1 Oct 2026 · 21 min
The $18,000 mapping scanner dilemma
This is an AI-generated podcast that uses a live mastermind call as its source material
- New episodes
- Several times a week
- Typical length
- 22 min
- Latest
- 1 Oct 2026
- Language
- English
Latest episode
Earlier episodes 29 most recent
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1 Oct 2026 · 25 min
Elite Drone Tactics for Subzero Weather
This is an AI-generated podcast that uses a live mastermind call as its source material
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24 Aug 2026 · 51 min
Drone pilots building an AI escape hatch
The provided transcript features a candid discussion between professional drone operators covering industry challenges, equipment logistics, and shifting regulations . The participants express significant frustration regarding potential government bans and tariffs on Chinese-made drone components, noting the difficulty of finding viable American-made alternatives for the consumer market. Technical segments of the conversation focus on photogrammetry software options , where the group weighs the benefits of perpetual licenses versus subscription models for processing spatial data.…
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20 Aug 2026 · 22 min
Hardware Bans and Software Monopolies Squeeze Pilots
The participants express significant frustration regarding potential government bans and tariffs on Chinese-made drone components, noting the difficulty of finding viable American-made alternatives for the consumer market. Technical segments of the conversation focus on photogrammetry software options , where the group weighs the benefits of perpetual licenses versus subscription models for processing spatial data. Additionally, the speakers discuss the operational risks of flying near infrastructure and the necessity of increasing service prices to offset rising insurance and hardware…
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5 Aug 2026 · 49 min
The Hidden 92 Percent of Drone Operations
A comprehensive look at the technical and regulatory landscape of the commercial drone industry in 2026 . A meeting transcript and summary detail specific field workflows , including the use of RTK and PPK positioning to ensure data precision during site mapping and infrastructure inspections. The discussion highlights a professional preference for perpetual software licensing over subscription models, specifically evaluating tools like Pix4Dmatic and Agisoft Metashape for generating 3D meshes. Technical challenges, such as hardware failures from lightning and the nuances of base station…
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2 Aug 2026 · 22 min
Achieving centimeter level accuracy with mapping drones
A comprehensive look at the technical and regulatory landscape of the commercial drone industry in 2026 . A meeting transcript and summary detail specific field workflows , including the use of RTK and PPK positioning to ensure data precision during site mapping and infrastructure inspections. The discussion highlights a professional preference for perpetual software licensing over subscription models, specifically evaluating tools like Pix4Dmatic and Agisoft Metashape for generating 3D meshes. Technical challenges, such as hardware failures from lightning and the nuances of base station…
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18 Jul 2026 · 53 min
Drone Mapping Nightmares
Your Part 107 taught you how to fly legally. It didn't teach you how to make money, how to process data, or what to do when Pix4D won't calibrate and you're staring at a deadline at 2:30 in the morning. DMA is a room full of people who've already been where you are — and they meet every week to answer exactly those questions. No theory. No "buy my course." Just operators solving real problems from real job sites, live, every Thursday morning. https://www.skool.com/drone-mapping-answers-5386
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12 Jul 2026 · 53 min
Commercial Drone Mapping is a Battleground
These documents summarize the July 9, 2026, DMA Weekly Q&A , where drone industry professionals discussed technical workflows, hardware innovation, and business resilience. The group explored custom 3D-printing solutions for controller mounts, specifically debating the merits of PETG versus PLA for durability and UV protection. Operational discussions prioritized early morning flights to secure stable winds and emphasized using beacon lights to deter aggressive birds. From a business perspective, members reviewed the Fly Guys program , analyzed a massive service outage that exposed the risks…
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10 Jul 2026 · 40 min
Tactical Survival for Professional Drone Pilots
These documents summarize the July 9, 2026, Drone M Weekly Q&A , where drone industry professionals discussed technical workflows, hardware innovation, and business resilience. The group explored custom 3D-printing solutions for controller mounts, specifically debating the merits of PETG versus PLA for durability and UV protection. Operational discussions prioritized early morning flights to secure stable winds and emphasized using beacon lights to deter aggressive birds. From a business perspective, members reviewed the Fly Guys program , analyzed a massive service outage that exposed the…
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8 Jul 2026 · 21 min
Why Professional Drone Pilots Dress For Crashes
These documents summarize a technical meeting focused on transitioning to local artificial intelligence and optimizing commercial drone operations . The participants discuss moving AI processing from network storage to personal desktops and explore high-performance Nvidia development kits for more efficient local computing. Aerial strategies emphasize the importance of early morning flights to avoid harsh winds and heat, as well as the necessity of maintaining backup equipment to ensure mission reliability. The conversation also highlights ergonomic solutions like the FitBK harness to…
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6 Jul 2026 · 20 min
Drone data wins construction liability disputes
These sources detail the strategic use of drone technology and specialized software like Pix4D to enhance construction site management and surveying. Experts discuss how high-precision aerial data serves as a "single source of truth," offering georeferenced documentation that can resolve expensive legal disputes and change orders. Service providers like Wet Dog Drones emphasize a rapid 24-48 hour turnaround for progress monitoring, which aids in earthwork calculations and tracking site evolution. While drones currently supplement traditional surveyors for tasks like grading and volume…
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3 Jul 2026 · 20 min
Drones as Construction's Single Source of Truth
These sources discuss the growing role of advanced drone technology in the construction industry, focusing on how high-precision aerial data can protect a project's bottom line. Through a detailed meeting transcript and various case studies, the materials highlight Wet Dog Drones , a provider that delivers decision-grade metadata and volumetric analysis within 24 to 48 hours. A central theme is the importance of pre-construction baseline documentation , which serves as a "single source of truth" to successfully dispute or split costly change orders. The text also explores the technical…
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26 Jun 2026 · 35 min
Running a Profitable Drone Mapping Business
Weekly summary of the Drone Mapping Answers. New Part 107 pilot? Your Part 107 taught you how to fly legally. It didn't teach you how to make money, how to process data, or what to do when Pix4D won't calibrate and you're staring at a deadline at 7:00 in the morning. DMA is a room full of people who've already been where you are — and they meet every week to answer exactly those questions. No theory. No "buy my course." Just operators solving real problems from real job sites, live, every Thursday morning. Join Drone Mapping Answers →
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21 Nov 2025 · 7 min
Insider's Drone Guide
The discussion covers various topics pertinent to commercial drone operations, including an attendee’s recent drone incident involving a guidewire and troubleshooting a laptop issue during overnight data uploads. A significant portion of the conversation focuses on thermal training and certification , with participants discussing the pros and cons of in-person versus online UAS thermal courses and the impracticality of using DJI goggles for low-altitude inspections. Furthermore, the meeting includes a demonstration of the UGCS mission planning software, highlighting its simulation…
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20 Nov 2025 · 26 min
Professional Drone Pilots Battle Ban and Automation
The discussion covers various topics pertinent to commercial drone operations, including an attendee’s recent drone incident involving a guidewire and troubleshooting a laptop issue during overnight data uploads. A significant portion of the conversation focuses on thermal training and certification , with participants discussing the pros and cons of in-person versus online UAS thermal courses and the impracticality of using DJI goggles for low-altitude inspections. Furthermore, the meeting includes a demonstration of the UGCS mission planning software, highlighting its simulation…
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13 Nov 2025 · 6 min
A Drone Market on the Brink
This meeting summary details a discussion among drone industry professionals concerning market strategy, specific equipment, and project challenges, notably addressing the impending DJI ban . A key strategic decision was the group's agreement to acquire existing DJI equipment as a temporary measure until competitive US-made alternatives become available. The participants, including Michael Lilley and Jeff Musser, reviewed the new DJI M4E Enterprise drone's capabilities and praised the utility of Air Data software for flight management. Furthermore, the meeting addressed project-specific…
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13 Nov 2025 · 50 min
Drone Tech, Regulations, and Business Strategy
The source material is a transcript and summary of a weekly meeting focused on drone strategy, technology, and business operations among several participants, including Michael Lilley and Jeff Musser (SkyBorne Drone Solutions). A central topic of discussion is the impending DJI ban , with participants agreeing to a strategy of acquiring current DJI equipment, such as the new M4E Enterprise drone, as a temporary measure until viable US-made alternatives become available. The group also covered software recommendations , specifically praising Air Data for flight and maintenance tracking, and…
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25 Oct 2025 · 22 min
Mask R-CNN vs The Ranch: How drones, AI, and instance segmentation count cattle for banks
Mask R-CNN , a state-of-the-art deep learning algorithm, for the automated counting of cattle captured in aerial imagery from quadcopters. The research addresses the challenge of reliably counting livestock in both extensive pastures and high-density feedlots to enhance intelligent livestock management . The study establishes that the Mask R-CNN framework performs reliably, achieving high counting accuracies and outperforming existing object detection algorithms, particularly in challenging scenarios involving occlusion and overlapping of animals. Ultimately, this work provides a promising…
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24 Oct 2025 · 18 min
Drone Profit Secrets: Turning 8-hour Cell Tower Grinds into Triple -Job Cash and the AI Dilemma in Livestock Counting
Focusing heavily on drone operations and business development within the industry. Participants, including Michael Lilley and Mataio Chock, discussed practical business updates such as optimizing cell tower inspections to increase daily output and the financial benefits of tracking mileage for tax purposes. A significant portion of the conversation centered on equipment acquisition , like the purchase of new thermal and RTK drones, and strategies for website management , including SEO and spam protection using Fluent CRM. Furthermore, the meeting explored diverse drone applications,…
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24 Oct 2025 · 7 min
AI, Drones, and the Automated Ranch
DMA Weekly Q&A meeting, focusing heavily on drone operations and business development within the industry. Participants, including Michael Lilley and Mataio Chock, discussed practical business updates such as optimizing cell tower inspections to increase daily output and the financial benefits of tracking mileage for tax purposes. A significant portion of the conversation centered on equipment acquisition , like the purchase of new thermal and RTK drones, and strategies for website management , including SEO and spam protection using Fluent CRM. Furthermore, the meeting explored diverse…
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17 Oct 2025 · 28 min
$400,000 Saved: Unfiltered Pro Talk on Reality Capture's High-Stakes Economics, Data Ownership, and the Drone Surveillance Gold Rush
The provided sources document discussions among a group of professionals concerning 3D modeling, drone operations, and project management technologies . Participants troubleshoot issues with file management software like FileZilla and discuss new tools for sharing 2D and 3D models , including the concept of white labeling these applications. A significant portion of the conversation revolves around reality capture software , specifically the cost, features, and data ownership implications of Cupix compared to alternatives like Matterport and 3D Vista. The group also explores business…
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16 Oct 2025 · 5 min
Data Ownership
The provided sources document discussions among a group of professionals concerning 3D modeling, drone operations, and project management technologies . Participants troubleshoot issues with file management software like FileZilla and discuss new tools for sharing 2D and 3D models , including the concept of white labeling these applications. A significant portion of the conversation revolves around reality capture software , specifically the cost, features, and data ownership implications of Cupix compared to alternatives like Matterport and 3D Vista. The group also explores business…
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14 Oct 2025 · 9 min
Drone Mapping from Hobby to Pro
Focusing heavily on drone mapping workflows and the drone industry landscape .
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14 Oct 2025 · 15 min
Brutal Reality of Mapping
DMA Weekly Q&A discussion among professionals like Michael Lilley, Jeff Musser (SkyBorne Drone Solutions), and Eric Ghanem, focusing heavily on drone mapping workflows and the drone industry landscape . Key topics included Lilley's planned tax season purchases of new equipment and updates on their website and CRM development. Much of the conversation centered on the critical role of Ground Control Points (GCPs) for ensuring vertical (Z) data accuracy , with participants detailing their use of RTK, base stations, and PPK software like Emlid Studio and Red Toolbox for corrections. The group…
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4 Oct 2025 · 35 min
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…
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3 Oct 2025 · 36 min
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…
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2 Oct 2025 · 33 min
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…
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1 Oct 2025 · 22 min
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…
About The Weekly Waypoint
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
The Weekly Waypoint is a English learning podcast from Michael Lilley. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.
- Publisher
- Michael Lilley
- Language
- English
- Category
- Learning
- New episodes
- Several times a week
- Typical length
- 22 min
- Latest episode
- 1 Oct 2026
- Feed
- RSS — paste into any podcast app
- Apple Podcasts
- podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1843128148
- Rights
- Michael Lilley
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