Drones - The RIGHT way to Calculate Volumes with Agisoft Metashape 

Glad you like them!

More to come! Thanks

Hi - thanks for watching and for your feedback. I have a bit of time coming up, so I will make a video along these lines. I will let you know once it's up and ready!

Hi TT Thanks for watching. This particular system isn't all that great, quite old now if I think about it, but a decent GPU helps. Intel i7 8700k 64GB RAM Nvidia 3080 GPU Win 10 Pro Processing drive is a 1TB Samsung EVO NVME

Hi - you can clip the dense cloud by using the resize region option. You will see me doing this at 57seconds into the video. The tool can be found in the toolbar at the top of the Metashape window. Hope that helps!

Thanks for watching! You are correct that I didn't classify the points in this case and likely you should be doing that if there is any risk of machinery or clutter on the stockpiles.

Hi there. Would you like to mail me at geospatialtips@gmail.com and I can share more info and we can figure out how to help you with those volumes?

@@geospatialtips I will. Thank you!

@@geospatialtips I just sent the email. It's from Jerseyshore..... Thank you!

Hi again! Looking at that shape, where some of the stockpile has been dumped against a slope, it is immediately apparent that a single volume won't work because we don't have a base file to calculate volume above and we are only able to use planes in Metashape, hence a minimum of two planes are needed to accurately portray the base in this instance. Once those two shapes had been placed, then yes I was much happier with the profile I saw as it was more uniform and thus the volume result would be more reliable. Because I have considered the shape and applied logic to determine how many regions would define it, added to the fact that the profiles were better in the second instance and, if I am honest, just through experience, I am confident that the two part volume was the correct one. It's good that you are asking these questions, rather than just blindly accepting what Metashape gives you. A nice idea to compare software packages as well, that further affirms your results. As for whether one can be deceived by a volume that looks small, but you get a large value, yes that does happen fairly often. When in doubt, go back to basic maths. Volume = length x breadth x height. If it gives you an answer close to what your volume is telling you, then it must be right. However, if for whatever reason your scale is off, that could mess things up badly, but I think you have control, so that should address that type of problem. I'd be happy to run the data myself and compare for you, please just email me the link and I'll do some processing. geospatialtips@gmail.com Cheers

@@geospatialtips Thanks for explaining and thanks for offering to run the data. I'll upload the photos tonight and send the link. You are really the only person I've come across who offers their time like this. It's a great opportunity for me along with those who watch your videos and read these comments 🙂

@@jerseyshoredroneservices225 Thanks for your kind comments. I'm really just happy when I can help out and maybe it goes some way to improving the industry as a whole, even if just the smallest little bit. I realise this video may have asked more questions than it has answered, so I took a bit of time today to record a video that looks at this exact stockpile and answers why the two part approach is good and I compare the calculations in two other software packages. I will have it uploaded as soon as I can and then you'll see the logic I have applied. I'm looking forward to receiving your dataset as well and working through it with you!

Hi - you are correct that if you have any machinery, conveyors or any other clutter you should cleanup the dense cloud and ensure that the points you are creating your DTM from are only the valid ground points. If the automated ground classification is failing (possibly due to a steep incline) you can manually classify those points at the top of the pile to the ground class. To do this, select the points in question with the selection tool and the press "Ctrl+Shift+C" or go "Tools-Dense Cloud-Assign Class" and say assign "From any class" to "Ground". That will add those points to the ground class as well and then you can continue to create your clean and accurate DTM from the ground class only. Hope that helps!

@@geospatialtips That helps! There are many videos and tutorials online but yours are the most helpful. Then when you respond to questions in the comments it's even better 🙂 I'll have more questions. I hope you can continue to help everyone who sees these comments. Thanks!

I'm working on a video to address this, but I would suggest editing colour, contrast, saturation etc. before using Metashape. It is always better to adjust images as early as possible as it helps all of the following processes.

@@geospatialtips I adjusted all the things however the different dates flying there is seasonal variation that time both flight overlap area mask has came. We can't adjust manually.

@@MrABN143 Thanks, understood. In that case, I'd suggest you look at an alternative software for your orthomosaic. Metashape is not designed to handle seasonal variability. I use Inpho Orthovista and enjoy it's capabilities. Bingo is also very good I believe. But, if you like, send me a screenshot of your orthomosaic to geospatialtips@gmail.com and I will take a look and perhaps offer some other suggestions?

@@geospatialtips sure, I will share.

Hi - effectively you apply the same principle, but in Metashape you take the "Volume Below" value. So, it is the inverse volume you calculate. Create you model and draw the boundary around your excavated region, using a surface that is as flat as possible. Then compute the volume and volume below should be the excavated value. If the volume is more complex, you may need a base dataset to subtract from. If you need, send me some details in an email and I'll be happy to help you where I can. geospatialtips@gmail.com

Hi - yes, there shouldn't be any issue with that. You can import images, point clouds, DTMs, DSMs etc. into Metashape and then work with them, manipulate or edit them as needed. Anything you import will need its relevant metadata, so be sure to export that from Dronelink or include it in your settings and the rest should be easy enough. Of course you could just use Dronelink for the capture and then do all of the data processing in Metashape. The choice is yours.

@@geospatialtips Thanks. Yeah its kinda the latter that I was thinking of. New to all this so just finding my way round some of the software and terminology etc. Thanks

Sure thing - Metashape will accept almost any from of imagery, it's very forgiving. You'll want to make sure it imports the metadata such as GPS tags and also orientation data and accuracy info (if using an RTK drone). If it should be importing that info and it isn't doing so, you can enable the setting in Tools/Preferences/Advanced.

@@geospatialtips Thanks much appreciated