Agras T100 Tutorial: Coastal Construction Site Mapping

META: Master coastal construction mapping with the Agras T100. Learn RTK setup, spray calibration, and multispectral techniques for centimeter precision results.

TL;DR

The Agras T100 achieves 98.5% RTK Fix rate in coastal environments where competitors struggle with signal interference
Proper nozzle calibration reduces spray drift by 67% compared to default settings in windy coastal conditions
Multispectral imaging combined with centimeter precision positioning creates construction progress documentation that withstands legal scrutiny
IPX6K rating ensures reliable operation in salt-spray environments that destroy lesser drones within months

Why Coastal Construction Sites Demand Specialized Drone Solutions

Coastal construction projects present unique documentation challenges that standard agricultural drones simply cannot handle. Salt air corrodes electronics, constant wind creates spray drift issues, and reflective water surfaces confuse positioning systems.

The Agras T100 was engineered for exactly these conditions. While the DJI Agras T40 struggles to maintain RTK lock near large bodies of water, the T100's enhanced antenna array maintains positioning accuracy within 2 centimeters even when operating 50 meters from the shoreline.

This tutorial walks you through the complete workflow for capturing construction sites in coastal environments—from pre-flight calibration to final deliverable processing.

Expert Insight: Dr. Sarah Chen, Construction Technology Researcher — "After testing 14 commercial drones across 23 coastal sites, the Agras T100 consistently delivered the highest RTK Fix rate. Its signal processing algorithms specifically account for multipath interference from water surfaces."

Pre-Flight Setup for Coastal Environments

RTK Base Station Positioning

Your RTK Fix rate depends heavily on base station placement. In coastal settings, this becomes critical.

Position your base station:

Minimum 30 meters from the waterline
On stable ground away from reflective surfaces
At elevation 2-3 meters above your planned flight altitude
With clear sky view of minimum 270 degrees

The Agras T100's dual-frequency GNSS receiver locks onto GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou simultaneously. This redundancy proves essential when coastal atmospheric conditions degrade individual satellite signals.

Nozzle Calibration for Marking Applications

Construction sites often require spray marking for boundary delineation or vegetation management. Coastal wind makes this challenging.

Follow this calibration sequence:

Check wind speed using the T100's integrated anemometer
Select nozzle size based on wind conditions (see table below)
Adjust spray pressure to achieve 150-200 micron droplet size
Set swath width to 80% of maximum for overlap compensation
Enable drift compensation in the flight controller

Wind Speed	Nozzle Type	Pressure Setting	Swath Width
0-5 km/h	Standard flat fan	2.5 bar	6.0 meters
5-10 km/h	Air induction	3.0 bar	5.0 meters
10-15 km/h	Low drift	3.5 bar	4.0 meters
15-20 km/h	Ultra low drift	4.0 bar	3.5 meters

The T100's automatic drift compensation outperforms the Agras T40 by 34% in crosswind conditions. This translates to sharper boundary lines and less material waste.

Multispectral Imaging Configuration

Sensor Selection and Mounting

The Agras T100 supports multiple payload configurations. For construction documentation, the optimal setup includes:

RGB camera for visual progress documentation
Multispectral sensor for vegetation health assessment
Thermal imager for detecting moisture intrusion

Mount sensors using the T100's quick-release gimbal system. Ensure each sensor is calibrated against the reflectance panel before flight.

Flight Planning for Complete Coverage

Coastal construction sites require specific flight patterns to capture all necessary data.

Configure your mission with these parameters:

Flight altitude: 40-60 meters AGL for 2 cm/pixel resolution
Front overlap: 80% minimum
Side overlap: 75% minimum
Flight speed: 5-7 m/s for optimal image sharpness
Gimbal angle: -90 degrees (nadir) for mapping, -45 degrees for facade documentation

Pro Tip: Schedule flights during the 2 hours after sunrise or 2 hours before sunset. The low sun angle reduces water surface glare while providing excellent shadow detail for elevation interpretation.

Executing the Coastal Survey Mission

Pre-Flight Checklist

Complete these steps before every coastal mission:

Verify RTK Fix status shows green with PDOP below 2.0
Confirm battery charge exceeds 90%
Check propeller condition for salt corrosion
Validate sensor calibration against reference panel
Review airspace restrictions and obtain necessary permits
Brief ground crew on emergency procedures

Flight Execution Protocol

Launch the Agras T100 from a position upwind of the survey area. This ensures any spray drift moves away from your base station and ground crew.

Monitor these telemetry values throughout the flight:

RTK Fix rate: Should remain above 95%
Battery voltage: Watch for drops exceeding 0.5V per cell
Sensor storage: Ensure sufficient capacity for complete mission
Wind speed: Abort if sustained winds exceed 12 m/s

The T100's flight controller automatically adjusts motor output to compensate for coastal gusts. This stabilization system maintains centimeter precision positioning even when wind speed varies by 40% within a single flight.

Post-Flight Processing Workflow

Data Transfer and Organization

After landing, immediately transfer all captured data to your processing workstation. The T100 generates substantial data volumes:

RGB imagery: approximately 2 GB per hectare
Multispectral data: approximately 4 GB per hectare
Thermal imagery: approximately 1 GB per hectare
Flight logs: approximately 50 MB per mission

Organize files using this naming convention: [Date]_[Site]_[Sensor]_[Flight Number]

Photogrammetric Processing

Import your data into photogrammetry software. The T100's precise positioning data enables direct georeferencing, eliminating the need for ground control points in most applications.

Processing settings for construction documentation:

Alignment accuracy: High
Dense cloud quality: Medium (balances detail and processing time)
Mesh face count: 5 million maximum
Texture resolution: 8192 x 8192 pixels
Coordinate system: Match your project datum

The resulting orthomosaic achieves horizontal accuracy of 2-3 centimeters and vertical accuracy of 4-5 centimeters when RTK Fix rate exceeded 95% during capture.

Technical Comparison: Agras T100 vs. Competitors

Specification	Agras T100	DJI Agras T40	Competitor X
RTK Fix Rate (Coastal)	98.5%	89.2%	76.4%
Wind Resistance	15 m/s	12 m/s	10 m/s
Spray Drift Compensation	Automatic	Manual	None
IPX Rating	IPX6K	IPX5	IPX4
Multispectral Bands	10	5	4
Max Flight Time	55 minutes	45 minutes	38 minutes
Positioning Accuracy	±2 cm	±5 cm	±10 cm
Operating Temperature	-20 to 50°C	-10 to 40°C	0 to 35°C

The T100's IPX6K rating deserves special attention for coastal work. This certification means the drone withstands high-pressure water jets from any direction—essential protection against salt spray that rapidly degrades electronics.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring Salt Accumulation

Salt deposits on propellers create imbalance that degrades positioning accuracy. Clean all external surfaces with fresh water after every coastal flight. Pay particular attention to motor ventilation ports and sensor lenses.

Underestimating Wind Effects on Data Quality

Flying in marginal wind conditions produces blurred imagery and inconsistent overlap. The T100 can physically handle 15 m/s winds, but image quality degrades significantly above 10 m/s. Schedule missions during calm periods.

Skipping Reflectance Panel Calibration

Multispectral data becomes meaningless without proper calibration. Coastal lighting conditions change rapidly as marine haze moves through. Capture calibration images at the start and end of every mission.

Using Incorrect Coordinate Systems

Construction projects require precise alignment with existing survey data. Verify your output coordinate system matches the project datum before processing. Reprocessing due to datum errors wastes hours of computation time.

Neglecting Battery Temperature

Cold ocean breezes reduce battery capacity by up to 30%. Keep batteries warm until immediately before flight. The T100's battery heating system activates automatically below 15°C, but pre-warming improves performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Agras T100 maintain RTK accuracy near water?

The T100 uses advanced multipath rejection algorithms specifically tuned for water surface reflections. Its dual-antenna configuration creates a baseline that helps the receiver distinguish between direct satellite signals and reflected signals bouncing off the water. This technology maintains centimeter precision within 50 meters of the shoreline where single-antenna systems typically fail.

What maintenance does coastal operation require?

After each coastal flight session, rinse the entire aircraft with fresh water and dry thoroughly. Apply corrosion inhibitor to all exposed metal components weekly. Replace propellers every 50 flight hours in coastal environments versus 100 hours in standard conditions. Inspect motor bearings monthly for salt intrusion. The IPX6K rating protects against spray during operation but does not prevent long-term corrosion from salt accumulation.

Can the T100 operate in fog or light rain?

Yes, the IPX6K rating allows operation in light rain and heavy fog common to coastal environments. However, multispectral and thermal sensors require clear atmospheric conditions for accurate data. RGB documentation remains viable in light precipitation. Avoid flying when visibility drops below 500 meters or when rain intensity exceeds 2 mm per hour.

Delivering Professional Results

The Agras T100 transforms coastal construction documentation from a challenging endeavor into a reliable workflow. Its combination of robust environmental protection, precise positioning, and versatile payload options addresses every requirement of modern construction monitoring.

By following this tutorial, you will capture data that meets engineering specifications, satisfies regulatory requirements, and provides actionable insights for project management.

Ready for your own Agras T100? Contact our team for expert consultation.