The way forward for drones won’t be simply drones — however fairly a discipline referred to as actuality seize. Actuality seize encompasses not simply drones, however different instruments like floor robots and 360 cameras. All these instruments collectively have the potential to raised seize knowledge autonomously. And although DroneDeploy preliminary began as a drone mapping software program firm, it’s more and more leaning into the broader discipline of actuality seize. However the firm additionally sought to search out out: why don’t enterprise use actuality seize software program?
The San Francisco-based drone mapping and actuality seize software program firm DroneDeploy surveyed 1,447 customers from 119 international locations throughout 13 industries in mid-2023 to search out out. And it seems, it principally comes all the way down to price.
“Value is the primary barrier to adoption,” in line with DroneDeploy’s State of Actuality Seize 2024 report. The report additionally cited uncertainty about learn how to show return on funding (ROI) as one other massive cause — each of which obtained 30% of responses as to why companies weren’t utilizing actuality seize software program. One other pretty important contributing issue? 19% of respondents stated they didn’t have sufficient time to analysis choices.
Value (and it’s cousin, burden to show ROI) is one factor, however the lack of time to analysis choices is a bit ironic. In spite of everything, if time is cash — then having actuality seize software program very nicely would possibly save companies time (and thus cash).
In keeping with DroneDeploy’s report, 86% of enterprise respondents estimated that previously 12 months, actuality seize has saved their firm not less than $5,000. A smaller but nonetheless spectacular 49% of respondents had saved $50,000 or extra. And 25% noticed financial savings of greater than $100,000.
Larger corporations unsurprisingly saved extra general cash. Virtually half (46%) of corporations with 100 workers or extra had saved between $10,000 and $100,000. However regardless of the corporate dimension, there appears to be a monetary profit. In keeping with the report, 96% of companies reported a constructive return from their funding in actuality seize — which means solely 4% bought the software program however didn’t see an equal or better monetary acquire.
How a lot does actuality seize software program price?
So how a lot does actuality seize software program price? It varies primarily based on plan options and firm that you simply go together with. DroneDeploy, which is identical firm that commissioned the survey above, is without doubt one of the largest gamers in drone mapping software program. It’s additionally fairly clear about its pricing. Listed below are DroneDeploy costs as of March 2024:
| Particular person Plan (worth per thirty days, however billed yearly) | Superior Plan, which provides extra superior flight + evaluation (worth per thirty days, however billed yearly) | |
| Building sector | $329 | $599 |
| Vitality sector | $329 | $599 |
| Agriculture sector | $129 (ag lite plan) | $329 (particular person plan) |
| Property administration sector | $329 | $599 |
| Different sectors | $329 | $599 |
Word that costs are displayed as per thirty days costs, however DroneDeploy payments yearly. So, a $329 plan would price $3,948 per yr, and a $599 plan would price $7,188 per yr. DroneDeploy additionally provides crew charges, enabling your complete firm or crew entry to software program. These costs differ by particular person firm, so that you’ll should contact them for a quote.
The plans differ by way of options. For instance, with most plans, the person model will get you only a 3k picture add per map, whereas the superior will get you 10k picture add.
Different software program will be extra reasonably priced although. Pix4D provides one of many least expensive software program choices on the market. It’s priciest, Pix4D mapper, begins at $292 per thirty days. Pix4D thought of one of many main photogrammetry softwares for skilled drone mapping. It’s used to remodel aerial pictures into survey-grade correct and georeferenced orthomosaics, factors clouds, 2D maps, and 3D fashions for evaluation, inspections, and measurements.
Swiss-based Pix4D provides many software program choices although, and among the many most reasonably priced is Pix4Dreact. At simply $37.50, it’s a a lot lighter-weight software that makes simply 2D maps (although that is likely to be ample for sure conditions).
The best way to get actuality seize software program without cost or low-cost
You don’t should pay 1000’s of {dollars} for DroneDeploy although — not less than not but. All new customers begin with a 14-day free trial, which you’ll enroll by means of their trial web page. DroneDeploy additionally provides reductions for licensed non-profits and academic establishments by means of the DroneDeploy.org spinoff.
Equally, Pix4D additionally provides free trials on most of its merchandise.
You may also contemplate free sorts of actuality seize software program. For instance, WebODM will be helpful for individuals already conversant in GIS. The native drone mapping software program can course of drone imagery into maps, fashions and measurements.
What’s actuality seize software program — and is it price it?
Actuality seize software program is a reasonably broad time period for any type of software program that means that you can mix and export knowledge, after which share that knowledge as 3D digital fashions. There’s even a software program actually referred to as RealityCapture, and it’s a photogrammetry/3D scanning software program utility.
Actuality seize software program depends on all types of instruments, which might embody drones with cameras, or drones with LiDAR — and even floor robots with cameras or LiDAR.
The preferred instruments for knowledge seize, in line with DroneDeploy (accompanied by % of survey respondents who use these instruments), are:
- high-resolution cameras (100%)
- 360 cameras (56%)
- LiDAR / laser scanners (56%)
- RGB or PTZ cameras (50%)
- thermal cameras (42%)
And what are these sorts of cameras or scanners mounted to? In keeping with the DroneDeploy survey, 96% of respondents put them on drones. It’s maybe unsurprisingly to see a determine so excessive, given it’s unlikely a non-drone consumer would flip to an organization with ‘drone’ in its title (although 4% have).
The software program is crucial to fields together with building, oil and fuel and renewable power. However, it’s even utilized in fields like online game making.
And as for whether or not or not it’s price it, not less than customers declare it’s. DroneDeploy requested its prospects to quote the highest advantages of utilizing actuality seize software program. They’re:
- higher visibility of tasks (77%)
- saving time and prices (57%)
- better buyer satisfaction (56%)
- improved communication with groups or stakeholders (50%)
