Drone Mapping Answers

Michael Lilley
  • 0.0 (0)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

These calls take place weekly on Thursday mornings. If you would like to join in on the discussion, click the link below. https://www.skool.com/drone-mapping-answers-5386

Episodes

  1. From WGS84 Pitfalls to $13k Price Tags

    4 OCT

    From WGS84 Pitfalls to $13k Price Tags

    The source provides notes and a transcript from a DMA Weekly Q&A meeting held on May 15, 2025, involving Michael Lilley and several colleagues, including Al Spina, Peter Morssink, and Jeff Musser (SkyBorne Drone Solutions). The discussion focuses heavily on drone mapping software, comparing the features and costs of platforms like Pix4D Cloud Advance, Virtual Surveyor, DroneDeploy, and Nerra, with particular attention tosuch as the high price point of enterprise solutions. Participants also discussedsuch as interior mapping solutions, such as Matterport and iGuide, sharing experiences with their functionality and ease of use, with a preference shown for iGuide's faster turnaround. Additional topics covered include updates on new business opportunities, referral strategies, drone equipment (like the new DJI Mavic 4 Pro and Matrice series), and the critical importance of setting the correct Coordinate Reference System (CRS) for map data. Finally, Michael Lilley shared personal news about a compensation increase and extended employment until September.

    35 min

  2. 3 OCT

    Adopting Cupix Vista for Construction Digital Twins 10/02/2025

    The source provides an extensive transcript of a professional conversation among three individuals—Mataio Chock, Michael Lilley, and Peter Morssink—who appear to be involved in the drone and digital twin mapping industry. Much of the discussion revolves around the financial and operational aspects of adopting Cupix Vista for construction digital twins, including a steep upfront cost of $27,000 for a 500,000-square-foot usage bucket and strategies for monetizing this investment. They discuss the challenges of drone work, such as filing waivers and getting paid for projects, as well as the technical details of capturing data using various 360-degree cameras and methods like walking job sites weekly. The conversation also touches on client relations, pricing models, and the potential for a collaborative business venture to maximize the utility of the Cupix Vista platform.

    36 min
  3. Drone Surveying Business and Equipment Strategy Q&A

    2 OCT

    Drone Surveying Business and Equipment Strategy Q&A

    The source provides meeting notes and a transcript from a DMA Weekly Q&A session involving several participants discussing the business and technical aspects of drone operations. Key discussions include optimizing LinkedIn engagement and client acquisition strategies, with an emphasis on solving client problems rather than focusing solely on drone technology. A significant portion of the conversation addresses the practical use and troubleshooting of Emlid GNSS equipment for accurate surveying, contrasting its cost with that of Trimble and Leica systems. The participants also share case studies to demonstrate the financial value of their mapping services to potential construction clients, while simultaneously working through personal and professional development goals, such as overcoming imposter syndrome and scheduling time for business growth.

    33 min
  4. Drone Mapping Software, Pricing, and Business Talk

    1 OCT

    Drone Mapping Software, Pricing, and Business Talk

    The provided text consists of notes and a transcript from a DMA Weekly Q&A session involving Michael Lilley, Peter Morssink, and Skyland Pixels, LLC Billing, focusing on operational and technical aspects of a drone mapping business. The discussion extensively covers pricing strategies for drone services and evaluating various photogrammetry software, including Pix4D Cloud, Birdie, Metashape, and the newly introduced abagpro.com, with a focus on their features, costs, and data sharing capabilities. Additionally, the participants talk about technical challenges like audio issues and data sharing difficulties with large files, and Peter Morssink outlines his upcoming tasks, which include filming a local charity event for community engagement and portfolio building. The meeting concludes with Michael Lilley acknowledging his need to post updates more promptly due to a heavy workload.

    22 min
  5. Geodata, Pix4D, and Drone Business Strategy

    30 SEPT

    Geodata, Pix4D, and Drone Business Strategy

    The source provides notes and a transcript from a DMA Weekly Q&A meeting held on April 24, 2025, which primarily centers on geospatial and drone-related business and technical issues among several participants, including Michael Lilley, Peter Morssink, and Jeff Musser. Discussions included a presentation on iPhone LAR data accuracy, business challenges related to securing consistent projects and pricing for drone services, and technical troubleshooting for drone operations and Pix4D software, particularly concerning cut and fill analysis and aligning site maps at the Holly Hills job site. Personal updates were also shared, such as Jeff Musser’s travel for Citation jet simulator training, and the meeting concluded with action items for follow-up work on Pix4D features and hyperlapse video creation techniques.

    27 min
  6. Financing Drones: ROBS Program and Surveying Challenges

    30 SEPT

    Financing Drones: ROBS Program and Surveying Challenges

    The source provides meeting notes and a transcript from a DMA Weekly Q&A session held on September 18, 2025, primarily featuring a discussion between Michael Lilley and Jeff Musser, along with interjections from Al Spina and Chad (Skyland Pixels, LLC). A central focus of the conversation is drone acquisition and features, particularly the advantages of the 4TD thermal drone and the limitations of the Emlid Reach RX unit for data processing. Michael Lilley also details his plan to fund his business, "Wet Dog Drones Inc.," by legally accessing his 401k through the ROBS (Rollovers as Business Startups) program. Additionally, the participants discuss the specific requirements and unsatisfactory pricing for solar inspection jobs, which require thermal mapping and high-level aviation insurance. The transcript further explores technical issues related to coordinate systems and data alignment in drone mapping software like Pix4D and includes personal updates, such as Lilley’s exploration of property in Texas.

    32 min
  7. Drone Business Logistics: Connectivity, Hosting, and Insurance

    30 SEPT

    Drone Business Logistics: Connectivity, Hosting, and Insurance

    The "DMA Weekly Q&A" transcript details a discussion among several professionals about various business and technical topics, primarily focused on drone operations and IT infrastructure. Participants discussed Mataio Chock's recent $10,000 investment in drone equipment, including a Matterport camera and a Nikon super zoom, along with his need for insurance coverage, specifically Errors and Omissions (E&O). A significant portion of the conversation centered on website hosting and networking challenges, including Michael Lilley's storage limit issues and the feasibility of using a Raspberry Pi or a Protectli device for self-hosting a website. The group also covered battery charging solutions, confirming the importance of pure sine wave inverters for vehicle charging, and shared advice on reliable internet connectivity for field work and saving money on hotel stays.

    15 min

  8. 14 MAY

    DMA Weekly Q&A May 8 2025

    AI summary of the weekly live call that can be found here

    9 min

  9. 2 MAY

    Mapping Platforms and Pricing for Drone Pilots

    Recap of weekly DMA meeting

    11 min

  10. 19 APR

    Skyland Pixels_ Biocarbon, Drones, and Mapping Accuracy

    AI Summary of weekly call

    23 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

These calls take place weekly on Thursday mornings. If you would like to join in on the discussion, click the link below. https://www.skool.com/drone-mapping-answers-5386

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Lilley
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Michael Lilley
  • Show Website
    Drone Mapping Answers