Drone Use in Construction Marketing

The use of drones in construction is growing rapidly, with companies in this industry using drones for various tasks throughout the construction process. We count several construction companies as our clients, and here we are breaking down the uses of drones and other tools for construction services marketing.

The most common use of drones in construction is for marketing, because aerial photography and video showcase project site progress, action on the site, and the finished project better from the bird's eye view than from the ground. You can see more from the aerial view and show off the scale of the project, and the best way to get this type of content is to have ongoing construction progress documentation using drones.

How do construction companies use drone photography and video for construction marketing?

1. Social Media Content

Construction aerial photography and video generate great content to showcase the progress on the construction site to stakeholders and the public. They can also be used as early-stage marketing for the brokers if the building needs to be leased by tenants. Below are some examples: before/during photo and video clip that was posted on social media by our clients.

Before/During drone photo of a construction site on West 25th Street in Cleveland

2. Project Portfolio Showcase on Construction Company Website or YouTube Channel

Every construction company should have a section on their website to showcase the projects that they have been involved in. What better way to showcase them than with photos or videos of finished projects, maybe even an impressive hyper-lapse or timelapse video of the building going up during the construction?

3. Customer Proposals, Presentations, Business Development

While not all scopes of work require to have visual updates of the construction site, having this type of deliverable throughout the construction process may enhance your proposal, and even take it over the top all things being equal among the other bidders. Especially if the construction client is not local, which is often the case.

We have a construction client whose building owner is overseas, and having consistent visual updates is very valuable to them. It gives transparency and increases their confidence and trust in the builder.

4. Video Web Banners on Construction Company's Homepage

Have you heard that the website homepage, which is most often the landing page, is the most important page to optimize the content on because it gets the most traffic, and that's where the visitors decide if they want to browse further? A video banner of prominent projects that the construction company has built will impress many viewers and increase their confidence and motivation to take the next step: browse more or contact the builder. Here is an example.

Video is becoming a very important part of marketing strategy for many industries, including construction marketing strategy. If you'd like to know more about the reasons why read our blog post Why Is Video Important For Your Marketing?

What is the Return on Investment (ROI) of construction site progress monitoring and documentation?

Many construction companies leverage drones and other visual technology tools for more than just marketing, such as for enhancing customer communications, internal project updates, construction site security, and re-creating the built environments in BIM (Building Information Modeling) and creating digital twins.

In addition to drones, these tools are time-lapse cameras and 360 virtual tours. The visual output of these tools over the lifecycle of the project can be used and reused for various purposes, which can make the acquisition cost of construction site imagery very efficient, and its Return on Investment (ROI) increases with every use.

These tools are within the digitization trend in construction, facilities management, and other industries. This imagery can be used to re-create the built environment in 3D in BIM (used for construction and design) or as digital twins (usually used for facility maintenance and operations) to give companies a complete 3D visual model of the build. It is a digital documentation record that can be accessed at any time to send information about the building, reflect changes with its physical counterpart, and allow for materials ordering and scheduling (in the design/construction stage or for maintenance and expansions if the building is operational). These types of digital models can replace final building drawings and operations manuals.

We outline more drone uses on construction site on our blog post Top 4 Drone Uses in Construction Site Management.

If you'd like a quote for construction progress monitoring job or consultation on what equipment is best to use on your construction site for a specific purpose or a variety of uses, contact us!

V1DroneMedia Drone Classes

V1DroneMedia offers a set of drone classes that V1DroneMedia’s Chief Drone Pilot (Jason Damman) developed and teaches regularly through local Cleveland community colleges and on-demand for individuals or organizations. Each class is geared toward a specific type of ‘drone’ knowledge need the students or organization is looking for, and we can develop custom classes by request.

Curious about the drone industry?

If you have heard of drones but are not sure how you can take advantage of this innovative technology, would like to learn about it, what it takes to work with drones legally, and what careers are available in the industries that are using drones, our 3-hour Introduction to Drones Class is for you!

What you will learn may spark an interest in a new career, or hobby, or inspire you to use the drone as a tool in your current job and will help you understand what to do if you want to get started. Since this is an in-person class with a drone industry professional, you will also have the ability to ask questions.

Want to learn to fly a drone with expert guidance?

Whether you are a drone hobbyist or an aspiring commercial drone pilot, the essential part of your drone training should be learning to fly the drone. That means being comfortable with operating the drone apps (such as DJI, Litchi, etc.), performing takeoffs and landings, learning to maintain and calibrate the drone, performing routine flight maneuvers, operate the camera to take pictures and video.

We have designed the Drone Operations Class to address this need for anyone who’s never touched a drone, and for those who know their way around a little, but don’t have the full confidence in operating it and want to advance their knowledge and skills.

This class consists of a 3-hour in-class portion that will introduce you to drone apps, how to calibrate, and maintain a drone, design a pre-and post-flight checklist, and introduce you to intelligent flight modes. The outdoor 3-hour portion will allow you to practice this knowledge with the guided expertise of a seasoned drone pilot.

We also have private 2-hour Hands-on Drone Flying Lessons that include only outside flying with hands-on practice, if you just want to practice flying.

While this class will equip you with the ‘know-how’ to operate a drone, it will be up to you to practice and hone your flight skills. That takes time and dedication, but it can pay off. Drone pilots are in demand in a variety of industries (as you can learn from us by taking our Intro to Drones class or watching the Drones for Business Webinar recording), and that demand is growing. A Drone pilot’s hourly pay rate can range from $50 - $250 or even more, depending on their skill set, experience, and the type of work they are doing.

Decided to get your commercial drone pilot license (aka FAA Part 107)?

You will need to get FAA Part 107 license if you intend to use drones for commercial purposes. That means even if you take aerial photographs to market your friend’s real estate listing, or if you want to do a flyover of a building for a roof or home inspection, regardless of the size and weight of the drone. Read my Drone Pilot License blog post for more details on this topic.

If you have decided to take the Part 107 Test, you will need to study FAA Part 107 Knowledge Test Materials and take the Part 107 Test which is similar to a private pilot test in the amount of knowledge covered. It costs $175 to take the test, so having proper preparation is important. You don’t want to have to spend that money again.

Our 2-day in-person FAA Part 107 License Prep Class breaks down the FAA prep materials (they are quite dense and full of aviation lingo) into easy-to-digest concepts for anyone. We cover only the information that is needed to pass the test and operate your unmanned aircraft safely. You will also receive additional resources such as materials to study and access to practice tests.

After that it will be up to you to study, take practice tests, and, when you feel confident enough, schedule and take the Part 107 test in a testing center.

Drone Classes Sign-up

If you’d like to stay up to date on our drone class dates and times, Sign Up to be notified when they get scheduled, and check out our Events page to register for upcoming drone classes.

Custom Drone Training for Organizations

If your organization wants to train its employees, we can design courses that suit your needs. Contact us for a consultation!

Ohio Drone Laws

As a commercial drone services provider located in Cleveland, Ohio, we know a thing or two about flying in this state. One of the questions we get asked often is whether you can fly at a specific location in Cleveland. See our blog post Where to Fly Drones in Cleveland for that information.

Drone flights in Ohio are subject to FAA regulations for operating in the national airspace. Some municipalities are enacting their own ordinances for drone use, but these should only apply to launching and landing locations, as local municipalities don't control airspace. We recommend checking your city/county for any such drone restrictions.

FAA Part 107 Regulations

Under FAA regulations you must have either a TRUST Test Certificate (for hobbyists) or a Part 107 Drone License Certificate (for commercial drone pilots) to fly drones in Ohio. We offer Part 107 Prep classes locally as a 2-day in-person class that prepares anyone to take and pass the test. See our event schedule for the next available class and read our student testimonials (over 95% of students pass the Part 107 Test after taking our classes!).

Are There Drone Flight Restrictions in Ohio?

It all depends on what type of airspace you intend to fly in (Class B, C, D, E). You may have to apply for FAA authorization to fly your drone in a certain area, see our blog post Where Can I Fly My Drone for more detailed information and tutorial on how to do this through LAANC.

In addition, you cannot fly over moving traffic, over people, or during any sporting event where there is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place.  A TFR is typically active for all open-air stadium NFL and MLB games from one hour prior to the game start to one hour after the game ends. These rules do get enforced, see this article about drone pilots pleading guilty to illegal Ohio stadium flights in 2023.

Can You Fly a Drone in Ohio State Parks and Cleveland Metroparks?

As a rule of thumb, national parks do not allow drone use on their properties. Some Metroparks have enacted the same ordinance, so you should check with the specific Metropark system. There are several designated areas where you can fly your drone in the Cleveland Metroparks, see details in their Drone Policy.

Municipal parks don't have the same restrictions usually but check with the specific park and municipality before flying your drone.

Drone Registration

If you want to fly your drone in Ohio (and anywhere else in the United States), you are required to register your drone if it is 0.55 lbs or larger if you fly as a hobbyist, and all drones (regardless of weight) if you operate commercially (under Part 107). You can register your drone on the FAA DroneZone website. The cost for registration is $5 and is valid for three years.

So, if you have checked off all necessary registrations, FAA Airspace Authorizations, and hold an appropriate FAA certificate, you are ready to fly. Now to the fun part, where can you fly your drone in Ohio? We've compiled some of our favorite locations in Cleveland where we frequently fly, see them in the Where to Fly Your Drone in Cleveland blog post.

Where To Fly Drones in Cleveland

Cleveland aerial views are some of the best available in the state of Ohio!  OK, we may be a little biased since we are based in the Cleveland area. We are lucky to have an extensive lakefront with Lake Erie spanning much of the Northeast Ohio border, downtown Cleveland, and its suburbs.

Drone photo of downtown Cleveland skyline and historic Cleveland Coast Guard Station

1.     Downtown Cleveland has many scenic locations: Cleveland sports stadiums, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Public Square, Playhouse Square, etc. You can't beat the Cleveland skyline aerial view with Lake Erie in the background!

But be aware, if you intend to fly your drone downtown Cleveland, that Burke Lakefront Airport is located there just next to the Voinovich Bicentennial Park. Burke Lakefront Airport is in controlled (class D) airspace, requiring you to obtain FAA authorization to fly your drone within 5 miles of its location (you can read our blog post Where Can I Fly My Drone for detailed information and tutorial on FAA authorizations).

Aerial photo of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Burke Lakefront Airport and Lake Erie in the background

In addition, during any major league baseball (MLB) or national football league (NFL) open-air stadium games there is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) that is in effect, which applies to the MLB and NFL games at the stadiums located downtown Cleveland.  TFRs can also go into effect for other reasons, such as VIP movement, which prohibits all drone flights in the area.

2.     Lakefront locations in Cleveland that offer some scenic lakefront drone photography: Lakewood Park with the Solstice Steps and Cleveland downtown skyline, Lorain Lighthouse in Lorain, and Fairport Harbor Breakwater Lighthouse in Mentor. Make sure you check municipality ordinances when you are choosing where to launch and land your drone.

Aerial view of the Edgewater Park with downtown Cleveland Skyline

3.     University Circle neighborhood of Cleveland offers plenty of scenic architectural and natural sites with Wade Oval, Cleveland Museum of Art and its lagoon, Museum of Natural History, Case Western Reserve University campus, and Little Italy nearby. Some of this area is within 5 miles of the Burke Lakefront Airport, so you may need FAA authorization to fly your drone there.

Aerial photo of Cleveland Museum of Art in Fall

4.     Unfortunately, you cannot launch and land your drone in most Cleveland Metroparks, including their lakefront locations: Edgewater Park, Wendy Park, Whiskey Island, E 55th Street Marina, East 72nd fishing area, North Gordon Park Boat Ramp, Euclid Beach Park, and Huntington Reservation Beach in Bay Village. There are several designated areas where you CAN fly your drone in the Cleveland Metroparks, see the details in their Drone Policy.

If you have any questions about flying in Cleveland and surrounding areas, need a drone project quote, or are looking for drone training classes that we provide, Contact us!

Event Documentation For Marketing

Whether your business is event management, your company is staging or participating in an event to promote itself and engage existing and prospective customers, or you are in the sports and entertainment industry where events are an everyday business, documenting your event should be a part of your marketing strategy and can help you accomplish several goals:

1.     Create event longevity

Once you have documented your event (with video, photos, or even a Livestream feed that you recorded) and published it on your website and social media (including YouTube channels), it will live on the internet forever! That allows showing off the work your company has performed and helps past, current, and prospective clients evaluate your products and services for future consideration.

2.     Enhance your credibility

Seeing is believing, and visual content (especially video) engages more people! Showcasing participation and booth space at annual industry events and exhibiting your products/services in the event space, along with seeing the customer interactions will impress beyond any words and enhance your businesses' credibility. If your business is event management, documenting your work is a must to give you credibility and entice prospective clients!

3.     Maximize your content production value for marketing

Content marketing is king nowadays, and documenting an event is a perfect opportunity to make more content without thinking hard about what type of content to produce! If you are not familiar with content marketing, Google it! And if you don't know how to approach content creation, here is an article and a PowerPoint deck by Gary Vaynerchuk How To Make 64 Pieces of Content In A Day (with step-by-step instructions).

4.     Increase your marketing reach

If you read Gary Vee's article, you know that posting content on multiple platforms (websites, social media, etc.) makes your marketing reach go further. Every media channel and social platform has its niche, and your business is active only on a few that matter to you. If you document your event with visuals (photos, videos), this will cover your basics for multiple media platforms, and you can add and change the copy as needed for various digital asset creation (photos, short-form, and long-form videos).

5.     Showcase your work

This is self-explanatory: if you stage events, impress prospective clients with the past events you've put on! If you participate in an event (or are even a talent that is hired to entertain), bring your products, services, or event you are participating in into the spotlight!

6.     Promotional content

If your company participates in the event or stages it, chances are you don't do this just once. Documenting your event is a great way to promote your services (especially if you are in the event management industry) or advertise your past and upcoming participation in the relevant industry events, for external (clients, financial markets) and internal (employee) communications!

7.     Publicity tool

And finally, documenting events is great for publicity! Generate publicity using this content with available tools in your marketing mix, or piggyback on the existing publicity of the event to get more media mentions and exposure.

V1DroneMedia is an aerial (drone) services company that delivers full traditional and aerial event documentation and video production, including aerial livestreaming. Our work ranges from covering small business events such as Sunnyside Chevrolet Annual Classic Car Show, Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing, Cleveland Haunt Club Halloween in July, to documentation of college graduations, charity events and sports events, including aerial livestreaming of US Sailing Championship on Lake Erie, and aerial coverage for 2016 Cavaliers Parade for local Cleveland news, among others. Contact us today for a quote!

Why hands-on drone flight training is important for drone pilots

As a new year begins, many of us are making New Year resolutions. V1DroneMedia's resolution is to bring the most up-to-date and simple-to-understand drone knowledge to you: information about drone regulations, drone industry, equipment capabilities, flight skills, and other drone information to those interested in learning more about drone technology and getting started in flying drones safely and legally.

A lot of drone pilot schools are focused on education and compliance with the FAA drone laws and regulations and getting the Part 107 Remote Pilot License. And this IS where you should start your drone journey if you are thinking about getting a drone or just purchased one because you want to be aware of where and how to operate your drone safely and legally, avoid any negative law enforcement or 'well-wisher' attention, and can intelligently answer any questions about how and where you can legally fly.  We have covered all these subjects in our blog post A Beginner's Guide To Drones and have regularly scheduled Drone Training Courses that you can attend to learn this information and get ready for the FAA Part 107 Drone Certification Test.

V1DroneMedia’s Chief Pilot teaching Traffic Patterns during an FAA Part 107 Drone License Prep Course

However, learning safe drone operations or procuring your Part 107 Drone Pilot Certificate is only a starting point (one should walk before they run). The essential part of your drone training should be getting hands-on time flying the drone. That means being comfortable with operating the drone apps (such as DJI, Litchi, etc.), performing takeoffs and landings, learning to maintain and calibrate the drone, performing routine flight maneuvers, operate the camera to take pictures and video. These skills cannot be taught in a classroom, and you need them to fly the drone proficiently if you are serious about becoming a drone pilot. You must get out there and learn to fly your drone, just like manned aviation pilots spend hours flying in a simulator or with an instructor before flying on their own (I spent hours and days in simulator sessions during my training as a commercial pilot, and had to do recurrent training every year in a simulator as well).

While flying a drone doesn't come with the liability of flying an aircraft worth millions of dollars with people on board, it is still very important to understand the systems that make a drone work and be proficient with your equipment to ensure safe operation.

A drone is usually needed to shoot an aerial photo or video of a certain subject matter or an object on the ground or even high up in the air, and you need to have skills to fly the drone to focus on a subject, position the camera of the drone to shoot video or photo from different angles while flying around the subject, maybe even track the subject and shoot continuous video or photographs.

V1DroneMedia’s Chief Pilot with students during a drone flight session

Many of these flight maneuvers are built into intelligent flight modes in the apps nowadays, but you would still need to know how the different intelligent flight modes work and become proficient at setting them up and incorporating them into your workflow (if needed). Learning to fly in a manual mode is also very important and can be beneficial in many situations – especially if you would have to manually take control of the aircraft for any reason.

To help fill the gap in hands-on drone flight experience for aspiring drone pilots V1DroneMedia is now offering Drone Operations classes with both classroom and outdoor time for learning the drone apps, flying procedures and hands-on time, and Hands-on Flying Sessions for individuals and groups tailored to individuals' skill levels and goals. If one of your resolutions this year is to explore a drone as a hobby, learn to fly a drone proficiently, or learn advanced drone flying skills to further your drone industry career goals, Contact Us to schedule your session today! And get on an e-mail list to stay informed about our group class schedules.

How to get started with Digital Marketing for any Business

If you are a small to medium business owner or marketing manager (oftentimes it is the same person), your marketing resources (budget and employees) are limited. Your challenge is to have that marketing budget work for you as hard as possible. You most likely already know that the best way to spend your budget to reach more people is through digital marketing (the exception to this rule exists, of course, if your target audience is not digitally savvy, which is increasingly hard to find nowadays).

Why Digital Media over Traditional Media?

It simply costs a lot less than traditional (Print, TV, Radio) media, it can be better targeted, and there is a lot of 'free' media exposure to be gained through search engines and social media, through what is called "earned media" in the communications world.

When I was in corporate marketing managing million-dollar budgets, the mantra always was to spend your budget most efficiently, and in many ways that meant reaching the most people possible for the cost of the media buy. Usually, this is measured in CPM (or Cost per Thousand) of individual visual impressions. So, even if you have large budgets nowadays, a large portion of it should go to digital marketing, since it helps you reach more people at a lower CPM.

Relevant Digital Content Increases Your Reach

Digital media revolutionized marketing in many ways. One of them is the ability of any business to be discoverable on the internet through the use of relevant content on the website that helps with Search Engine Optimization (or SEO), the other is putting out consistent content on a website and social media that is shareable and helps to build and keep your brand top of mind. The type, quality, and relevancy of this content will play a role in its distribution, sharing, and ranking in the Search Engine results.

A website with SEO-Optimized Content– Step # 1

If you don't have a website yet and have never heard of the term SEO (Search Engine Optimization) before, then you should stop reading this immediately and set up a website, and get educated on SEO as soon as possible! Because SEO is the #1 free marketing tool that is available to you. Through continuous SEO-optimized website copy, you can make your business more discoverable through Search Engines (such as Google, Bing, etc.), bringing your website up in the search results when a prospective customer is searching with a term specific to your business. This should always be the starting point to establish your digital presence: building a website that has SEO-optimized copy and content that will help your website to be discovered.

How to get started with SEO? Since you or your employees are most likely subject matter experts in the service or product you provide, and you have access to clients who you serve and who share their needs (pain points) with you, you are perfectly capable of developing some basic content (copy, photos) for your website. You should also have a plan to keep current on relevant keywords of how customers/consumers look for the services/products you offer, perform a routine (quarterly) audit of yours and competitive website keyword ranking, and update the copy and content accordingly.

There is a wealth of online information and tools on SEO and of course plenty of SEO professionals who can help you to manage this if you are not inclined to do so yourself.

Establish Social Media Presence – Step #2

If you have a website, you need to have a social media presence as well to help you get exposure to prospective clients via content you put out. You can also join and participate in relevant to your business groups on those social platforms, commenting and posting your content there.

The choice of which social media platform you should join depends on your target audience, and where it will be most receptive to your message. If you are a consumer-centric business (Business to Consumer, or B2C - think e-commerce or local services and products), you will most likely get more exposure on Facebook and Instagram. If you are a Business to Business (B2B) provider, then you should probably look into LinkedIn and Facebook more closely. There are other social media platforms (YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, etc.) that could be useful, but, of course, their usefulness to you will be dictated by the type of product or service you offer, and the type of customers you are targeting.

Whatever social media platform you choose, you should have a consistent posting strategy (a few times a week on certain days, for example), and experiment with the type of posts to learn how you can engage prospective clients (and only your imagination is the limit of what you can try out). This is also something you can outsource if you have the budget to do so.

Video as Digital Marketing Content – Step #3

If you have a good grasp of SEO and have established your social media presence, you should seriously consider developing video content as the next step in making your website content easier to digest and more engaging.

It is not easy to keep your website visitors linger on the website and contact you for business, and video is one of those things that can help you to get there! Good video content on your social media channels will also help to break through the feed and 'earn' free media exposure through catching prospective customers' eye that may cause them to engage with it on a social network, making the reach of your content go further. Video is becoming one of the most effective ways to break through the social feed clutter, and you can read more about the reasons behind it in our Why Video for Your Marketing Content blog post.

But whatever industry your business is in, and whether you have an established marketing strategy or not, get started with a few powerful videos that help a prospective client understand what you do, how you do it, and whether you are trustworthy. You will need this type of basic information for your website anyway, and if you publish it in the video format, it will help to increase time spent with your content on your website (this helps with improving search engine ranking, as mentioned above), and you can reuse the footage you got by posting it on social media platforms to get that coveted 'word of mouth' through social sharing.

Video Production Investment

Video production requires an investment of considerable resources. Over the years the cost of video production has come down significantly with the democratization of video production when skilled video-makers with affordable high-quality gear are establishing video production companies, but it remains an expense, nonetheless. In the marketing communications field this is what's referred to as "non-working dollars', and what this means is it is dollars spent on creating content, i.e. creative development, video production, and agency fees. 'Working dollars" is the budget spent on actually 'showing' the content to prospective customers (i.e. dollars you spend on buying media in form of TV, Radio, Print, Billboard and Social Media).

The rule of thumb in the organizations that spend millions out of their budgets on marketing communications is that the 'non-working dollars' to 'working dollars' ratio should be no higher than 20/80. However, this isn't always realistic and depends on what type of content you are developing. If this content will be reused a lot (also sometimes called 'evergreen' content), and that will permanently on your website and other digital channels (i.e. one that will work for you longer than for 1 year, such as About US video, Product or Service showcase video, project documentation, customer testimonials, as examples), it is certainly worth investing more into producing professionally. If you don't spend any budget on advertising, then you should only think about developing 'evergreen' video professionally for the time being.

What kind of budget should you plan on for video production?

The cost of video production depends on the # and types of videos you want to make, and the number of resources needed to produce them (read # of the crew, equipment, days of shooting, and editing time). If you want to educate yourself more on what it takes to produce a video and learn about the stages of video production, refer to our Video Production 101 blog post.

If you are working with a small agile video production company, you can establish starting budget for your project at $2500 for a simple production with minimal editing and crew, and the budget will go up from there if you require specialized equipment, additional crew, and extensive editing in post-production. If you need creative support from a video production company, such as scriptwriting and ideation in the pre-production stage, then you should plan extra funds for that as well.

If your video requires hired talent (actors), extensive scriptwriting, built sets - this will require a much bigger budget and can run into tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars easily for a couple of days shoot.

Are there ways to reduce the cost of video production?

Yes, there are several ways to control the cost, and many of these levers are within your control. You can limit the cost with careful planning in the pre-production stage, which should dictate exactly the amount of resources (crew members, equipment, production, and editing time) you need to produce the video and give you an idea of what you want to do is within your budget. It will be most helpful to establish the expectations of the production process details between you (the client) and the video production company you hire and formalize them through a written contract.

So, if you are a small to medium-sized business with limited marketing resources, there is enough information here for you to jump-start your digital marketing efforts. If you are ready to get started with video marketing (and our specialty, aerial video), check out our video portfolio and contact us to evaluate and quote your video project.

Get your drone license training for free in Ohio with TechCred!

Technology is constantly changing the nature of work, and nowadays even more so in non-technology-focused industries. Drone technology is one of those technologies, as it is disrupting established industries like surveying, construction, real estate, land development, asset management, telecommunications, and is being used as a new tool in disaster response, police, firefighting, agriculture, forestry, wildlife management, insurance, media, and many others. You can read about the current state of the Drone Industry and its development in this 2021 Drone Market Report Snapshot.

Why are these industries using drones?

1. Drones made aerial videography and photography more affordable to use in TV, Film, marketing, and advertising.

2. Drone technology enables more efficient operations through cost-cutting, project transparency, and site visualization for improved communication.

3. Drones improve the safety aspect of operations: for example, not having to have people climb facades of the buildings, cranes, or cell phone towers as much, and assess the crime or a disaster scene for response planning without putting first responders in danger – this can be achieved with a drone!

4. Drones can also uncover new value for businesses when they find a way to use a drone in innovative ways: for example, in forestry, it is a new way to assess the health of a forest/vegetation area – you can even count the trees when the collected visual data is processed through photogrammetry software! In package delivery, drones may solve last-mile delivery challenges and can access remote or dangerous locations. And there are many more use cases to come as the drone industry is experimenting and implementing them in their workflows!

So, is your business ready to embrace this new technology to stay competitive and realize potential benefits? Is your workforce ready to use these new tools?

Investing capital and people resources into learning and implementing new technology at a workplace can be costly, however, not investing can cost a business more (or even put them out of business) if it doesn't embrace a technology that is being rapidly implemented in their industry.

The good news is that in Ohio the state government is committed to helping local workers and employers to get the new technical skills they need in order to stay competitive in this technology-driven reality. The state of Ohio has established the TechCred program that helps Ohioans learn new skills and help employers build a stronger workforce with the skills in a tech-infused economy by reimbursing them for the training.  

TechCred is a program for Ohio employers that have identified new technology skills needed for employees, and if that technical skill is on the approved TechCred ‘credential’ list, they can nominate employees to go through the training to learn this skill. Once the employee is enrolled in a listed technology ‘credential’ short-term course with a credential provider they can either earn a technology certificate through taking the course or pass a standardized test with a certification after completing the course. After the employee has ‘earned’ the credential, the employer will get reimbursed for the cost of the employee training in the course.

And yes, drone skills are on that 'credential' list as FAA Drone Technology UAS! So, if you think your employer can benefit from you learning drone skills and getting trained to become a certified drone pilot by taking and passing the FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot License Test (you can read more about this license in our Drone Pilot License blog post), you should bring this program to their attention and encourage them to apply on your behalf!

How much does it cost to earn the Drone Pilot License? Through TechCred you would have to take a course that would run $499-$1000 (the cost of this course can get reimbursed to the employer by the TechCred program), plus the cost of the test itself, which is currently $175 (you have to pay it every time you take it, so it is worth to take a course and study to ensure passing the test).

Once you earn your commercial drone pilot license your value to the employer may increase and you can even use this credential to help with finding employment in the future. 

Or, if you are an employer (manager) in an industry that is rapidly embracing drone technology (watch our Drones for Business Information Webinar - video below - to learn more about drone uses in various industries), you can identify employees who would be a good fit to earn their drone pilot license and enroll them in an appropriate course that gets them ready to fly drones and pass the FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot License Test.  

Drone Applications For Businesses - Pre-recorded Informational Webinar

V1DroneMedia’s Chief Pilot Jason Damman (you can read his bio on the About page) has been teaching first responders to fly drones in the Cleveland area for the last 4 years and recently started teaching the same course at the Lorain County Community College, which is on the credential list as the FAA Drone Technology UAS credential provider through TechCred. Check out our Drone Training and Events page for the upcoming training to enroll yourself or your employees, sign-up for e-mail notifications about classes, and check out our TechCred page to learn what courses we provide through the Ohio TechCred program to get acquainted with how it works and to get started with your application to get reimbursed!

Where you can get trained to fly drones in Cleveland, Ohio

V1DroneMedia gets frequent questions and inquiries about getting certified to fly drones or learning how to fly them proficiently. We’ve also met quite a few people who fly drones illegally around Cleveland (aka without FAA Part 107 Drone License), or not flying them in compliance with the FAA Drone Regulations.

We know that demand for consumer and commercial drones is soaring, as is the drone use in many industries, but few people know where to turn for credible information and training. So, we’ve put together this guide on available Drone Training in Cleveland, Ohio.

There are several options in the Cleveland area for drone training, both in-person and hands-on drone flight training,  available for those interested to learn to fly drones proficiently, getting their drone FAA Part 107 certification that enables them to fly commercially, and learning about innovative drone technology applications in various industries.

Accredited degree programs in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones) in Cleveland, Ohio

If you are looking for a traditional undergraduate program, Kent State University is known for its aviation programs, and it offers an undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics with the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Operations concentration. Kent State also offers an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Minor for those enrolled in its undergraduate program.

However, you don’t need to get a degree in drones to fly drones (especially if you already have a degree and are just looking to get your drone license). Flying drones is a skill that can be learned if you invest some time into learning to fly while studying the FAA rules and regulations so you are doing it safely and responsibly, and then schedule and pass the Part 107 Drone License Test (see our blog post Drone Pilot License for more details on that). There are several drone training options in the Cleveland area as well if you are looking for an in-person class where you can acquire drone skills.

Non-degree Drone Training Courses in Cleveland, Ohio

There are several in-person training options for the Part 107 drone license in the Cleveland, Ohio, area.

Kent State has a UAV Training and Part 107 Testing course that does just that. It is scheduled throughout the year and doesn’t appear to always be available, so you must keep an eye out when it opens up.

Cuyahoga County Community College (Tri-C) offers FAA Part 107 drone training for law enforcement and other first responders at its Drone Academy, also offered throughout the year, where our Chief Pilot Jason Damman is the lead instructor on the FAA Part 107 Rules and Regulations and National Airspace.

V1DroneMedia also offers a variety of Drone Training Courses in the Cleveland area, with in-person courses offered through a partnership with Lorain County Community College, and custom-scheduled courses for organizations and individuals. V1DroneMedia also offers educational content through video resources on our Resources page and YouTube channel Drone Education playlist. Our Chief Pilot and Drone Instructor, Jason Damman, is a Certified Flight Instructor with an extensive commercial airline, flight, and drone training, and drone flying background (see About to learn more).

For starters, if you are curious about what you can do with a drone, watch our Free Drone Business Information Webinar outlining major drone use cases, industries that use them, and opportunities for growth in this field.

If you are ready to learn more about what it takes to get started in this field, schedule with us an Introduction to Drones Class geared toward drone hobbyists or aspiring commercial drone pilots. Or, if you are more serious and ready to try out a career in the field, take the Part 107 Drone Certificate Prep Course preparing anyone to take the Part 107 Test to earn a commercial drone pilot license.

V1DroneMedia Drone License Prep Class is a 2-day in-person class that takes place in a classroom. It covers everything one needs to learn to pass the FAA Part 107 test, including practice tests, access to class materials and additional resources, in-person connection with the instructor, and a private Facebook group community to stay in touch with the class participants and the instructor. The Part 107 Prep Class costs $499 (the fee does not include the test fee payable to one of the FAA-authorized testing centers where you schedule to take your test).

The benefit of taking the in-person class is that the instructor has simplified the complex and lengthy aviation lingo-heavy Part 107 study guide into easy-to-understand digestible content. This class has been taught before to many Cleveland-area students who successfully passed the Part 107 Test.

V1DroneMedia is also available to teach its custom FAA Part 107 Drone License training courses based on the curriculum we developed, can conduct group or 1:1 Flight Training sessions, and provide consultations on all drone-related matters, including setting up an internal Drone Operations Program for a business that is looking to build one.

We recently also started offering individual and small group Drone Operations Classes and Hands-On Drone Flight Training sessions geared toward those who want to get started flying their drones with professional guidance or learn advanced flight skills.

If you are thinking about getting trained, but are not sure when you will be able to do it, Sign Up for an e-mail notification list to stay informed about V1DRoneMedia classes as they get scheduled

Online Drone Training

If you are good at following a self-paced YouTube, or another online course tool, there are many options out there. Google them, and you will find many, but it may take some time for you to make a decision on the one that’s right for you.

However, if you decide to go in this direction, you will still have to study the materials and take the test. The upside here can be lower cost (although not always), but the downside is that more often than none there isn’t any person to ask any questions for more information and clarification, and many of those programs can be very dense and full of aviation lingo (that we strip out in our courses, which give you only the essentials you need to know to fly and pass the test). We have had students in our in-person classes who have taken online courses and ended up coming to our class because the online course they took was very confusing. Of course, you are free to choose which learning mode best suits your needs.

You can also access official FAA Study materials on the FAA website (very comprehensive, but hard to digest if you are a non-aviator).

What about the FAA Trust Test?

FAA recently released a mandatory Trust Test (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) for recreational drone pilots (hobbyists). It is much more basic than the FAA Part 107 Drone License Test, and most of the information is laid out by the online accredited testing centers (you can learn more about Trust Test in our Trust Test blog post and YouTube video on this topic).  

So if you are ready to embark on your drone hobby or a career, check out the Drone Classes we offer, Sign up for class notifications, and Contact Us if you are interested in a consultation or a custom class.

FAA Trust Test for Drone Pilots Explained

There has been no requirement for recreational (or hobbyists, who solely fly for fun) to take any type of knowledge test to fly in the national airspace. Up until now, that is, with the FAA releasing a mandatory TRUST test for recreational drone flyers.

According to the FAA's website, there are roughly 871,000 drones now registered in the United States with over half of them being registered for recreational use, with many of those folks not investing any time in learning about FAA rules and regulations about safe drone flying.

So, we've put together a quick guideline on the newly released Aeronautical Knowledge and Safety Test for recreational drone flyers, known as the FAA Trust Test (The Recreational UAS Safety Test). If you are better at learning through videos, you can also watch our YouTube video on this topic!

What is FAA Trust Test for Drone Flyers?

With all these drones now sharing the same airspace as manned aircraft, the FAA has released a mandatory knowledge test every recreational pilot legally needs to complete – The TRUST knowledge test (The Recreational UAS Safety Test), which provides essential information for anyone operating a drone so that they know how to safely and legally fly within the national airspace. As a side note – this also applies to model aircraft pilots, in general – NOT JUST DRONE PILOTS!

Who should take the FAA TRUST Test?

The FAA says that "anyone who operates their drone for fun or personal enjoyment purposes only." So, even if you already have a Part 107 certificate, you should still take the TRUST test if you plan to operate your drone recreationally or 'for fun.'

How hard is the Trust Test? Is it similar to the FAA Part 107 Drone License Test?

The TRUST test is very basic in comparison to what Part 107 drone pilots must know, and some of the items that recreational pilots will learn about and be tested on include: preflight inspections, aircraft registration, airspace classifications, TFR's (temporary flight restrictions), how to get airspace authorizations to fly in controlled airspace, among others.

How do I study for the Trust Test?

You can read through all the information you are tested on prior to taking the test through one of the FAA's approved test administrators.

Where do I take the Trust Test?

The TRUST test can be taken online through one of the FAA's approved test administrators which are listed on the FAA's website. You can use this FAA website link for access to all of the available Trust Test administrators available. There is NO CHARGE to take the test and, depending on your level of knowledge, could take anywhere from 15-45 minutes to complete.

Do I have to take the drone Trust test in the future to stay current?

Unlike Part 107 pilots, who must take recurrent training every two years to maintain the currency, the TRUST test need only be taken and passed ONCE – there is no need to take the test again once completed.

The caveat to that is, you must retain the certificate that you receive upon completion of the test. This certificate is the only documentation that you will receive showing that you have completed the TRUST test. Neither the test administrator nor the FAA will maintain personally identifiable information about the recreational flyer so it is not possible to re-print or re-issue your original certificate.

Why is it important to take and pass the drone Trust test?

The FAA and/or law enforcement can now ask recreational pilots to provide documentation showing that they have completed the TRUST test. The certificate received after completion of the test is the ONLY documentation that you have to prove that you have taken the test and are legal to fly as a recreational pilot.

How soon does the Trust test go into effect?

It is already in effect and has been since June 2021!

So, if you are a recreational pilot and have not yet completed the TRUST test you should do so before your next flight in order to be legal, as flying without the TRUST certificate of completion could get you into trouble.

I am sure a lot of people may think: what is the likelihood of that? Or, who is going to catch me – no one will know where I am flying, etc. One thing to think about is if an accident would occur with your drone or if you are caught flying in an area that you shouldn't be – especially if specifically mentioned in the TRUST test, there could be greater consequences for your actions when it is found that you haven't completed the required testing for recreational pilots. I know the chances of that may be slim, but when you consider how easy the FAA has made it to complete the (now mandatory) testing, there really shouldn't be any excuses to not take it.

Can I fly drones commercially after passing the Trust test?

Just so there is no confusion, as mentioned earlier, passing the TRUST test DOES NOT allow you to fly for commercial purposes – it is strictly for pilots wishing to fly their drone solely for recreational purposes, or 'for fun.' If you would like to become a commercial operator you will need to pass the FAA Part 107 knowledge test, which covers the topics included in the TRUST test along with many others much more in-depth – similar to what a private pilot knowledge exam would look like! You can learn more details in our Drone Pilot License blog post.

If you are a recreational drone pilot, you are now equipped with the knowledge of what you need to do. Good luck and happy flying!

Drone Photogrammetry And Its Uses

What is Photogrammetry

Photogrammetry is the science of making precise measurements of three-dimensional objects and terrain features from two-dimensional photographs. The input to photogrammetry is multiple photographs of some real-life object or a scene, taken from different angles and locations, and the output is typically a map, a drawing, a measurement, or a 3D model of the subject matter.

How does photogrammetry work?

This process works by using the method of triangulation. It involves taking pictures from a minimum of two different locations. These pictures create lines of sight that lead from each camera to specific points on the object being photographed. The intersection of these lines plays into mathematical calculations that help produce geometric 3D coordinates of the specified points, which sometimes is referred to as “point cloud”.

Photogrammetry triangulation creates 3D object

Photogrammetry history and evolution

Photogrammetry is nearly as old as photography itself. Since its development approximately 150 years ago, photogrammetry has moved from a purely analog, optical-mechanical technique to analytical methods based on computer-aided solutions of mathematical algorithms, and now to digital photogrammetry based on digital imagery and computer vision, without any mechanical hardware. 

Topographic map creation was the first application of photogrammetry, which gave way to the development of simple map-making techniques geared towards the mapping needs of the military during World Wars I and II.

Types of Photogrammetry

Two general types of photogrammetry exist aerial (with the camera in the air) and terrestrial (with the camera handheld or on a tripod).

Terrestrial Photogrammetry

The photos used in photogrammetry can also be taken directly on the ground or from a fixed terrestrial position, such as by a person walking around or a camera mounted to a building.

Aerial (Drone) Photogrammetry

Aerial photogrammetry was introduced with the invention of flight, and drone technology advancements in the last 6 years have made it more accessible and affordable.

Now a drone captures several high-resolution photos over an area at different angles from multiple vantage points. These images are then processed with photogrammetry software (such as Pix4D, AgiSoft, Drone Deploy, etc.) that “stitches” the images together to create point clouds.

Photogrammetry accuracy

Several variables affect the overall accuracy of an aerial map, including camera specifications, the number of photos collected, the photo overlap percentage, the flight altitude, atmospheric conditions (wind speed, air pressure, air density, cloud cover, position of the sun), the GPS signal strength, and the ground sampling distance (GSD). A lower flight altitude yields a smaller GSD, and a smaller GSD yields a more accurate and higher resolution aerial map.

Many of these factors are already accounted for by main drone manufacturers that produce drones for collecting visual data used for photogrammetry processing. These drones are equipped with proper cameras, and the differences between those drones are oftentimes the quality of the camera itself, and the experience of the drone operator in using the drone for photogrammetry data collection (programming the flight path, calibrating, camera settings, etc.)

Relative and absolute photogrammetry accuracy

In aerial photogrammetry, there are such terms as relative (local) accuracy and absolute (global or spatial) accuracy.

Relative accuracy is the measurement of how objects are positioned relative to each other in a reconstructed model (Orthophoto map, Digital Surface Model, or 3D point cloud). Most aerial maps provide a high degree of relative accuracy. So, for simple use cases (measuring distances, volume, and height differences, etc.) relative accuracy should work just fine.

Absolute accuracy refers to the difference between the location of the objects on the reconstructed model and their true position on the Earth (or a geodetic coordinate system). Aerial maps do not provide a high degree of absolute accuracy unless Ground Control Points (GCPs) are used during the drone aerial data collection.

Relative vs. absolute accuracy

What are Ground Control Points (GCPs) in photogrammetry?

Ground control points are points on the ground with known ground coordinates, which can be easily recognizable in aerial photos. The ground coordinates can be measured with traditional surveying methods or an existing map (even Google Earth map), or smart control points that automatically upload position data, such as Aero Points.  To calculate the coordinates for each point on the aerial photography several ground control points’ coordinates should be in place in the survey area and they should be clearly visible in the taken aerial photographs.

Ground Control Point Positioning

Drone Photogrammetry Outputs

The photogrammetry software generates object or area point clouds that enable data visualization, turning these clouds into various outputs for different applications, with many allowing for measurements such as distances, heights, areas, and volumes:

• Orthomosaic maps are stitched from multiple drone photos that have been corrected for lens distortion, with each pixel containing 2D geo-information (X, Y) which enable the generation of measurements such as horizontal distances and surfaces.

Orthomosaic Map

• Topographic maps show details of the relief features using contour lines (connecting points of equal elevation), giving a better understanding of the surface of the area.

Topographic Map

• 3D Point Cloud is generated from drone images with each point containing geospatial (X, Y, Z) and color information. It provides a model for distance, area, and volume measurements.

3D Point Cloud

3D Model is often generated from the 3D Point Cloud, and is a reproduction of the edges, faces, vertices, and texture of the object or area shot by the drone, and is most useful for visual inspection. This type of model can be used in CAD (Computer-Aided Design) or BIM (Building Information Modeling) software.

3D Model Screenshot

• Digital Surface Model represents the elevation associated with the surface of the earth including topography and all human-made features, containing 2D information (X, Y) and the altitude (Z) of the highest point for the area.

Digital Surface Model

• Digital Terrain Model (also Digital Elevation Model) is a topographic model representing the bare ground surface without any objects like plants or buildings and can be uploaded into and manipulated by computer programs. The model contains 2D information of the area.

Digital Terrain Model. Credit: Jason Stoker

These outputs can be used in many applications in various industries, where the workflows for the collection of this type of data were largely manual and time-consuming. With drone photogrammetry productivity and efficiency of such operations can be improved significantly, and allow for more opportunities to innovate with such easy access to digitized data.

If you are interested in learning more about drone photogrammetry and its applications for your business, Contact us for a free consultation!

Best drones to buy in 2024

A variety of drones and drone controllers

My drone story

I grew up flying RC (Remote Controlled) airplanes in the '90s, spent 20 years with a commercial airline company as a pilot, and have been a commercial drone services provider (DSP) in Cleveland, Ohio now for 8 years shooting everything from real estate, construction, building inspection to high-end TV and Film video production (you can read my story here), so I have developed some strong opinions about what drone is best to use for certain tasks.

While you will find that I am mostly recommending DJI products, that doesn't mean that other manufacturers' (Autel, Skydio, Parrot, etc.) drones are subpar (although everyone agrees DJI platform is the best in the market for commercial tasks currently),it's just that I adopted the DJI platform from the start and stuck with it because it works for me and I've learned the 'ins and outs' of their products. Investing in a new platform always takes time, so unless I am forced to quit DJI products with new regulations or there are clear advantages over existing DJI products, I am not keen on investing a lot of time and money to learn them. However, if I do find and try out new drones that provide a similar or better price/value ratio, I will update this blog post.

What is the Best Drone for Beginners and Best Small Drone?

If you are just starting with drones and are in the market for a compact drone with a camera that can produce great video and photos for you to take on the road, the DJI Mini series is your best bet as of 2024. It is highly portable with a compact folding design, easy to use with many beginner-friendly features such as autonomous flight modes like QuickShots that allow beginners to capture professional-quality footage without advanced flying skills. DJI Mini series drones (2, 3, 4 models) also have impressive image and video quality with at least 12MP for stills and up to 4K video, and come with a gimbal to ensure image and video stabilization (especially useful for beginners who may not yet have steady flying skills). All 3 DJI Mini models offer impressive flight times, ranging from 31 to 45 minutes (depending on the model and conditions), and come with standard safety features (GPS and vision sensors, and geofencing and altitude limits, preventing beginners from flying into restricted zones or too high).

What is the Best Drone for Kids and Beginners for under $200?

A few years ago I purchased the DJI Tello Drone so my wife and kids can join in on my passion for drones with this incredibly easy-to-use drone from the DJI platform. It is conveniently operated with the DJI Tello app from your smartphone touchscreen, has a camera for photos and video, and quite a few fun flying features to try out (like Bounce Mode, 8D flips, Up & Away, etc.).

My wife and kids had no problem flying and performing fun tricks with it within minutes, and if something does happen to it while they are flying it, it isn't a huge loss.

Another cost-effective and easy to use drone for beginners is Holy Stone HS175D, which has beginner-friendly controls, uses your smartphone monitor (same as Tello), has decent camera quality, GPS-assisted flight and return-to-home feature. It offers around 22 minutes of flight time (so at least 10 minutes less than DJI Tello), but comes with 2 batteries (vs. 1 with Tello). All in all it is a good choice for beginners as well.

Best Drone for Video and Cinematography

While I use the DJI Inspire 2 and DJI Mavic 3 Cine for many of my cinematography jobs, my vote for best video production drone will always go to DJI Inspire series, the most current of which on the market is Inspire 3. The Inspire series allows for using different lenses on the camera – something you can't do with the Mavic or any of the other DJI models. Couple that with the ability to shoot in Apple ProRes and CinemaDNG (aka, RAW), if you purchase DJI Inspire drone with a special license to do so, and the Inspire drone can capture video that looks far superior to the Mavic series drones.

One of the benefits of being able to shoot in ProRes or CinemaDNG is that it allows for matching the aerial shots to other cameras that are being used for filming by allowing much more flexibility in color correction and grading in drone video post-production (video editing) to get the right 'look' that they want to achieve. However, using the Inspire 2 comes with higher operational costs and therefore higher client pricing. If the client doesn't require it or doesn't want to pay for it, that is where the Mavic 2 Pro comes in.

For its small form factor, the Mavic 3 Pro can still 'pack a punch' when it comes to video. It allows for shooting in 4K, LOG (for color grading in post-production), or Normal color profiles, and has 10-bit color depth. If you know what you're doing, you can get some great imagery out of the Mavic 2 Pro.

DJI Air 3 is a great alternative to Mavic 3 Pro (and is also great for its compactness and good video quality), but I already owned a Mavic Pro series drone when Mavic Air series came out, so there is no need for me to have both.

You can check out my video portfolio here. They were all taken with one of the DJI drone series drones I am recommending here (Phantom 4 Pro, Mavic 2 and 3 Pro, Inspire 2).

Best Drone for Inspection, Mapping, Modeling, Surveying, and Construction Jobs

The workhorse of my fleet used to be DJI Phantom 4 Pro for some of these AEC industry tasks. I've owned several of its predecessors (Phantom 2 and 3 Pro) as well, so that used to be my 'go-to' drone for inspection, mapping, and 3D modeling type jobs. However since DJI came out with DJI Mavic Enterprise series, which are better suited for these purposes, I would recommend to use DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise, the most current model on the market for inspection and drone photogrammetry used for mapping and 3D modeling. It is best suited for professionals needing a portable, high-precision drone for these tasks.

An upgrade from DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise would be DJI M30. While that is a much higher investment than Mavic 3 Enterprise, its main difference is that it has more advanced features, the most valuable of which is the ability to swap camera payloads with a variety of sensors for different tasks. It is built to handle itself better in a rugged, challenging environment vs. DJI Mavic Enterprise models, making it a better choice for certain industries and tasks.

What is the Best Drone for the Money?

There is no straightforward answer here. It all depends on what job you are using the drone for.

If you are looking for a drone that can perform a variety of tasks well (including photography, photogrammetry, and video), I would recommend the DJI Mavic 3 Pro (although if you are using specifically for photogrammetry, then Mavic 3E - Enterprise series, see above).

If you are interested in finding the best photography and videography drone, the Mavic 3 PRO or Mavic Air 3 would be my choice.

If you do end up buying a drone, be sure to read my Beginner Guide to Drones and Drone Pilot License blog posts to learn more about operating your drone in a safe and legal manner.

Contact me if you are looking for a drone consultation, quote for your business, or are interested in drone flight and FAA Part 107 Certificate training. Follow me on social media to see our work and drone advice and tutorials - links are at the bottom of the website pages. Good luck and happy flying!

FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot License

Do You Need a License (Certificate) to Fly a Drone?

Yes, you will need to get a drone license (FAA Part 107 Certificate) if you intend to become a commercial drone operator (sell drone services or any media (photos, videos) you take while flying your drone, or flying the drone for your job at an organization your work).

There is some ignorance about drone rules and regulations out there, including the responsibilities one has when launching the drone into the air. This is perfectly understandable if you do not have an aviation background and haven't spent a lot of time scouring the internet looking for answers. We hope to clear this up for you.

Do I need to have a drone license if I am a hobbyist?

No, you don't need to have a drone license if you are flying as a hobbyist. However, in June of 2021, the FAA made it mandatory to pass the TRUST Test (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) for hobbyist pilots. They are also required to carry evidence of passing the test when they are flying their drone.

The TRUST Test gives an overview of the FAA regulations regarding drone registration and the basic rules of safe drone operations which every drone pilot (hobbyist or commercial) should know and comply with. You can read our detailed TRUST Test Blog Post or watch our Trust Test Vlog on YouTube (below):

You can also read more details on the registration and the flight rules in our Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Flying Your New Drone post.

How do I get a drone license (FAA Part 107 Certificate)?

You can become an FAA-certified drone pilot by passing an aeronautical knowledge test (aka Part 107 Remote Pilot Test). You must be at least 16 years old to take the test, and you will need to study the materials that cover the topic areas that you will be tested on. They include regulations relating to small unmanned aircraft, airspace classifications, flight restrictions, aviation weather theory, emergency procedures, crew resource management, radio communication procedures, aeronautical decision-making, airport operations, maintenance, and preflight inspection procedures, among others.

Is there a drone school or a drone training program I can attend in the Cleveland, Ohio area?

There are several options for an in-person program in Cleveland to get your drone license or get an accredited degree in remote aviation. Check out our blog post A Guide To Drone Training In Cleveland, Ohio for more detailed information. V1DroneMedia also offers in-person regularly scheduled or on-demand custom drone instruction, you can check out our Drone Training page for more information and Sign-up for our Drone Training Newsletter with class announcements.

Where do I register and take the drone license test?

You can schedule your test online here, as well as obtain practice exams.

how much does a drone license cost?

It costs $175 to take the test and $5 to register each drone. This doesn’t count the investment of time into studying for the drone license test via taking an online or an in-person drone license prep class, and as we all know, time is money.

How do I become a drone pilot?

Whether you are going to apply for a drone license or not, becoming a drone pilot goes a lot further than simply having a drone license or a drone. The trick to any profession is mastery, and you will need to practice flying your drone to become a real pilot. So, practice, practice, practice!

If you are in the Cleveland, Ohio, area, I am available for 1:1 and small group in-person Hands-On Drone Flight Training sessions. I also teach FAA Pat 107 Drone License Prep Courses, which are regularly scheduled and can be found on Events or Drone Training pages. Sign up to be notified about new drone training classes as they get scheduled!

Contact me if you have an interest in kicking off your flight career with a professional airline and drone pilot with 25+ years of aviation experience. You can read more about me here. Good luck!

Top Drone Applications in Construction Project Management

Many people don't think of drone uses beyond military applications or taking aerial pictures and video for professional photographers, videographers, and filmmakers. The truth is many industries are adopting this multi-use tool at very fast rates, and using drones for construction project management and site visualization is a top trend in the construction industry, according to Project Manager News.

Here are the top 4 drone uses for construction projects

1.   Construction Project Management via Construction Site Visualization

Drone photos and videos taken and shared at regular intervals for construction monitoring to verify progress, changes, and comparison vs. design documentation can improve communication and decision-making between the construction project management team members. When they are looking at the same pictures or video vs. written or verbal reports from several people walking the construction site at different times, there is a lot more clarity and agreement on the state of the site's progress, leading to faster problem identification and decision-making.

360 video and photo technology, when combined with drones can help produce virtual construction site tours (with interior and exterior of the building, see our example here) that can be used for touring the site virtually by team members, customers, or owner's reps, which gives transparency on the project progress, can help resolve conflicts, and speed up decision making.

Site mapping using drone photogrammetry software can be performed in all stages of construction, overlaying processed drone site maps with site plans for utility, wastewater, equipment location, etc.), helping with planning and managing the site.

2.     Drone Inspection (Building, Façade, roof, Equipment)

Remote drone inspections performed by qualified drone pilots can replace hours of human time spent inspecting and tracking the state or location of equipment, structures, and critical assets, decreasing the likelihood of employee accidents and human error when gathering this data visually by walking the site or climbing structures, leading to a more efficient, safer, and cost-effective operation.

Proven drone photogrammetry scanning software such as Drone Deploy, Pix4D, AgiSoft (and others) offer tools to upload and process point cloud data gathered by a drone pilot in a matter of hours, giving real-time actionable information in form of hi-res images and digital twins of structures (3D aerial photogrammetry models) for someone to conduct an inspection in the safety of their office, and provide collaborative tools for the construction team to document photographic evidence and make notes on "problem" areas.

3.     Construction Site Documentation

You can document as-built conditions upon the completion of the project via panoramic photo and video virtual tours, site maps, and 3D model creation that can be integrated into BIM (Building Information Management) and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) documentation.

Many photogrammetry drone software tools also offer integration of processed data (aerial maps, 3D models, etc.) with leading construction management software platforms, making the incorporation of this technology into existing workflows easier.

4.     Construction Services Marketing

It is well-documented that aerial photos and videos of construction sites are some of the best ways to market construction services. Construction site drone photos and videos can be used in customer presentations, websites, and social media to showcase progress and finished projects that give the firm credibility and get prospective customers excited about a potential partnership. What can be more gratifying and exciting than seeing a building which took months, if not years to build, go up in a Hyperlapse video in less than a minute?

Finally, the ability to provide construction site visualization and progress reports via photos, video, and virtual tours can be an additional way to make your construction company stand out among competitors when bidding for a construction project, as that's an additional value you are providing with multiple customer benefits.

We at V1DroneMedia specialize in providing safe, legal, and high-quality aerial drone services in and around Cleveland, Ohio, to various industries, including construction. Check out V1DroneMedia Drone Construction Services and Contact Us for a consultation or a project quote.

Video Production Explained

When most people hear 'video production' they think of the Production stage of the video production process (with directors, cinematographers, and actors on a set/location shooting video footage). While production is considered the 'sexiest' and the most visible step in the process, it does not exist in a vacuum. There are 3 steps in the video production process: Pre-Production, Production, and Post-Production. You should know what they are if you are looking to hire a video production company.

Pre-Production Stage and Checklist

Pre-Production is the first and the single most important step in the video production process. This is when the production is planned, dictating the success and cost of the entire video project. So plan, plan, plan!

All the video production details are agreed upon between the video makers and the client to clarify expectations. Here is a sample list of topics that can be included and will vary based on the complexity of the project:

• Video goals

  • message to be conveyed to the audience, tone, and the emotion of the delivery

• Budget

  • Do not underestimate (pun intended) the importance of knowing the budget upfront. After all, this will determine what can be accomplished during the filming and the quality of the production itself (time available, location, set design, props, equipment, crew, talent, etc.)

    • A contract outlining the budget should be drawn up, no matter how small the production or budget is

• Story/Script Creation

  • Even if it is a promotional video for a business, it is easier to sell services/products with a well-crafted story that has some logic to it

  • At a minimum, a shot list should be agreed on. Inexperienced filmmakers and clients who do not know what they want often omit this step, but it is important to complete it

  • Storyboards are often created during this stage. Storyboards are a visual representation of the shots (drawings, animation, etc.) along with the script/story flow. The storyboards need to be suitable for the videographer/filmmakers and for the filming crew to understand. Here is an example of a simple storyboard

• Project timeline

  • Establish a clear timeline for video production project steps and deliverables

• Shooting schedule

  • You always have a limited time to get the shots you need, so planning out the video shoot schedule to get them ensures you will not run over time and budget

  • If outdoor cinematography is involved (and/or drone shooting), you also have to work around weather conditions for scheduling the shoot

• Talent

  • Hire actors or coordinate customer spokesperson availability according to shoot timeline and schedule, as dictated by the story/script

• Production crew and equipment needs

  • Hire crew and rent equipment based on the project needs

• Set/Location

  • This goes along with the 'shot' list creation: each shot has a pre-determined location (outdoor or indoor) or a designed set. Sometimes locations need to be scouted and a set designed, and these costs need to be included in the budget.

Production Stage

This is when the filming happens. Pre-production plans are executed by the production crew and talent, according to the shooting schedule.

Unexpected issues do come up on the filming day(s), and it is important to have an established line of communication with the client when something needs to be resolved to move the production forward.

Larger productions can include producer(s) on set, whose job is to coordinate all the logistics and clear up issues.

Post-Production Stage (Editing)

During the post-production stage, all the footage/scenes are stitched together into a pre-determined story flow. The footage is color-graded, motion graphics created, and music, dialogue, and/or subtitles are synced with the footage.

It is no coincidence that the Academy Awards (the Oscars) have a separate category for Editing. Editing can make or break any video or film, and it is an art and a science, depending on the complexity of the project.

This stage can last a long time, depending on the amount of shot footage, length of the video, the number of videos/clips expected to be produced for the client, and the amount of time the client needs to change something (if it is a commercial video production project).

Usually, in a commercial video production project, several ‘edit’ rounds are included in the contract upfront, and going above the agreed-upon rounds can drive the costs up significantly. The client can reduce their cost if they agree on accepting the director's cut (filmmakers edit), without any additional edits.

Videos as Marketing Content

If you are a business owner who is just getting started exploring videos as a marketing tool for your business, check out our blog post Why Video For Your Marketing Content that gives you more information on the importance of visual storytelling in today's marketing and types of videos you should consider for your video marketing strategy.

V1DroneMedia is a full-cycle video production agency that can help you brainstorm to establish your video content strategy and messaging, script, shoot and edit short and long-form video content. Our staff has experience working on the client-side with content development, production, and digital and traditional media buying, so we can advise and help you distribute your content via owned and paid media channels, depending on your business goals.

Video Production Costs

Visual storytelling used to be a luxury reserved for big companies with budgets that could afford creative and video production agencies with layers of people. That meant you incur higher costs long before getting to a creative strategy or even a script, let alone actual video production or a piece of video content. This is why in today's environment, when businesses are pulling back their budgets, these agencies are forced to rethink their business models and thin their ranks, according to this Ad Week article.

And even though these agencies will still be out of reach for most small to medium-sized businesses, video marketing doesn't have to be, especially if you plan to distribute your content through digital media.

You can hire a small media production company like V1DroneMedia to deliver a year's worth of marketing content for a mere fraction of larger video production companies and advertising agencies. For example, a simple production leading up to 3 short-form video clips can start at $2500 (vs. $15K+ at larger agencies), depending on the project complexity.

V1DroneMedia Video Production Capabilities

We have the capability to provide ground and aerial footage in 4K and raw, using a variety of ground cameras, audio, and drone equipment, and can do interview-style filming.

Our ability to provide high-quality aerial footage can also give your videos that wow factor, as detailed in our blog post How Drone Footage Can Enhance Your Videos. We hold FAA Part 107 certification for commercial drone operations, are fully insured, and have 5 years of experience working with small clients and large video production companies.

Check out our Google reviews for customer feedback, and our portfolio and YouTube channel for examples of our work. Contact us with your video production inquiry today!