How the drone mapping calculator works
GSD: the resolution contract
Ground sample distance (cm per pixel) = sensor width ÷ image width × altitude ÷ focal length. Every mapping job starts with a GSD requirement (construction: 1–2 cm; agriculture: 5–10), and altitude is the dial that meets it — lower flies sharper and shorter. The calculator prices the trade before the mission.
Overlap and the grid
Mapping grids fly at 75% forward / 65% side overlap (photogrammetry needs shared features between frames). Overlap multiplies flight time: a "75% overlap" mission flies 4× the coverage area in flight lines. The coverage-per-battery figure includes this tax — the honest acres number.
The mission workflow
Plan the grid in the app (altitude, overlap, pattern), verify GSD, launch with full battery and clear memory, and let automation fly. The pilot's job is the setup and the safety watching; the arithmetic above is why the maps come out usable — resolution and coverage are decided on the ground.