Best Mapping Drone Mavic 3 Enterprise | M30t

Navigate the marketing hype and learn which drone offers better mapping deliverables, the Mavic 3 enterprise or the DJI M30t.

The Mavic 3 Enterprise and the M30t are both powerful drones that are capable of capturing detailed aerial maps and imagery, but which one is the best? However, there are some key differences between the two that may make one more suitable for certain applications than the other.  In previous articles we asked the question of whether or not we could map with a Mavic 3.   Technically yes, but it won’t be easy and DJI is not opening up the SDK anytime soon.  Rather, go for the Mavic 3 Enterprise.

While it is clear the M30t inspection drone, it is limited in its mapping capability.  The M30t does offer a global shutter/mechanical shutter, albeit the sensor is limited at 12mp.  We are still testing mapping with the 48mp zoom camera.  Normally you cannot map with zoom, but if we lock the focus and lock the zoom it could work.  Most mapping engines prefer higher pixel count than larger sensors.  Mapping engines typically create more points and greater point density from the higher MP count cameras.

If you have flown and mapped with a DJI Phantom 4 Pro before, you have a great understand of how long it takes to get an automated flight path completed.  The Phantom 4 Pro camera is still the mapping powerhouse.  As now the drone has doubled in price, even though DJI states they are no longer producing them. With just a 12mp camera, mapping missions would take 60% longer than they would with a Phantom 4 pro. The M30t offers automated missions through DJI pilot 2 on the beefy standard remote.

The Mavic 3 Enterprise offers a Micro 4/3 sensor for mapping missions.  The camera shoots 20mp images for mapping missions.  The better mapping drone is the Mavic 3 enterprise simply because of the larger sensor size.  While 12mp sensor vs a 20mp may not seem a lot different, it offers an extreme difference in the time to acquire or complete mapping missions.  In addition, the sensor size will impact the detail and color of your drone maps and models.

Put simply, the Mavic 3 enterprise is a better mapping drone than the M30t for the following reasons:

1. Larger sensor
2. Faster Acquisition Time
3. More detailed maps and models
4. More life like imagery for better maps and models
5. longer flight times

One of the biggest differences between the Mavic 3 Enterprise and the M30T is in terms of flight time. The Mavic 3 Enterprise has a flight time of up to 44 minutes, while the M30T can stay in the air for up to 31 minutes. This makes the Mavic 3 is a better option for long-duration mapping missions that require large areas to be covered.

Both drones are also equipped with a range of advanced features that are designed to make mapping missions easier and more accurate. The Mavic 3 Enterprise, for example, has a built-in obstacle avoidance system that can detect and avoid objects in the drone’s flight path.

It also has a “RTK module” feature that allows the drone to hover in a specific location with an accuracy of up to 1 foot.   The RTK module allows pilots to write very precision image location information to their photos.  Some say this allows pilots to create maps without Ground Control Points.  As pilots we should always have redundancy, and with mapping we should always have at least 1 control point.  Even if our drones offer RTK connectivity.

Can you use your standard mapping applications on the Mavic 3 Enterprise? No. DJI has made their reliable aircraft less reliable.  In fact it took almost a half year to get Point of Interest Mode on the Mavic 3 enterprise.  What mapping softwares can work with Mavic 3 Imagery?  Thanks to Pix4d, we can see that Pix4d Capture won’t work on the remote, but many of the Pix software suites will work the Mavic 3 enterprise.

In conclusion, both the Mavic 3 Enterprise and the M30T are powerful drones that are well-suited for mapping applications. The Mavic 3 Enterprise is an excellent option for those who need a drone with a long flight time and a high-resolution camera, while the M30T is a great choice for those who need a drone inspection capabilities.

If you’re considering an inspection drone or all-in-one drone, don’t go for the Mavic 3 Thermal… go for the M30t drone for inspection purposes.

As of right now, the best non DJI mapping drone has to be the Parrot Anafi Ai.