Construction Progression SOP
Texas Drone Company · DJI Mavic 3E · v1.1
Section 1 — On-site arrival & setup
Site arrival protocol
- Go to the site trailer first. Introduce yourself and tell them you will be flying. This lets them notify heavy machinery operators in the area.
- Format the SD card before flying — unless you have enough space. Advanced Camera Settings → Format Memory Card.
- Walk the site. Identify hazards, active machinery, cranes, flag poles, and obstructions before arming the aircraft.
- Set gimbal to -23° and leave it there for the entire job. Gimbal pitch does not change between photo and video modes.
Camera settings — photo baselines (Auto mode)
Camera is set to auto for construction progression. Use these as starting points and adjust on the fly. Always review your first shot before committing to the full sequence.
| Condition | ISO | Shutter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bright sun | 100 | 1/1500s | Most Texas days — watch for blown highlights on concrete |
| Partly cloudy | 200 | 1/800s | Good balanced light |
| Overcast | 400 | 1/500s | Flat shadows — watch exposure on dirt and concrete |
| Golden hour | 400–800 | 1/400s | Bracket shots — light changes fast |
Camera settings — video orbit baselines (4K 30fps)
| Condition | ISO | Shutter | ND Filter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bright sun | 100 | 1/60s | ND64 recommended |
| Partly cloudy | 100 | 1/60s | ND16 |
| Overcast | 200 | 1/60s | ND8 or none |
No ND filters? Use 1/1000s shutter — less cinematic motion blur but acceptable for deliverables.
Shot sequence overview
| Shot type | Altitude | Gimbal | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Context photos (red) | 300–400 ft AGL | -23° | 4 sides + 4 corners |
| Building photos (blue) | 100–150 ft AGL | -23° | 4 sides + 4 corners |
| Video orbit | CCW · 4K 30fps | -23° | 1 per building |
| 360 pano | Aerial: Mavic 3E · Ground: Insta 360 | — | When requested |
Section 2 — Context photos (red arrows)
Altitude: 300–400 ft AGL · Gimbal: -23° · Camera: Auto
Purpose
- High altitude shots showing the full site in context of surroundings — roads, neighboring properties, surrounding area.
- These are NOT building shots. Align your frame to the property lines, not the structure itself.
Shot count & coverage
- 4 corners + 4 sides for a rectangular site.
- Odd number of images per side. If site is too large for one shot, use 3.
- Adjust altitude up or down until the frame is completely filled with the subject.
Framing rules
- ✅ Fly parallel to the silt fence or property line — use it as your alignment guide.
- ✅ Rule of thirds: property edge = edge of your frame.
- ✅ Leave room at the bottom for the watermark added in post.
- ✅ Pull back far enough that you could go slightly farther — do not push in tight.
- ❌ Do not frame to the building. Frame to the property lines.
- ❌ Do not push in so far the watermark area gets cropped.
- ❌ Do not leave excessive empty space beyond the property — too far back forces a re-fly.
A couple of seconds to readjust framing can save hours of re-flying. Review your first context shot before shooting the full sequence.
Section 3 — Building photos (blue arrows)
Altitude: 100–150 ft AGL · Gimbal: -23° · Camera: Auto
Purpose
- Low altitude shots with the building as the primary subject.
- Lets clients see construction progress, manage activity, and use for marketing.
- Same 4 corners + 4 sides pattern as context photos, but tight to the structure.
Framing rules
- ✅ Building dead center in the frame.
- ✅ Fill the frame with the building — minimize empty space around the structure.
- ✅ Leave room at the bottom for the watermark added in post.
- ✅ Odd number of images per side — use 3 if building is too large for one shot.
- ✅ If restricted airspace limits altitude below 100 ft, adjust framing and note it in your flight log.
- ❌ Do not push too far back — building should fill the frame, not float in the middle.
- ❌ Do not leave the subject off-center.
LAANC ceiling may limit altitude in controlled airspace. Under 100 ft due to restrictions — adjust framing and log it.
Section 4 — Video orbits
Resolution: 4K 30fps · Gimbal: -23° · Direction: CCW always
Execution standards
- ✅ Always fly counter-clockwise unless client specifically instructs otherwise.
- ✅ Low, slow, and smooth — constant motion throughout the entire orbit.
- ✅ Fill the frame with the building from start to finish.
- ✅ Scout obstructions before rolling — flag poles, cranes, signage.
- ✅ Video watermark differs from photos — you can push in slightly more than building photos.
- ❌ No choppy yawing or hard breaks — any jerkiness ruins the clip.
- ❌ Do not start recording until you are in position and already moving smoothly.
Review your orbit clip on site before packing up. Shaky orbit = re-fly.
360 panos — when requested
- Aerial 360: Mavic 3E — Pano mode. Aircraft spins 360° automatically.
- Ground 360: Insta 360 — still images and video walkthroughs.
Section 5 — Deliverables & file naming
File naming convention
YYYY_MM_DD - Client Name - Job Site
e.g. 2025_06_14 - Hensley Construction - Fort Worth Logistics Park
Deliverable summary
| Deliverable | Format |
|---|---|
| Context photos | RAW + JPEG |
| Building photos | RAW + JPEG |
| Video orbit | MP4 · 4K 30fps |
| 360 aerial pano | When requested |
| 360 ground pano | When requested |
Pre-handoff checklist
- ✅ All 4 corners and 4 sides captured for both context and building photos.
- ✅ Framing reviewed — watermark space left at bottom, subject properly centered.
- ✅ Video orbit is smooth, CCW, full building in frame throughout.
- ✅ RAW + JPEG both present for all photo deliverables.
- ✅ Files named: YYYY_MM_DD - Client Name - Job Site.
- ✅ All data backed up before leaving the site.
- ❌ Do not leave the site without reviewing your orbit footage on-site.
Questions on site? Call your lead pilot before improvising. A quick call is faster than a re-fly.
Texas Drone Company · txDroneCo.com · For internal use only