7. Appendix B - Commercial Examples
7.1 Commercial Building with No Obstructions
With no or few obstructions, as well as no trees taller than the roof, a simple commercial project takes on the same characteristics as a simple residential project, with just larger radii. The second POI is slightly off center to capture the few obstructions along the ridge.
Overview of flight paths
Image Overview: 250 – 300
Overlap: ~90%
Speed: 2-5MPH, or taking a picture every 2-4 seconds.
POI 1 – Context flight: ~70 feet AGL, or 10 feet above the tallest obstruction, with camera angle at ~45 degrees. The entire building should be in the camera’s frame for every shot. The point of interest is the middle of the building. The flight path’s radius should be set by including (1) the entire building and (2) any surrounding obstructions that could cause shadows on the building (eg vegetation, trees, surrounding buildings). The radius can be set in the camera viewer.
POI 2 – Detailed flight: ~10 feet above building / obstructions, camera angle ~35 degrees
7.2 Commercial Building with Some Obstructions Example 1
A common small commercial building typically has HVAC, vent pipes and other rooftop obstructions, but minimal trees. This frequently is the case for any store, bank, market or local shop. A large context flight is key to capture any surrounding building edges, followed by two very focused detailed flight paths to accurately map the obstructions.
Overview of flight paths
Image Range: 300 – 325
Overlap: ~90%
Speed: 2-5MPH, or taking a picture every 2-4 seconds.
POI 1 – Context flight: ~70 feet AGL, or 10 feet above the tallest obstruction, with camera angle at ~45 degrees. The entire building should be in the camera’s frame for every shot. The point of interest is the middle of the building. The flight path’s radius should be set by including (1) the entire building and (2) any surrounding obstructions that could cause shadows on the building (eg vegetation, trees, surrounding buildings). The radius can be set in the camera viewer.
POI 2 – Detailed flight: ~10 feet above building / obstructions, camera angle ~35 degrees
POI 3 – Detailed flight: ~10 feet above building / obstructions, camera angle ~35 degrees
7.3 Commercial Building with Some Obstructions Example 2
Overview of flight paths
Continuing the profile from the prior example, notice the same general flight path shapes, with a context flight tailored to the height of the building.
Image Range: 300 – 325
Overlap: ~90%
Speed: 2-5MPH, or taking a picture every 2-4 seconds.
POI 1 – Context flight: ~120 feet AGL, or 10 feet above the tallest obstruction, with camera angle at ~45 degrees. The entire building should be in the camera’s frame for every shot. The point of interest is the middle of the building. The flight path’s radius should be set by including (1) the entire building and (2) any surrounding obstructions that could cause shadows on the building (eg vegetation, trees, surrounding buildings). The radius can be set in the camera viewer.
POI 2 – Detailed flight: ~10 feet above building / obstructions, camera angle ~35 degrees
POI 3 – Detailed flight: ~10 feet above building / obstructions, camera angle ~35 degrees
7.4 Commercial Building with Many Obstructions Example 1
This property has several important features to beware of. There are many obstructions in the middle of the building, and a possible obstruction on the southwest roof plane. Many of the surrounding trees could also be problematic. Because they could be sparse, it will be valuable to document the heights of each tree in case they don’t map well. This is an example of a second context flight around a cluster of obstructions. The objective is to accurately map those clusters, as they will have significant impacts on a potential array.
Overview of flight paths
Image Range: 275-325
Overlap: ~90%
Speed: 2-5MPH, or taking a picture every 2-4 seconds
POI 1 – Context flight: ~70 feet AGL, or 10 feet above the tallest obstruction, with camera angle at ~45 degrees. The entire building should be in the camera’s frame for every shot. The point of interest is the middle of the building. The flight path’s radius should be set by including (1) the entire building and (2) any surrounding obstructions that could cause shadows on the building (eg vegetation, trees, surrounding buildings). The radius can be set in the camera viewer.
POI 2 – Context flight: ~70 feet AGL, camera angle ~45 degrees. Trees of interest (marked with an X) should be in the camera’s frame.
POI 3 – Detailed flight: ~10 feet above building / obstructions, camera angle ~35 degrees
Tree heights: Hover over the trees marked with an “X” and record the drone’s altitude. A screen shot of the drone flying app is sufficient since it will show drone location and altitude.
7.5 Commercial Building with Many Obstructions Example 2
Overview of flight paths
Projects with complicated and uniquely shaped roof planes require multiple detailed flight paths, such as flights #2 - #4 below. This will enable the 3D model to show key angles and obstructions along each corner of the property.
Image Range: 300 – 350
Overlap: >80%
Overview of flight paths
Large commercial projects can use a rasterized flight pattern instead of a context POI for the first flight. This also avoids the issue of flying the drone over the highway, which can be dangerous.
Here are the specific DroneDeploy parameters for setting up the rasterized flight path:
7.6 Commercial Building with Many Obstructions Example 3
Many commercial projects have unique structural features that can complicate mapping. These can be unusual obstructions or architectural features. The key is to isolate these items and fly detailed flight paths around them. The below property has a lattice structure that may have solar installed on it. Capturing this is critical, hence the multiple POIs with the lattice as the center point, versus POIs with the overall center of the building as the main point of focus.
Overview of Flight Paths
Image Range: 350 – 400
Overlap: >80%
Speed: 2-5MPH, or taking a picture every 2-4 seconds.
Of note, the context flight should be ~70 feet AGL or 10 feet above the tallest obstruction, with camera angle at ~45 degrees. The entire building should be in the camera’s frame for every shot. The point of interest is the middle of the building. The flight path’s radius should be set by including (1) the entire building and (2) any surrounding obstructions that could cause shadows on the building (eg vegetation, trees, surrounding buildings). The radius can be set in the camera viewer.
In satellite imagery, as in the following image, the building isn’t present because it was recently constructed. Since it is a large property near the highway, a rasterized context flight can also be used for the context POI. Without adequate detailed POIs though, only doing a rasterized flight over a building with a lot of obstructions could negatively impact the detail of the 3D model’s features.
Overview of flight paths
Here are the flight paths for a combined rasterized / POI commercial project.
Here is a similar example, but a much larger project and more obstructions. In this case, we recommend using DroneDeploy’s Crosshatch 3D + Perimeter 3D setting. You can also use the enhanced 3D setting. This allows for better mapping of 3D features.
Solar is being proposed here
POI 1 - Context flight: The AGL should be 10 feet above the tallest obstruction, with camera angle at ~45 degrees. The entire building should be in the camera’s frame for every shot. Attempt to capture the building’s facade. The point of interest is the middle of the building. The flight path’s radius should be set by including (1) the entire building and (2) any surrounding obstructions that could cause shadows on the building (eg vegetation, trees, surrounding buildings). The radius can be set in the camera viewer.
Camera's view should look something like this as you circle the building.
7.7 Tall Structures in an Urban Setting
Overview of flight paths
The objective is to map the building that will receive solar, as well as the surrounding structures that could cause shading. Solar is planned for the mall within the first flight. The flight paths are similar to a residential project with many nearby trees. This is one of the few situations where a detailed flight (flight #4), which is mapping a large cluster of tall buildings nearby, will have a larger radius than the context flight (flight #1).
Image Range: 350 – 400
Overlap: >80%
Speed: 2-5MPH, or taking a picture every 2-4 seconds.
POI 2 - Detail flight: Lower in altitude than the context flights. The goal is to get closer to the obstructions and roof features to map these in detail. Camera's view should look something like this as you circle around:
POI 3 - Detail flight: Lower in altitude than the context flights. The goal is to get closer to the obstructions and roof features to map these in detail. Camera's view should look something like this as you circle around:
POI 4 - Context flight: Try and keep these buildings in the camera's frame. Camera's view should look something like this as you circle the buildings:
7.8 Stand Alone Towers and Office Buildings
While these won’t be complicated solar projects, capturing vertical features and building façades are critical for a robust and marketable 3D models. It is important to capture the details on the roof where solar could be placed as well as the oblique images. See 5.5 and 5.6, and focus on how the vertical structure (ie telecom towers & water towers) is being mapped. Fly additional detailed flight paths if there are obstructions in the surrounding area.
7.9 Buildings with Complicated Roofs, Towers, Obstructions (e.g. churches, schools, community centers)
Structures with unique architecture uphold the same flying principles as those with many obstructions. Mapping a property’s distinct characteristics is crucial for accurate shading analysis and module placement, as well as for a beautiful rendering of the proposed project. Like with almost all projects, the first flight is a large context POI. The ones that follow can take any order, but it is usually better to start with the larger detailed POIs and continue on with smaller ones. Each detailed POI will focus on unique features, such as a church’s cupola, like POIs #2 and #4 below, or a cluster of them, like a community center’s group of awnings. The same approach applies for a school that has multiple roof planes, each with HVAC units, skylights and vent pipes. Conducting detailed POIs of each roof plane or groupings of them with similar elevation will be key. Finally, don’t forget about any large trees on the property that require detailed POIs, like POI #3 below.
Overview of flight paths
Image Range: 350 – 450
Overlap: ~90%
Speed: 2-5MPH, or taking a picture every 2-4 seconds.
POI 1 – Context flight: ~70 feet AGL, or 10 feet above the tallest obstruction, with camera angle at ~45 degrees. The entire building should be in the camera’s frame for every shot. The point of interest is the middle of the building. The flight path’s radius should be set by including (1) the entire building and (2) any surrounding obstructions that could cause shadows on the building (eg vegetation, trees, surrounding buildings). The radius can be set in the camera viewer.
POI 2 – Detailed flight: ~10 feet above tower, camera angle ~35 degrees
POI 3 – Detailed flight: ~10 feet above tree, camera angle ~35 degrees
POI 4 – Detailed flight: ~10 feet above tower, camera angle ~35 degrees
Here is a second example, a high school, for additional context:
POI 1 – Context flight: ~90 feet AGL, or 10 feet above the tallest obstruction, with camera angle at ~45 degrees. The entire building should be in the camera’s frame for every shot. The point of interest is the middle of the building. The flight path’s radius should be set by including (1) the entire building and (2) any surrounding obstructions that could cause shadows on the building (eg vegetation, trees, surrounding buildings). The radius can be set in the camera viewer.
POI 2 – Detailed flight: ~10 feet above tower, camera angle ~35 degrees
POI 3 – Detailed flight: ~10 feet above tree, camera angle ~35 degrees
POI 4 – Detailed flight: ~10 feet above tower, camera angle ~35 degrees
POI 5 – Detailed flight: ~10 feet above tower, camera angle ~35 degrees
7.10 No Satellite Imagery / New Build
Preparing flights without updated satellite imagery requires strong onsite skills. Look around the property, identify key areas, and note potential obstructions before taking off. For a commercial building, you can assume that there will be some obstructions on the roof and some detailed POIs will be necessary. Keep an eye out for trees that could disrupt your flight path. If the building exists in reality but not in satellite imagery just follow the flight plans for that building type, as recommended in this Guidebook. If the building does not exist in reality (i.e. new build), or a renovated portion of the building does not exist (i.e. the renovation hasn’t begun yet), map the building as it currently is and you will add in the 3D renderings after creating the 3D model of the property. The takeaway is that you should always map what is currently on site.
For example, the below image is the satellite imagery of a concrete slab prepared for new construction of a warehouse. In reality, the warehouse had already been constructed and the owner was seeking quotes for a solar array. In this case, the pilot flew the property to map the warehouse that was there, hence the two detailed POIs.
Overview of flight paths
Image Range: 300 – 350
Overlap: ~90%
Speed: 2-5MPH, or taking a picture every 2-4 seconds.
POI 1 – Context flight: ~70 feet AGL, or 10 feet above the tallest obstruction, with camera angle at ~45 degrees. The entire building should be in the camera’s frame for every shot. The point of interest is the middle of the building. The flight path’s radius should be set by including (1) the entire building and (2) any surrounding obstructions that could cause shadows on the building (eg vegetation, trees, surrounding buildings). The radius can be set in the camera viewer.
POI 2 – Detailed flight: ~10 feet above building/obstructions, camera angle ~35 degrees
POI 3 – Detailed flight: ~10 feet above building/obstructions, camera angle ~35 degrees
Notably, the property abuts against a highway. To avoid flying the context POI above moving traffic, a rasterized context flight can also be used. See below for the DroneDeploy app recommended flight path and settings. The two detailed POIs would still be needed to complete this mission.
