05/27/2026
I had some recent inspiration so I tested my idea and I think the final result is really good. Hopefully all of you agree. This is a nadir shot (an aviation term stolen from astronomy for straight down -90 degrees below observer; the opposite is zenith, which is more commonly heard) flying slowly over the power station.
This same angle (nadir) is used (along with typically 45 degrees) in photogrammetry to capture hundreds or thousands of photos of a site in order to create a 3D model from different angles. I posted a 2D map of a local site that was about 30 acres in size not too long ago (posted May 5) which was captured with all nadir photos.
Photos are stitched together and special software then analyzes them to determine height of structures for creating the 3D. Using the resulting 3D model allows one to perform measurements in the model that can otherwise be difficult or impossible. Measurements can be simple linear distance measurements but also volumetric measurements of stockpiles of dirt, gravel, etc. as well as the opposite, which is the measuring the size of holes in the ground. That's where drones come into play for construction monitor for more precise control of material use. Drones for construction use can also monitor progress by taking photos/videos every few days.
