Elevated photography

Elevated photography is the process of taking aerial photos using a telescoping pole or mast, or other aerial or elevated support systems, to emulate aerial photographs, or video, taken from a commercially licensed aircraft.

In some ways, elevated photography is more flexible than imagery taken from a commercial aircraft, or an orbiting satellite, in that it is capable of getting highly detailed images, from a birds eye view. This method allows for image collection that offers synoptic timelines - making this process a useful tool for construction management, litigation, accident investigation, real estate promotion and much more.

The price and flexibility of elevated imaging is generally quite reasonable, and it includes varying degrees of compatibility with related engineering-quality software. Because it does not involve the use of a manned commercial aircraft, the overhead and costs associated with elevated photography should be much lower.

Elevated photography has been around for a few years; however, it is still relatively new in the United States and United Kingdom, but the concept of getting aerial images is not. Used extensively in areas outside the United States, it can be used in a variety of ways, but it serves as the link between getting a less than satisfying aerial image or becomes the next 'step up' from ground-level hand-held imagery.

Elevated photography is also commonly known as high-level photography and mast photography. It requires specialist equipment to carry out elevated photography safely and professionally, either van-mounted or portable masts are used, depending on location and job in hand.

One problem with elevated photography is that it is difficult to get an orthographic, or, map-like coverage of an area because most elevated photography system only allow for a 'soda straw' way of collecting data. This can be offset by image stitching, to some degree, with new digital camera systems and software.

The most common configuration is the four-rotor quadcopter design, which is the newest platform for "elevated photography". This platform has become more practical because of recent developments and improvements in Lithium polymer battery and digital Brushless DC electric motor technology.

Civil aviation authorities, and model aircraft association insurance rules, restrict operations of radio-controlled aircraft, including multicopter-carrying cameras, to line of sight (LOS) operation. For all practical purposes, the range of operation of a multicopter, carrying a camera, is limited to a few hundred meters from the operator who is holding the radio control unit. The operational range of the most common, electric-powered multicopters are well-below the operational altitude and range of commercial aircraft, which are capable of conventional aerial photography using a larger, professional cameras that are hand-held by a camera operator, or, mounted inside a gyro-stabilized platform, which are mounted on the outside of the aircraft.

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Wikipedia