Remotely piloted aircraft can be used to acquire high-resolution geospatial data, including topographic maps, elevation plans, digital terrain models, and orthophotos. Terrain mapping is a surveying technique that involves capturing geospatial data to create topographic maps, elevation plans, digital terrain models, and orthophotos. Thanks to their ability to fly close to the ground and collect real-time data, UAVs provide a precise and high-resolution option for geospatial data acquisition. Among these data, we find topographic maps, which consist of detailed representations of the terrain and its natural features, such as rivers, hills, valleys, and forests.

Elevation plans are three-dimensional representations of the terrain that are useful for planning the construction of buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure that require a solid and stable foundation. These plans allow determining the height and exact position of every point on the terrain.

Digital terrain models are computerized representations of the terrain and its characteristics, such as slope and roughness. These models are used to design infrastructure and predict the consequences of any modifications to the terrain. Orthophotos, on the other hand, are high-resolution aerial images of the terrain that can be used to visualize specific details and identify any issues or risks.

Orthophotos, on the other hand, are high-resolution aerial images of the terrain that can be used to visualize specific details and identify any problems or risks.

Drones can be used to gather data on buildings, bridges, roads, and other infrastructure. They are of great help for the BIM methodology and digital twin.

Remotely piloted aircraft systems are excellent tools for monitoring construction sites, work progress, and compliance with safety regulations. Firstly, they can be used to conduct aerial inspections of the construction site, which provide a comprehensive overview of the area and identify any issues or risks. 

For example, they can detect the presence of hazardous materials or verify the correct installation of safety barriers. Through programmed automated flights, work progress can be monitored by capturing high-resolution images and videos of the construction site, allowing supervisors to monitor the progress and ensure that the scheduled timelines are being followed.

Additionally, they can be used to check compliance with safety regulations by flying over the construction site to identify any safety violations, such as the absence of protective helmets or the lack of warning signage. Furthermore, they gather geospatial and topographic data of the construction site, which is useful for precise planning and design of construction.

UAS can gather data on unstable terrains, assess risks, and facilitate the development of mitigation solutions. By acquiring high-resolution data on the terrain, including slope and stability, the presence of cracks or other deformations, vegetation, and weather conditions, these aircraft can identify areas at a higher risk of landslides, evaluate risk levels, and develop mitigation solutions such as the construction of containment barriers, the arrangement of retaining walls, or the removal of debris and unstable materials. Additionally, visual inspections of at-risk areas can be conducted by capturing high-definition images and detecting any signs of instability or collapse.

By using a drone, agricultural lands can be mapped, providing detailed information about crops, including coverage, development, and health conditions. Thanks to the collection of high-resolution geospatial data, such as topographic maps, elevation plans, digital terrain models, and orthophotos, a detailed view of the lands and existing crops can be obtained. Additionally, by flying at various altitudes above the ground, a drone can identify areas of agricultural interest and determine crop density, height, and development, detecting anomalies such as diseases or water stress, as well as areas with weed presence. The use of a quadcopter or fixed-wing drone also reduces the time and costs required for mapping agricultural lands and collecting crop data, providing real-time information and enabling frequent and detailed inspections of crops. In conclusion, drones represent a valuable tool for precision agriculture, providing useful information to address potential issues promptly and improve agricultural production.

The use of UAVs, or remotely piloted aircraft, is increasingly prevalent in land management and spatial planning, offering accurate and reliable data for a wide range of topographic applications. In the analysis of archaeological sites, these tools prove to be a valuable resource due to their ability to detect and map the terrain with high resolution, providing detailed images without the need for invasive excavations. Moreover, thanks to their agility and the ability to fly at low altitudes, UAVs can reach challenging areas and map archaeological sites in rugged or inaccessible locations.

The analysis of acquired data allows for the identification of structures such as walls or buildings and the detection of any anomalies in the terrain. With a drone’s capability to perform three-dimensional surveys, a comprehensive view of the morphology of the archaeological site and any changes over time can be obtained. UAVs thus represent an important tool for land management and spatial planning, providing precise and reliable data for mapping areas of archaeological interest, identifying potential excavation sites, and evaluating the impact of human activities on the surrounding environment.

Therefore, UAVs prove to be excellent tools for various topographic applications, offering a solid knowledge base for land management and spatial planning.