Table 1. Cost, advantages, and disadvantages of common SfM platforms. Platform Cost Advantages Disadvantages Person $0 Cost, good Limited for detail applications; work not useful for (characterize areas larger specific, than 100–200 small-scale square meters features), potentially more efficient for outcrop scale work Pole ~$50–250, Cost, ease of Must build (Figure 3) depending setup and mount for on pole use, good for camera, height. Can certain kinds limitation for purchase of features maximum pole kits online, (slope height, but building underneath inefficient in your own is an overhang, comparison to often more for example) UAS economical. Balloon Cost (unless Easier with two you purchase people rather (Figure 4,5) Building your a commercial than one, own system version), affected by the is simplicity, wind, requires inexpensive, camera picavet mount but systems orientation (build or on the (can purchase), market can straight requires helium cost much down, unlike (a limited more many pole resource) because setups), they may height. have video Balloons are systems to a good show what option for the camera topographic is viewing. A mapping
Table 1. Cost, advantages, and disadvantages of common SfM platforms. Platform Cost Advantages Disadvantages Person $0 Cost, good for detail work (characterize specific, small-scale features), potentially more efficient for outcrop scale work Limited applications; not useful for areas larger than 100–200 square meters Pole (Figure 3) ~$50–250, depending on pole height. Can purchase kits online, but building your own is often more economical. Cost, ease of setup and use, good for certain kinds of features (slope underneath an overhang, for example) Must build mount for camera, limitation for maximum pole height, inefficient in comparison to UAS Balloon (Figure 4,5) Building your own system is inexpensive, but systems on the market can cost much more because they may have video systems to show what the camera is viewing. A Cost (unless you purchase a commercial version), simplicity, camera orientation (can straight down, unlike many pole setups), height. Balloons are a good option for topographic mapping Easier with two people rather than one, affected by the wind, requires picavet mount (build or purchase), requires helium (a limited resource)
sfm_guide_instructors_investigators.v10.docx