FlySmart Joins Forces with Nova
Introducing Nova!
We are excited to welcome you to the world of drone mapping. Nova is a drone mapping software that takes the complex, highly technical aspect OUT of mapping, and makes it accessible to everyone. Right now, you can sign up and access free drone mapping tools and create a map with a surprising amount of ease.
That’s why we’re teaming up. Their in-app experience has successfully distilled complex technical processes into simple click and go actions. This means that you can create an orthomosaic with one click. Or create a super complex offline georeferenced pdf map with two clicks.
Orthomosaics…georeferenced PDF’s… if you’re new to GIS (Geographic Information Systems, aka mapping), this might sound like the complex and highly technical part of mapping they promised to leave out. Luckily, you don’t really need to know how these things work in order for you to use them or reap the benefits. But here’s a quick rundown anyway:
Orthomosaic: a highly detailed image made of multiple smaller images that have been stitched together. Orthomosaics are corrected for distortion and tilt, giving you uniform scale throughout the whole image and an accurate representation of the earth’s surface.
Georeferenced PDF: maps that are in a pdf file format and contain specific information about it’s precise location on the earths surface. Just a like a regular PDF can show you a map or an image, a georeferenced PDF goes a step further by including data that tells you exactly where each part of the map or image corresponds to.
Nova has step-by-step instructions for all of the capabilities and plugins you can leverage, so you won’t ever be left in the dark. And if you have questions, they love chatting and talking about anything drone or mapping related!
They’re still in beta. Meaning things aren’t well-oiled and can sometimes feel a little clunky but at the same time, you can feel there is something special going on here.
So head over there. See if you’re like me and things just… click.
We’ll be offering (optional) complimentary demos, onboarding sessions, and free trials for FlySmart graduates who are interested in learning more. We’re excited and we hope you are too.
Some words from the Nova team:
Hello FlySmart… ers…
Whatever you call yourself I’m sure it's great. Even more so because I think you can count yourself among the early adopters of drone technology. You know, users taking the plunge with new technology, taking risks, doing cool things, and making progress happen.
As early-adopters ourselves, we’re keenly aware of the pressure of success that you face. You’ve convinced a manager, your boss, your significant other that buying a drone is a good idea. Now it's your job to deliver on that promise and Nova is your partner in getting there. From your first flight, first map, and first happy customer we’re there with you. Your success is our success.
It’s not easy and we know that first hand. Among our team we have decades of drone experience pioneering this technology alongside you. Crashing drones?🙋♀️ Confused about the acronym GIS?🙋♀️ Do I really need to buy a more powerful processing laptop?🙋♀️
Whatever it is, we have probably been there. We’ve sifted between the endless single use web applications, paid the extraordinary licensing fees, and been left wanting a better user experience. Which is what we’re trying to fix at Nova.
Our goal? Creating a seamless data processing and map-making experience that is as accessible for new users as it is powerful for experts. With a hyper-focus on the user, their experience, and their ability to build products for their customers that deliver a true wow factor.
We know how daunting and exclusive lots of zeros can be. Nova is something accessible for the little guy, but that can scale with your team as your adventure inevitably increases in scope and breadth. Something that puts collaboration at the forefront, sharing at your fingertips, and the value of your data into your control.
We’re stoked. We’re building something that we think is perfect for drone users with non-technical backgrounds without sacrificing any of the superpowers that make a product great.
We think maps and drone data should be as easy as a PowerPoint presentation. And just as expensive. Nova turns your data into actionable insights and dare we say maps that look… beautiful?
We’re still in beta, which is just the most exciting and impactful time for you to join the community. As more and more users join the platform each day, we’re constantly showing off new features, getting feedback on what we’re doing right AND wrong, and best of all have users break our infrastructure, allowing us to build it back stronger.
With a couple of big milestones under our belt, like SOC-2 and Canadian data residency, whether you’re a lone operator or a small part of a big machine, Nova delivers the resilience and confidence you need to securely deliver value to everyone counting on you.
What can I map?
Okay that’s a broad question but the answer, really, is anything.
What about animal surveys?
Maybe you have a big property that needs managing or some cows that have wandered off. Nova is the easiest and fastest way to monitor, track, and get updated on your surroundings.
Recently Peter Plant with 3FB Aerworx in Australia, near Melbourne in the State of Victoria, used Nova on a series of animal surveys, mapping sugar gliders high up in trees and kangaroos spread across a golf course.
“I’ve really never seen anything like it, I love it.” - Peter Plant
Mapping heat?
Kit Gibbs, with the North Carolina Forest Service has spent the last year mapping hotspots on his wildfires with Fire AI’s hotspot plugin found exclusively on the Nova platform -
“It brings a lot of efficiency to what we do” says Kit “it saves us a lot of time patrolling fires and helps us better understand what’s going on”.
James Warkentin from Wellington, Mississippi once again uploaded a series of photos he had captured over his companies’ and created an orthomosaic using Nova’s MapMosaic plugin.
“I delivered site updates to my bosses within half an hour” says James “it was great!”
What about my house?
Absolutely.
Brian Caldwell, a FlySmart graduate and early Nova adopter, has been using it to monitor and support his DIY landscaping project and house renovations.
“Nova has given me a perspective of my backyard I never knew I needed!” Brian wrote us, “plus it pointed out my gutters needed some attention.”
There is a ton of opportunity out there and we want to help you realize it.
So sign up today. Try it out. And reach out! We’ll connect you with one of our friendly customer success reps who is ready to talk all things drones, maps, and the road ahead.
Happy and safe flying (and mapping)!
-The FlySmart Team/Nova Team
