CONSIDERATIONS WHEN USING A DRONE (UAV) OPERATOR
There has been an explosion in the uses and potential of drones in the last few years (and for good reason!). They have moved from being a cool present for kids to having the ability to replace other more traditional means of providing exceptional aerial photography, videography, site and asset inspections and stock management to name just a few applications.
Before you choose a company to help with your project there are some factors that you should consider as this is still a relatively new field and there are important things to understand about the service being provided.
IMAGE QUALITY
Some drone operators only use a simple GoPro, while others offer 4K cameras with HD capabilities. Whilst others offer the latest thermal imaging technology. It is important to keep in mind that the greater the quality of the image or video output the greater the price will be so it is worth noting that lower rates will likely mean lower quality footage.
INSURANCE
It is important to ensure that the drone operator you work with has the appropriate insurance cover. They should have public liability insurance that also specifically covers the use of drones.
CERTIFICATION
In New Zealand it is a requirement that certain certifications are held by the drone operator in order for them to legally use their drone for commercial purposes. You should always check that the operator has the required qualifications for the purpose you are using them for.
APPROPRIATE CLEARANCE
Depending on the location where you require the drone to be operating, certain permissions may be required in advance of the mission. It is important to establish if your chosen operator is able to acquire the required permissions ahead of time.
PRICING STRUCTURE
They way that drone operators charge can vary. Some operators will charge based on the time the task takes, some by the project requirements and some a combination. For time based projects it is important to note that the time you are charged for is not merely for the time that the drone is in the air. There is the time that it takes to get the drone set up and into position, weather could be a factor, and then there is the time that it takes to edit the footage taken in order to produce the ideal final product.
FINISHED PRODUCT
Some operators will only provide a completed and edited final project, whilst others are happy to provide you with the raw footage and you can either edit it yourself or hire someone else to complete the editing for you. Keep in mind that for more complex mapping, 3D rendering or thermal footage it is probably best to have the operator provide you with the completed final version as they will have the specific software required to provide the best quality final product.
REFERENCES
It is always a good idea to ask for references from any company whose services you are interested in utilising. This is a relatively new industry so it is worth asking around about the company that you are interested in. You want a high quality service, so expect to pay a higher price for it. A really good deal could end up not providing you with an end product that you expected and rather than saving you money could end up costing you more at the end of the day.