Survey Pattern

This section provides an overview of how to plan a survey pattern.

A Survey Pattern is a pre-planned flight path designed to systematically cover a specific area, essential for missions such as aerial mapping, inspections, and agricultural monitoring. In Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations, using survey patterns offers several key benefits:

Maximized Coverage: Survey patterns like grid or spiral paths ensure that all areas of interest are fully covered, leaving no gaps in data collection. This is crucial in ISR operations for monitoring large areas, tracking enemy movements, or surveying infrastructure.
Improved Efficiency: Pre-programmed flight patterns optimize the UAV’s flight time, allowing for efficient data collection over large areas without unnecessary overlap. This ensures quicker intelligence gathering, which is vital in time-sensitive ISR missions.
Accurate Intelligence: By maintaining consistent flight paths, UAVs can collect high-resolution imagery and sensor data. This enhances situational awareness, enabling decision-makers to assess threats, gather battlefield intelligence, or monitor border areas with precision.
Reduced Human Error: Automated flight patterns reduce the need for constant manual control, minimizing the risk of human error during data collection. This is particularly beneficial in high-risk ISR missions where focus on data analysis is critical.
Adaptability: Survey patterns can be adapted for different terrains or mission needs, such as contour-following for topographic analysis. This versatility is crucial in ISR operations, where varied environments and mission parameters are common.

In ISR missions, the systematic, automated coverage offered by survey patterns ensures comprehensive surveillance, rapid intelligence collection, and enhanced operational decision-making, contributing to mission success.

Payload-specific survey patterns are discussed in their respective sections within this manual.

Once the Mission Start Action has been created, a Survey Pattern can be placed anywhere on the map to autonomously cover an area by flying a predefined path. To do this, click on the Pattern Tool in the Plan Tools located on the right side of the screen and choose Survey.

A Survey item will be created and the Mission Editor on the right side of the screen will display the Survey Settings.

For ISR operations, it is recommended to choose Manual (no camera specs) as this provides direct access to the Survey Altitude and Spacing without the need to set the Overlaps.

Survey settings for specific mapping payloads are covered in their respective chapters.

The Survey area selector offers predefined shapes for the Survey Pattern.

Rectangle Tool

Creates a rectangular survey on the map. Use the outer vertices to shape the form and the green vertex in the middle of the pattern to reposition it. Clicking the plus sign on the survey edge adds additional vertices.

Circle Tool

Creates a circular survey on the map. Use the outer vertex to expand or contract the shape, and the green vertex in the middle of the pattern to reposition it.

Trace Tool

The Trace Tool lets the operator draw a survey form by clicking anywhere on the map. Use the outer vertices to shape the form and the green vertex in the middle of the pattern to reposition it. Clicking the plus sign on the survey edge adds additional vertices.

Click on a vertex with the left mouse button to remove it or enter geo-coordinates for that specific point.

During tracing, the map can be dragged by holding down the Ctrl key on the keyboard and dragging the map with the right mouse button.

Once tracing is complete, confirm by clicking the Done Tracing button in the Mission Editor.

Load KML/SHP file

This provides the option to import KML or SHP files for the survey pattern.

Altitude sets the altitude of the Survey Pattern, which is usually relative to the Home Position.

Spacing determines the distance between the transects (trajectories within the green survey area). Spacing on the left side is 50 meters, and spacing on the right side is 150 meters.

The Trigger Distance can be ignored. Payload-dependent survey planning will be discussed in the dedicated chapters.

Pattern Options provide additional settings for the Survey.

Set the Pattern angle by moving the slide or entering a value. On the left side, the Pattern angle is 90 degrees, and on the right side, it is 180 degrees.

The Turnaround Distance refers to the horizontal distance the drone travels beyond the survey area's edge at the end of a transect before making a turn to start the next parallel transect. This buffer provides the drone with enough space to turn, and align itself accurately for the next pass, ensuring smooth transitions between flight lines. Set the Turnaround Distance by moving the slider or entering a value. On the left side, the Turnaround Distance is 50 meters, and on the right side, it is 300 meters.

Rotate Entry Point determines the vehicle's entry and exit locations for the survey. Click the button to toggle through all possible positions.

The Options tab provides four additional options for the survey item.

Refly at a 90-degree offset adds vertical trajectories to the horizontal ones. This is typically used for mapping missions, as it collects twice the amount of data, which is useful for creating a 3D map, for example. This tool can also be useful for ISR operations, as it covers the area in question twice.

The Images in turnarounds option is important for survey missions using a mapping payload, such as the Sony A7R Mark IV. This option will be discussed in the dedicated payload chapter and is not relevant to ISR operations.

Fly alternate transects - When not selected the vehicle is flying the exact pattern line after line.
The DeltaQuad Evo has less space between the two lines to perform the turnaround and re-enter the survey area. When Fly alternate transects is enabled the vehicle will fly constantly skipping one line. When reaching the end, the DeltaQuad Evo will fly back and follow the lines it previously skipped. This option will be discussed in the dedicated payload chapter and is not relevant to ISR operations.

Relative altitude: When enabled, altitudes are relative to the home point. When disabled, altitudes are measured above mean sea level (AMSL).

Be cautious and always double-check ground elevation.

The Survey item can be deleted by clicking the Red Trash Bin in the lower right corner of the Mission Editor window.

By clicking the Three Dashes in the lower left corner of the Mission Editor window, the option Edit Position appears. Insert the values for the coordinate system of your choice and click Set to confirm the coordinates.

Always verify the ground elevation using the Terrain Altitude Indicator. A ground collision is indicated when the orange line turns red in the Terrain Altitude Indicator.

The Vehicle follows terrain option allows the aircraft to maintain a constant distance from the ground. If the ground elevation changes, the vehicle adjusts its altitude accordingly. This option will be discussed in the dedicated payload chapter and is not relevant to ISR operations.

A fixed-wing aircraft has limited capabilities to follow ground elevation due to its need for constant forward movement to generate lift. This continuous motion restricts its ability to make quick altitude adjustments. Additionally, fixed-wing aircraft have a limited climb and descent rate, meaning they cannot rapidly adapt to sudden changes in terrain elevation, unlike multirotor drones that can hover and change altitude more quickly.