Drone Mapping with Emlid RTK Receivers

Complement and enhance your RTK workflows with Emlid's high-precision receivers and software.

It requires two devices: a base and a rover. In RTK drone mapping, the drone acts as the rover, which needs the base — a GNSS receiver.

Below is a walkthrough of all the workflows you may face working in RTK drone mapping and how our RTK ecosystem covers you on that.

Reach receivers will seamlessly integrate with your drone, providing centimeter-level precision in all conditions.

Whether you are conducting a drone survey in urban areas or remote locations, Emlid's RTK base station ensures precision with the aid of advanced mapping software.

Your drone can receive corrections from the Reach base
via the NTRIP protocol. Connect your drone and base with the free
Emlid NTRIP Caster, and off you go.

You can work with Reach RTK base even if you have "No Service" on your phone. Reach has the Local NTRIP Caster feature that provides NTRIP over Wi-Fi. All you need to do is connect your drone controller to Reach's network.

Tutorial

Connecting Reach RS2 with DJI Phantom 4 RTK

Case study

with Reach RS2 and Autel EVO II Enterprise

Tutorial

How to setup RTK with Emlid RS2+ & M3E/M300

Functions in -20 to +65 ºС

Your base is capable of working in an incredible range of temperatures; it isn’t afraid of heat or cold.
Water and dust resistant

Reach RS2+ is IP67-rated. All the unit’s connectors are completely sealed and protected with silicone plugs.
Up to 22 hours battery life

Built-in industrial battery that can be charged via USB, just like your cell phone, is perfect for extended drone surveys in remote locations with limited power sources.

Explore Emlid receivers

If you can’t establish the real-time connection between the base and the drone in the field, you can still update images with precise coordinates.

Our free Emlid Studio has a drone data processing option and supports all drones that provide MRK timestamp files.

Video course

Emlid Studio for PPK

Case study

with Phantom 4 RTK and Reach RS2

Ground control points for drone mapping help ensure your map meets accuracy requirements. RTK drones reduce the number of ground control points needed, but don't eliminate them completely.

Reach RS3

Acts as a base and a rover

If you already have a Reach base for your RTK drone, you can collect ground control points by connecting it to the NTRIP network or another receiver.

Reach RX rover

Lighter than your drone

Drone, spare batteries, charger, tags, base station, tripod—you already have a lot to carry. The Reach RX rover weighs 250 g and is extremely easy to use for collecting ground control points.

Point collection

is free in Emlid Flow

Each Reach device comes with the Emlid Flow mobile app. Point collection and RINEX logging are available for free.

Learn more about GCPs for drone mapping:

Online Talk with Emlid Pro-user

How different industries use Reach RX:

Blog post

Ask a question

Volume Measurement with DJI Phantom 4 and Reach RS+

Isaac Vazquez Flores, Mining Engineer at Dromine, Mexico

Reach RS+ allowed us to quickly collect GCPs before drone mapping with Phantom 4 and helped to carry out precise volume measurements of the feldspar stock. The results obtained with a drone are identical to one obtained with a total station.

Development of an avalanche monitoring system

Thor Veen, CSO, Aeria, Canada

Aeria team used Reach RS2 units to place ground control points. This data helped the team to develop an avalanche monitoring system in the north of Pemberton, British Columbia.

Mapping the extent of invasive seagrass

Corbin Kling, North Carolina State University, USA

Researchers from North Carolina State University placed GCPs with Reach RS+ for mapping invasive seagrass extent. The project was aimed at developing innovative options for habitat restoration and resistance to harmful invasive seagrass.

3D modeling of an irrigation system

СampoDigital, Chile

With the help of Reach RS2, СampoDigital team placed ground control points for the drone flight in Osorno, a famous center of agriculture and cattle farming in Chile. Then, based on the collected data, they made a 3D model of the area for the irrigation project.

Mapping Iceland Glaciers

Jurijs Ješkins, the researcher at the faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Latvia

We used two Emlid Reach RS, one as a base and the other as a rover, and were surprised by the good performance and long battery life in very windy, wet, and cold conditions.

Drone mapping of gully erosion

Mangoesmapping, Australia

Mangoesmapping team used Reach RS+ to place GCPs for a drone mapping of gully erosion. The project was to evaluate the effectiveness of erosion minimization methods and reduce a negative impact on water quality on the Great Barrier Reef.