Skyness

What type of data do you capture during a flight?

In manual mode, our aerial shots take the form of photographs or videos. We can also provide video post-production: derushing and editing.

In automatic mode, for flights aiming to collect data, the Pix4D software captures geotagged photos that are then processed to provide a 2D plan, a 3D plan and a point cloud.

How soon is data delivered after the flight?

From your order to the delivery of the aerial views, our services take five to seven days on average.

In urban areas (scenario S3 under the rules on drone flights), we can fly five days after the prior flight declaration to the prefecture. Weather conditions can delay flying. An additional one to two days should be expected if the mission requires post-production work.

Do you sell drones?

No. Skyness is a drone service platform, not a drone vendor. To maintain the quality of our services, we regularly renew our drone fleet and equipment (cameras, sensors, software). Drones are constantly improving, product ranges are continuously developing and we cannot allow ourselves to fall hostage to a particular brand or model.

Above all, piloting represents only a part of our activity. What counts is obtaining exploitable data. Following the flight, the raw data requires in-depth processing. We know how to pilot drones and above all how to extract meaning from the images.

Who pilots your drones?

Our Skyness pilots are also engineers. They all have approval from the DGAC (the French civil aviation authority) and their DNC (declaration of ability) is kept up to date, because they work regularly. 

What software do you use for post-production?

We work with:

• Lightroom to retouch images,
• Sketchfab for 3D,
• Final Cut Pro for video editing,
• Pix4D Capture for programming data acquisition,
• Pix4D Mapper Pro for exploiting photogrammetry.

These standard software packages deliver files compatible with your own software and can be viewed on the Internet. As with drones, we are not hostage to any single technology. We use the software that seems to best suit the needs of our clients.

What is photogrammetry?

Aerial photogrammetry is a set of techniques for representing an extended territory using aerial photographs. It enables contractors to assess the area to be developed (business park, road project etc.). As well as land development, aerial photogrammetry has many other applications (mapping, environment, urban planning etc.).

We invite you to explore our latest projects here.

Operators must feature on a list maintained by the DGAC (the French civil aviation authority) stating the nature of the activity, the mission scenario (S-1 to S-4) and the make and model of the aircraft used;

Pilots must have official certification (theoretical training) and a DNC (skills declaration);

Flight authorisations require prior application to the prefectures concerned.

What is a drone?

Drones are aircraft able to fly with no humans on board. They are equipped with an on-board system for automatic flight control. They have have a GPS receiver, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a barometer, a magnetometer and an ultrasound sensor and may also incorporate other sensors.

There are two types of drones: fixed-wing drones known as “flying wings” and rotary-wing drones, also known as “multirotors”.

Flying wings can fly for longer and cover greater distances. Multirotors are more flexible and enable stationary flight; they do not need large areas for take-off and landing.
Skyness is equipped with multirotor drones, which are perfectly suited to property missions. You can discover them here.

What are the regulations regarding drones?

Drone flight is subject to strict aerial regulations:

The regulations define four types of scenarios corresponding to four use cases:

• S-1: operation in direct view of the pilot in an unpopulated area with a maximum horizontal distance from the pilot of 100 metres and an altitude < 150 m;
• S-2: operation out of direct view in an unpopulated area within a volume with a maximum horizontal dimension of 1 kilometre’s radius and an altitude < 50 m;
• S-3: operation in an urban area or near people or animals, in direct view of the pilot, with a maximum horizontal distance from the pilot of 100 metres and an altitude < 150 m;
• S-4: specific activity (aerial measurements, photographs, observations and surveillance) out of direct view in an unpopulated area not meeting the criteria of scenario S-2 with an altitude < 150 m.

What is a 3D digital model in the field of property?

A digital model is a geometric representation of a building’s interior and exterior in 3D, produced in a computer in order to analyse, inspect and simulate certain behaviours. It may be prospective (presenting future architecture) or retrospective (by digitising built heritage).

You can explore our latest projects here.