Visual Line of Sight & Regulations
Imaging, Resolution, and GSD
Camera Angles & Field of View
Data, Mapping, and Output Products
Project Planning, Environmental & Technical Considerations
100
This is the term for the requirement that a drone operator must be able to see their drone at all times during flight.
Visual Line of Sight (VLOS)
100
This term describes the number of pixels in an image and is often measured in megapixels.
Image Resolution
100
This is the point directly below the camera sensor, looking straight down vertically.
Nadir Point
100
This type of file is used for geographic data storage and contains spatial information in vector format.
Shapefile
100
This is the first step in mission planning, involving understanding the core purpose and goals of the mission.
Mission Objective Definition
200
This FAA rule requires the unique identifier assigned during drone registration to be displayed on the external surface of the drone.
External Marking Requirement
or
Visible ID Marking
200
This is the formula for calculating Ground Sample Distance (GSD).
200
This angle is formed when you look down at something below your eye level.
Depression angle
200
This is the process of combining multiple overlapping images to create one large, seamless image.
Image stitching
200
This weather factor can destabilize drones and affect image quality and flight safety.
Wind
300
This type of visual operation allows an observer to help the pilot maintain visual contact with the drone beyond the pilot’s direct line of sight.
Extended Visual Line of Sight (EVLOS)
300
A lower GSD value means this about the image detail.
Higher image detail and greater spatial resolution
300
This term describes the horizontal direction to face when locating a satellite, measured in degrees from 0° to 360°.
Azimuth
300
This mapping product creates a three-dimensional model of the Earth's surface, including buildings and trees.
Digital Surface Model (DSM)
a
3D representation of earth's surface
300
This measurement refers to the height of something above a specific reference point, most commonly mean sea level.
Altitude
400
This is the term for flying a drone where neither the pilot nor a visual observer can see the drone at all.
Beyond Visual Line of Sight (VLOS)
400
This factor, along with sensor size, can help achieve a lower GSD for more precise mapping.
Flight Altitude
or
The closer to the object, the more accurate the image
400
This type of aerial photo is more valuable for showing the appearance of buildings because it is shot from an angle.
Oblique aerial photo
400
This is the term for precisely surveyed locations on the ground used to align and georeference aerial images.
Ground Control Points (GCPs)
400
This is the unit of speed that represents one nautical mile traveled per hour, commonly used in aviation and maritime navigation.
Knot
500
This is the primary reason the FAA requires visual line of sight for drone operations.
To ensure safety of the National Airspace System (NAS)
500
This is the recommended GSD if you need to identify small objects in an inspection.
GSD that is 2–3× smaller than the smallest object you need to detect.
500
This is the full angle in degrees between any light captured horizontally and any light captured at the edge of the camera’s view.
Field of View (FOV)
500
These maps use lines to connect points of equal elevation, creating a two-dimensional representation of terrain heights.
Topographic maps
500
This is the process of checking data for completeness, format correctness, and logical consistency before analysis or use.
Data validation