Best Practice for Vehicle RTK

This article explains mounting position options and driving speed recommendations for the Vehicle RTK Kit.

Mounting position recommendations

Mount the Vehicle RTK Kit on top of the vehicle to give the Hovermap the widest possible view of the environment and produce the most even point density. The kit supports mounting at any position on the vehicle depending on project requirements.

Always drive safely when operating a vehicle. Check local laws and regulations about mounting equipment to a vehicle, particularly equipment in the driver's field of view.

Do not mount the Vehicle RTK Kit in a way that contravenes local laws.

Questions to consider when assessing the project

• What is the area of focus? Place the mount where it gets the best visibility of the relevant features. For example, mount on the left or right of the vehicle to get a higher point density of a street curb.

• What are the color requirements? When using the 360 color mount, mounting on top of the vehicle maximizes the camera field of view and produces the most even colorization in the point cloud. If colorizing the road is a priority, position the mount rotated slightly toward the side of the road so the camera has a clear view of the road surface.

• Are there obstructions on the vehicle? For vehicles with antennas, roof racks, or other mounted equipment, consider the impact of these obstructions on the Hovermap's view of the environment and adjust the setup accordingly.

• Will the line of sight be blocked? Ensure the vehicle can be safely operated and that the setup does not contravene local laws about vehicle-mounted equipment.

Emesent Aura provides built-in masks to ensure the vehicle is not included in the point cloud. A custom mask may be required based on the location of the mount and the size or shape of the vehicle. See Creating a Custom Mask.

Driving speed and passes

Always drive to road conditions and comply with local traffic laws.

Depending on project requirements, driving the site multiple times may be necessary to achieve sufficient point density. When using a 360 Colorization Kit, higher point density also improves colorization quality.

The Vehicle RTK Mount supports multiple passes up to 60 kph (37 mph). Scanning at 40 kph (25 mph) gives the best results. As vehicle speed increases, data collected by the Hovermap becomes sparser and more passes are needed to achieve the same point density.

Driving during off-peak hours with less traffic can improve coverage.