"the future platform for aerial imagery is obviously going to be UAVs".
I think it is safe to say that hundreds of small helicopter drones buzzing over a city will never be more efficient than a single fixed wing aircraft flying a grid of a city at high speed and capturing it in a few days.
Then if you look at large high altitude UAVs, you need to ask yourself the same question, will they be more cost effective than a cessna flying a grid. The UAV would have to be controlled by a specialised pilot/operator on the ground, so no advantages there. The UAV will basically be an efficient remote controlled cessna that will cost far more money to hire and operate than 1 pilot in a cessna.
Nearmap will naturally utilise the most cost effective platform to capture images. I cant see UAVs being more cost effective than one pilot in a cessna anytime soon. The day a high altitude UAV is more cost effective, nearmap will simply bolt its cameras to it.
NEA Price at posting:
56.5¢ Sentiment: None Disclosure: Held
