Drones and Low-Altitude Aerial Mapping

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly called drones, have since the mid-2010s become a standard tool for mapping at spatial scales far finer than any satellite can economically achieve. Both fixed-wing drones, which cover larger areas more efficiently per flight, and multirotor drones, which offer greater maneuverability and the ability to hover, typically operate at altitudes below 120 meters (400 feet) under most national aviation regulations, carrying sensor payloads that range from simple RGB cameras to multispectral, thermal, or even compact LiDAR units, at a fraction of the cost of a crewed aerial survey aircraft.