spaces for Drone

Outdoor

Indoor

Outdoor

Indoor

• No GPS signal
• Limits on speed and motion
• Manual flight control
• Tight spaces

Outdoor

Indoor

DJI Air & Mavic 2 Pro < $1800

Aertos 120 $25,000 +

Eilos 2  $48,000 +

DJI Matrice 300 $12,000 +

RPAS as Platform

Multi-rotors

Fixed-wing & VTOL

• Shorter flight time (< 45 min)
• Cover smaller area
• Highly maneuverable
• Less expensive
• Access to confined spaces

• Long flight time (+ 40min)
• Covers very large area

(vertical take-off & land)

 Sensors Payload

Multi-spectral 

Thermal Infrared

Lidar Camera

High resolution digital camera (100 MP)

Methane Gas Detector

 Sensors Payload

High resolution digital camera

 Sensors Payload

LiDAR Sensor - aka Laser Scanning

1. Platform + Sensor (Data Collection)

2. Data Processing & Analyzing (GIS)

3. Information Products

Standard Drone Workflow

AND

Drone

GIS

Great Combo?

&

Great combo !

GIS & DRONE

Great combo !

GIS & DRONE

FAA Regulations - Where are we now?

Regulations

Commercial/Governmental

FAA Part 107 Rule, July 2016

• Need FAA Remote Pilot Certification (Pilot license NOT needed)

• ~460,375 - Remote pilots certified (Oct. 2025)

• 433,407 - Commercial Drones Registered (Oct. 2025)

• $175 to take the test

• Fly under 400 feet above ground level

• Not to fly < 5 nautical miles around airport

• Aircraft < 55 lbs.

• Fly during daytime or night time operation with appropriate lighting

• Fly visual line of sight ( VLOS)

• No flight over non-participating people

• ...and many, many more.....

FAA Part 107 Rule

FAA Part 107 Drone Certification

• Be at least 16 yrs old

• Pass the initial aeronautical knowledge exam

• Online recurring training every 24 month 

The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST)

• Understand recreational flying requirements

• Take TRUST

• Online recurring training every 24 month 

Building Drone Program

• Small

• Share

• Structure

• Easy

• Efficient
  

• Effective

HOW?

WHY?

Why Use Drones?

2. Efficient - Results without waste 

Safety of staffs & Save Time & $$

South Treatment Plant

2. Efficient - Results without waste

Safety of staffs  & Save Time & $$

West Point
Treatment

Plant

Discovery Park

Blvd

Dec 2024

Why Use Drones?

3. Effective - Producing Results

0.50 in/px

June 2025

6x time the resolution

(from KC Aerial Imagery - June 2025)

• Construction Site Monitoring

West Point Treatment Plant Power Upgrade Project (2023)

3. Effective - Producing Results

• Construction Site Monitoring

West Point Treatment Plant Power Upgrade Project

3. Effective - Producing Results

Ship Canal Water Quality  - TBM

3. Effective - Producing Results

Building Drone Program

• Small

• Share

• Structure

WHY

• Easy

• Efficient

• Effective

HOW

WHY?

• Ensure Continous Operation
• Support Capital Delivery & Maintenance

DJI Mavic 2 Pro (1)

Mavic 2 Ent. Adv. (1)

Mavic 3 Ent (2)

2021

2022

2023

Matrice 4 Ent. (1)

2025

Total: < $22,000

• Small

• Share

• Structure

S3:  Small

 $1,800 (Retired)

 $6,500

 $3,800

 $5,300/

 $8,500

Latest Hardware

$11,000

All WEather

 RGB Camera

~ $10,500

Lidar Sensor

~ $ 17,500

S3:   Share

WTD Examples: 2D Aerial 
Brightwater Treatment Plant - Construction Aeriation Building

S3:   Structure

WTD Drone Dashboard

KC Wastewater Treatment Drone Program

Part I & II

Introduction

1.1

Flight Operation 

WTD GIS Team

• 10 GIS Specialists

• 4 FAA Certified Pilots

• 3 Studying to be Certified

• Two Interns

  • ​Olivia

  • Max

Supervisor

WTD GIS Drone Program

May  2026

• Four  FAA Part 107 Drone Certified Pilots - WTD GIS Specialists (3 Additional Staff training)

Joe

DJI Mavic 2 Pro (1)

Mavic 2 Ent. Adv. (1)

Mavic 3 Ent (2)

2021

2022

2023

Matrice 4 Ent. (1)

2025

Total: ~ $27,000

Current Hardware

DJI Mavic 2 Pro < $1,800 (Retired)

DJI Mavic 2 Pro Ent. Adv $6,500

DJI Avata $1,300

Mavic 3 Ent (2x)

 $3,800

20 MP/ 56x zoom

20 MP

12 MP/ 32x zoom

+ Thermal

Matrice 4 Ent

~ $5,300

Latest Hardware

$11,000

All WEather

L3 - lidar

~ $ 18,000

H30T - Thermal

~ $ 12,000

Part I & II

Introduction

1.1

Flight Operation 

Part III

1.1

Flight Data Processing

Data Integration 

Q & A plus

Discussion

Flight Operation (Continue) 

Structure from Motion (SfM)

Part II: Data Processing 

Photogrammetry

Part II: Data Processing 

Data Processing

Input Sequences in DD

Ground Control Points

Increase accuracy of drone map

GCP's make your map accurate BUT do not let you know HOW accurate the map is.

Ground Control Points

RTK = Real-Time Kinematic

RTK with Mobile Base Station

RTK with NTRIP

NTRIP - Networked Transport of RTCM (internet protocol). 

Require Constant Internet connection (cell) or subscrption

Ground Control Points

GNSS Receivers with RTK + 

Esri FieldMap

Importance of Check Points

• Check points are physical markers in drone images where the precise GPS location is known
• Check Points give XYZ error in inches/cm with map products
• Single or average error does not guarantee the accuracy for all parts map

• GCP = map processing

• Check Points = calculating average errors

Part III

1.1

Flight Data Processing

Data Integration 

Q & A plus

Discussion

Flight Operation (Continue) 

Data Products

EPSG Code - European Petroleum Survey Group

EPSG 4326: WGS 84, Longitude & Latitude Coordinate system 

EPSG 3857: Web Mercator Projection (Esri = 1984 Web Mercator Auxiliary Sphere)

EPSG 2926: NAD83 Washington North NAD83

Drone Photo Data

• Esri Dashboard with Survey123

GIS Integration

• AGO Web App

• AGO 3D Scene Viewer App

GIS Integration

DD 3D Model 

Washington GIS Association Drone Special Interest Group

• Email Sign-up
• Resources

• Every 3rd Thursday
• ZOOM Meeting
• 148 Members

Thank You!