Before You Start
If you are a new client, you must complete our onboarding and training program before you start capturing towers. We will not process any image sets that are submitted by pilots who have not been instructed by us. So, if you are new to SiteSee and interested in our services, please contact us first to make the necessary arrangements. Thank you.
Purpose of this Guide
SiteSee specialises in high-accuracy 3D modelling of vertical structures such as cell towers. This guide explains how to use Scanlink for the automatic capture of cell towers.
Please note that this guide does not cover basic drone operation skills. It assumes that drone operators:
- •Know how to operate and fly their drones
- •Have sufficient flying experience to safely perform all operations described in this guide
- •Know how to use the camera of their drone and have successfully captured images before
- •Are familiar with the drone-specific regulations pertaining to the areas where they fly their missions and have all permissions required to fly
- •Know how to assess and mitigate the risks of operating their drone and do so for each mission in accordance with regulatory requirements
Hardware Requirements
Scanlink was designed specifically to capture cell towers and runs in the Dronelink app. SiteSee only supports the following drones:
- •DJI Mavic 2 Pro
- •DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise (Recommended)
- •DJI Mavic Air 2S
Compatible Tablet PCs
Scanlink runs in the Dronelink app which is available for both Android and iOS tablet PCs. To work properly, the Dronelink app requires recent devices with a fast processor and the latest operating system version. We strongly recommend using a tablet PC (i.e. not a smartphone) that is included in the list of devices compatible with the DJI Go app. To view this list, go to www.dji.com and find the specifications for your drone model. The compatible devices are listed in the section APP/LIVE VIEW.
Because smartphone displays are too small to work accurately, we do not recommend using them. The screenshots in this guide were taken with an iOS device. Note that the Android interface differs slightly.
Test Your Equipment
It is strongly recommended that, prior to using Scanlink, you test your equipment in the field to ensure that it is compatible and everything is working. Specifically, make sure that your tablet PC, remote control and drone are connecting as designed, then fly the drone and manually capture a few images. Remove the SD card, insert it into your PC and check that it contains the images you captured. If your drone saves images in its internal memory, consult our Troubleshooting Guide for information on how to change this setting.
In the field, an internet connection is useful to download maps of the tower location. If you intend to tether your tablet PC to your smartphone, make sure that its battery is charged sufficiently. Using it as a WiFi hotspot increases battery usage considerably. Note that the Dronelink app can be used in locations without internet access. However, it is necessary to preload Scanlink and location map in a location with internet access.
Equipment to Bring
When flying a mission, also bring along the following gear:
- •Sufficient spare batteries and propellers
- •A launch pad to mark the take-off position and to keep your drone and camera lens clean when taking off from and landing on dirt, grass, etc.
- •A white A4 sheet of paper or cardboard to help you set exposure (see below for instructions)
- •A lens cloth and some microfibre cleaning cloths
Data Upload Requirements
To upload the captured images, a fast and reliable internet connection is required. A single image set typically contains several hundred to over a thousand images, resulting in a total data volume of up to (and sometimes over) 10 gigabytes.
Mission Components
A mission (task) always consists of the following components:
- 1.Site Overview Orbit
- 2.Tower Scan
- 3.RAD Scan
Optionally, an orthomosaic and a panorama are also captured. Each component is explained below.
Site Overview Orbit
This mission component captures a single orbit above the tower with the camera gimbal set at -65 degrees. The purpose of this component is to capture the whole tower from base to top, so make sure that during the capture neither the tower base nor its top are cut off. There also shouldn't be too much space above and beneath the tower.
Tower Scan
This component captures the whole tower using orbits and with the camera gimbal set at -45 degrees. A minimum safe altitude of between 10 m (33 ft) to 15 m (50 ft) is recommended. Scanlink has a feature to automatically avoid obstacles such as trees and buildings. Between obstacles, verticals are captured instead of orbits.
Next Steps
For detailed instructions on flying a mission, including step-by-step guidance on accepting mission tasks, starting the Dronelink app, setting camera exposure, marking tower location and dimensions, capturing missions, and troubleshooting, please refer to the full PDF guide.