A



Aerial Mapping: Using photogrammetry to create maps or models of the terrain. See also: Aerial Survey

Aerial Photography: Taking photographs from aircraft or drones.

Aerial Survey: A method of aerial mapping that leverages higher-accuracy GPS data to produce centimeter-level accurate surveys from the air. See also: Aerial Mapping

Airframe: The basic structure of a drone or aircraft.

Altitude: The height of a drone above a specified level, usually above ground level (AGL).

Altitude Hold (Flight Mode): A flight mode that enables drones to maintain a specific altitude without the need for controller input. Ideal for photography and videography, it empowers pilots to concentrate on framing shots without altitude concerns.

Attitude Mode (Flight Mode, "ATTI"): A flight mode where the drone's attitude is manually controlled (GPS and other visual positioning systems are disabled). Here, the drone will not maintain a stable hover.

Autonomous Flight: Drone flight controlled by onboard computers without direct human input. This is often the primary method of flying when conducting photogrammetry/surveys/mapping.



B



Battery Life: The duration a drone's battery can power its flight.

Bird's Eye View: An elevated or aerial perspective of the ground or a scene.

Brushless Motor: An electric motor without brushes, commonly used in drones for propulsion.

BVLOS: Beyond Visual Line of Sight - Flying a drone where the operator cannot see it directly.



C



CAA: Civil Aviation Authority - The national aviation authority responsible for regulating civil aviation.

Camera Gimbal: A mechanism that stabilises a payload (often a camera) attached to a drone. The gimbal incorporates an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) which detects movement and relays signals to a controller, prompting individual motors to stabilise the payload along each axis.

Collision Avoidance: Technology that helps drones detect and avoid obstacles.

Controller: The handheld device used to operate and control a drone and/or its gimbal.



D



DEM: Digital Elevation Model - A 3D representation of terrain elevation.

DSM: Digital Surface Model - A model representing the surface, including natural and artificial features.

DTM: Digital Terrain Model - A model representing the bare ground surface without any objects.

Drone License: Official authorisation that is required to operate a drone under certain conditions. In the UK, the level of license you need depends on on the drone you wish to fly and where you plan to fly it. As a minimum, the majority of drone pilots will need to register with the CAA and get an operator ID and/or flyer ID. Operator ID: If you're responsible for a drone or model aircraft, you are required to register as a drone operator to get an operator ID. This costs £10. Flyer ID: If your drone weighs over 250g, the drone pilot must register and get a flyer ID. There is a 40 question multiple choice exam. This is completely free.

Drone Regulations: Rules and guidelines governing the operation of drones.

Drone Software: Programs and applications used to control drones and process data. These software can range from DJI Fly, the primary flying and planning app for DJI drones, to Reality Capture, a photogrammetry software that allows for creating models out of individual photographs or laser scans.

Drone Training: Instruction and education on how to operate drones safely and effectively.



E



Emergency Procedures: Protocols for responding to unexpected situations or malfunctions during drone operation.

Endurance: The amount of time a drone can remain airborne on a single battery charge.



F



Flight Mode: Different settings or configurations for controlling a drone's flight behavior. These can include: altitude hold, follow me, waypoint, sport, tripod, gesture, and attitude modes.

Flight Planning: Preparing a route or mission for a drone before takeoff. This can include parameters such as flight pattern, altitude, and video/image capture specifications. This can be done in various apps/software, such as your drones first-party application, as well as third-party software like Pix4D, DroneDeploy, Dronelink, Litchi, and more.

Flyaway: Unintentional loss of control of a drone resulting in it flying away from the operator.

FPV: First Person View - Flying a drone while viewing the flight through a screen or goggles.

Follow Me (Flight Mode): A sought-after feature that enables drones to autonomously track the pilot or an in-frame object. Ideal for outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and biking, as it eliminates the need for a second operator to capture footage of the pilot.



G



GCP: Ground Control Points - A point on the ground (often denoted by a painted cross, post, or pad) that has accurately known coordinates. Using GCPs helps mapping software accurately stitch together and position your map in relation to the real world.

GPS Coordinates: Geographic coordinates representing a location on the Earth's surface.

Geo-fencing: Virtual boundaries set up to restrict a drone's flight within a designated area.

Gesture (Flight Mode): Gesture mode is a feature that allows the pilot to control the drone using hand gestures. This mode is particularly useful for selfies and other personal use cases, as it allows the pilot to control the drone without the need for a remote controller.

GSD: Ground Sampling Distance - The dimensions of a single pixel in an image, as measured on the ground.



H



Hover: Maintaining a stable position in the air without moving.



I



Imaging Sensor: Electronic device that captures visual data, by converting the variable attenuation of light waves into small bursts of current which convey the visual information of the subject. The most common sensors found in drones cover the red, blue, and green spectra, while more specialised sensors (multi-spectral, hyper-spectral, etc) can cover different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, and therefore can build a different picture of a subject (thermal, crop health, material type, etc).

IMU: Inertial Measurement Unit - A sensor that measures and reports a drone's velocity, orientation, and gravitational forces.

INS: Inertial Navigation System - A system that uses sensors and rotation detectors to continuously calculate a drone's position.

IP rating: Ingress Protection Rating - A rating that classifies the level of protection against solid objects, dust, and water.



J



Joystick: Control device used to maneuver drones.



L



LiDAR: Light Detection and Ranging technology used for 3D mapping and surveying. Often used as a mountable payload, LiDAR uses rapid laser pulses to map out the shape of a surface and its features. This data can then be used to create detailed 3D models and maps. LiDAR is often used over standard RGB mapping due to its high vegetation penetration, should you wish to collect accurate data on the raw topography of the land. A point cloud is a very common output from a LiDAR scan.

LOS: Line of Sight - The unobstructed path between a drone and its operator.



M



Mapping Software: A term also used for photogrammetry software. Applications used to process aerial imagery and create maps or models.

Multirotor: Type of drone with multiple rotors for lift and control.



N



Navigation System: Equipment or software used to determine a drone's position and navigate.

NOTAM: Notice to Airmen - A notice containing information concerning the establishment, condition, or change in any component of, or hazard to, the navigation facilities, services, procedures, or hazards to flight. See UK NOTAM info here.



O



Obstacle Avoidance: Technology that helps drones detect and manoeuvre around obstacles.

Orthomosaic: The output from a process where numerous overlapping images (e.g. capture via a drone) are stitched together using software (e.g. Reality Capture, Drone Deploy, Pix4D) to create a continuous complete image or map of an area. It is a very common output from the process of photogrammetry.



P



Payload: Additional equipment or sensors carried by a drone. Examples could be camera payloads, LiDAR payloads, and cargo payloads.

PfCO: Permission for Commercial Operations - Authorisation for conducting commercial drone flights issued by aviation authorities.

Photogrammetry: The process of gathering data from two-dimensional photos, often aerial images captured by drones. By merging geotagged images of identical objects from varied perspectives, photogrammetry software constructs lifelike digital models of the physical world.

Point Cloud: Set of data points collected in a 3D coordinate system representing a 3D shape or object. Point clouds are often converted to a polygon or triangle mesh, or inputted straight into CAD software. The point cloud is the raw, untextured data that sits behind most 3D models.

PPK: Post-Processing Kinematics - A technique for precise drone positioning by correcting GPS data after it has been collected. See PPK vs RTK

Precision Agriculture: Using drones for farming practices such as crop monitoring and management.

Propeller: Rotating blades that provide thrust and lift for a drone.



R



Remote Sensing: Data collection from a distance using sensors or instruments.

RPAS: Remotely Piloted Aircraft System

RTH: Return to Home - A safety feature that enables a drone to automatically return to its takeoff point.

RTK: Real-Time Kinematics - A technique for precise drone positioning that uses real-time GPS corrections as the drone is in flight. See PPK vs RTK



S



Sense and Avoid: Technology enabling drones to detect and avoid collisions with obstacles or other aircraft.

SLAM: Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping - AI-based method enabling drones and other autonomous vehicles to map environments and navigate autonomously in real time.

Sport (Flight Mode): Sport mode unlocks a drone's high-performance capabilities, enabling higher speeds and more dynamic maneuvers. Primarily for seasoned pilots seeking an adrenaline rush (or needed when shooting large subjects like mountains etc), it's crucial to use caution, as sport mode poses risks and is best suited for open areas away from people and property.

Survey Grade Accuracy: High level of accuracy suitable for professional surveying applications - normally achievable using either PPK or RTK.



T



Telemetry: Transmission of data from a drone to a ground station.

Thermal Imaging: Capturing images of heat (infrared) radiation emitted by objects.

Topographic Survey: Mapping of the natural and artificial features of an area.

Tripod (Flight Mode): Tripod mode offers a deliberate and smooth flight experience, ideal for indoor flights or filming in confined spaces. Its slow, precise movements are perfect for capturing cinematic shots.



U



UAS: Unmanned Aircraft System

UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Unmanned Aircraft: Aircraft without a human pilot onboard.

Urban Planning: Using drones for city development and management.



V



Video Transmission: Sending live or recorded video footage from a drone to a ground station.

VLOS: Visual Line of Sight - Operating a drone within the direct sight of the operator.



W



Waypoint (Flight Mode): Predefined locations or coordinates used to guide a drone's flight path. Waypoint mode enables pilots to pre-program a flight path for their drones. By inputting a series of waypoints, the drone autonomously navigates to each one in sequence. This mode is especially useful for mapping and surveying, streamlining data collection without requiring manual control.

Wind Resistance: Ability of a drone to withstand and maintain stability in windy conditions.

WGS84: World Geodic System 1984 - A global reference system used for geospatial positioning.