Why Proper Aerial Target Setup Matters—Especially in Summer

Why Proper Aerial Target Setup Matters—Especially in Summer

Aerial targets play a critical role in achieving accurate horizontal and vertical control for UAS, photogrammetry, and aerial mapping projects. While the design and material of a target matter, how the target is installed in the field is just as important—especially during the summer months.

One of the most common setup issues we see is failing to remove grass and vegetation beneath the aerial target prior to placement. While this may seem like a small step, skipping it can lead to measurable accuracy issues in the final data.

Grass Growth Happens Faster Than You Think

During spring and summer, grass can grow rapidly, sometimes in a matter of days. When an aerial target is placed directly over existing vegetation without clearing it first, the grass continues to grow underneath the panel.

As that growth progresses, several things can happen:

• Vegetation lifts portions of the target unevenly
• The panel no longer sits flat on the ground
• The physical elevation of the target changes over time

Even subtle movement matters when you’re chasing tight tolerances.

How Grass Affects Vertical Accuracy

When grass grows beneath a target, it can distort the perceived elevation of the control point. From the air, the target still looks correct, but the reference point is no longer representing the true ground surface.

This can result in:

• Vertical distortion in photogrammetric outputs
• Inconsistent check point results
• Misalignment between ground control and surface models
• Additional processing time or rework

For projects requiring high vertical accuracy, this can quickly compound into larger issues across the dataset.

Our Recommended Best Practice

To ensure optimal performance and accuracy, we strongly recommend the following during target installation:

• Remove all grass and vegetation beneath the panel
• Expose bare soil so the target sits directly on the ground
• Ensure the panel lays flat with no rocking or bulging
• Periodically inspect long‑term targets for vegetation growth

This simple step helps maintain consistent elevation, improves data reliability, and ensures the control point performs as intended throughout the duration of the project.

A Small Step That Protects Big Results

Our aerial targets are designed to deliver reliable performance while minimizing environmental impact—but proper field setup is key. Taking a few extra minutes on installation can save hours of reprocessing later and help maintain confidence in your final deliverables.

Following our setup guidelines isn’t just about best practices—it’s about protecting the accuracy of your data and the integrity of your work.

If you have questions about target setup or want to learn more about field‑tested best practices, we’re always happy to help.

How to Guide for setting Aerial Targets.

Below is a link to a how-to Guide for Setting Aerial Targets.

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