The Mavic 3 Enterprise has been making waves with its mapping capabilities, but its potential in photogrammetry deserves more attention. We tackled two fascinating projects to demonstrate what it can do. From preserving the historic Queen of Sydney ferry to the iconic McBarge, these case studies highlight the drone’s ability to automate the creation of highly-detailed 3D models.
We showcased the impressive photogrammetry capabilities of the Mavic 3 Enterprise drone by creating a detailed 3D model of the Queen of Sydney. This historical ferry, built for BC Ferries, was the first to fly the BC flag and served as a vital link between mainland Vancouver and the islands from the 1960s until its retirement in the 2000s. Now languishing on the Fraser River, the Queen of Sydney offers a unique opportunity for 3D modelling.
We highlighted several key reasons why this 3D model is valuable:
1. Historical Preservation: Capturing the current state of the ship ensures that future generations can experience its legacy.
2. Virtual Exploration: A virtual tour reduces trespassing on private property.
3. Environmental Studies: Monitoring decay and deterioration over time helps scientists understand the environmental impact.
Our process began with a rough model using Flight Hub 2 to create a flight plan around the ship. The automated mission took 40 minutes, capturing over 2,900 photos. Using Reality Capture, we processed this data into a high-quality 3D model with over 103 million triangles, taking about 3 hours.
Despite challenges such as signal interference and altitude adjustments over tidal waters, the Mavic 3 Enterprise delivered outstanding results, proving its worth in complex photogrammetry projects.
In the second case study, we aimed to improve the resolution of our 3D models by focusing on the McBarge, a floating McDonald's restaurant built for Expo 86 in Vancouver. Unsatisfied with the initial resolution of the Queen of Sydney model, we adopted the slope route feature of the Mavic 3 Enterprise to capture more intricate details.
We divided the task into four sections, three of which were automated using the slope route function, while the fourth had to be flown manually due to obstructions like trees. This approach allowed us to fly closer to the ship, capturing more detailed images.
This mission took about an hour on-site, gathering a larger dataset for processing. Although this increased processing time, the final high-resolution model was worth the effort, demonstrating the enhanced capabilities of the Mavic 3 Enterprise in capturing detailed 3D models.
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