How to Track Fields with Air 3S: Urban Guide
How to Track Fields with Air 3S: Urban Guide
META: Master urban field tracking with the DJI Air 3S. Learn ActiveTrack techniques, obstacle avoidance tips, and pro workflows for stunning aerial footage.
TL;DR
- ActiveTrack 360° enables seamless subject tracking across complex urban agricultural plots
- Omnidirectional obstacle sensing prevents collisions with power lines, buildings, and trees during automated flights
- D-Log color profile preserves maximum dynamic range for post-processing urban landscape footage
- Weather-adaptive flight modes maintain tracking stability when conditions shift unexpectedly
Urban field tracking presents unique challenges that rural agricultural monitoring simply doesn't encounter. The Air 3S addresses these complexities with a sensor suite and intelligent flight system designed for precision work in constrained environments.
This tutorial walks you through my complete workflow for tracking urban agricultural plots, community gardens, and green spaces—including a real-world scenario where sudden weather changes tested the drone's adaptive capabilities.
Understanding Urban Field Tracking Requirements
Urban agriculture exists in fragmented spaces. Rooftop gardens, vacant lot farms, community plots wedged between apartment buildings—these environments demand a drone that can navigate tight corridors while maintaining consistent tracking paths.
The Air 3S excels here because of three core capabilities:
- Dual primary cameras providing simultaneous wide and telephoto perspectives
- APAS 5.0 obstacle avoidance with omnidirectional sensing
- Enhanced GPS/GLONASS positioning for precise waypoint accuracy
Traditional agricultural drones struggle in urban canyons where GPS signals bounce between buildings. The Air 3S compensates with visual positioning systems that reference ground patterns, maintaining centimeter-level accuracy even when satellite reception degrades.
Pre-Flight Setup for Urban Environments
Before launching, proper configuration prevents costly mistakes and ensures usable footage.
Camera Settings for Field Documentation
Set your camera profile before takeoff. For urban field tracking, I recommend:
- Resolution: 4K/60fps for smooth motion
- Color Profile: D-Log for maximum latitude
- ISO: Auto with ceiling at 800
- Shutter Speed: Double your frame rate (1/120 for 60fps)
- White Balance: Manual at 5600K for consistency
D-Log captures approximately 14 stops of dynamic range, critical when tracking fields surrounded by shadowed buildings and bright sky simultaneously.
Obstacle Avoidance Configuration
Navigate to Safety settings and verify:
- Obstacle avoidance set to Bypass (not Stop)
- Minimum distance threshold at 3 meters
- Return-to-Home altitude above tallest nearby structure plus 15 meters
Pro Tip: Walk the perimeter of your tracking area before flight. Note antenna arrays, guy wires, and transparent surfaces like greenhouse panels that sensors might miss. Add these as manual avoidance zones in your flight planning app.
ActiveTrack Configuration for Field Monitoring
ActiveTrack transforms the Air 3S from a manually-piloted camera into an autonomous documentation system.
Selecting Your Tracking Subject
For field tracking, you're typically following one of three subjects:
- Yourself walking crop rows for inspection documentation
- Equipment like tractors or irrigation systems
- Defined boundaries using waypoint-based tracking
Draw a box around your subject on the controller screen. The Air 3S locks onto visual patterns and maintains tracking even when the subject temporarily disappears behind obstacles.
Tracking Mode Selection
Choose your mode based on documentation goals:
| Mode | Best Use Case | Camera Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Trace | Following walking inspections | Follows behind subject |
| Parallel | Equipment operation documentation | Maintains side angle |
| Spotlight | Stationary field overview | Orbits while keeping subject centered |
For comprehensive field tracking, I typically start with Spotlight for establishing shots, then switch to Trace for detailed row-by-row documentation.
Executing the Urban Field Tracking Flight
Launch from a clear area at least 5 meters from structures. Ascend to your planned altitude before engaging any automated modes.
Establishing Your Flight Pattern
Urban fields rarely conform to simple rectangles. Create a mental map of your tracking path:
- Identify entry and exit corridors between buildings
- Note sun position relative to your flight path
- Plan altitude changes for varying obstacle heights
The Air 3S maintains tracking at speeds up to 43 km/h, but urban environments demand slower, more deliberate movements. I rarely exceed 15 km/h when tracking through complex spaces.
Managing Dynamic Obstacles
Birds, delivery drones, and even balloons appear unexpectedly in urban airspace. The omnidirectional obstacle sensing responds to moving objects, but you should maintain visual line of sight and be ready to pause tracking.
When the drone detects an obstacle during ActiveTrack, it displays three options:
- Bypass left
- Bypass right
- Stop and hover
In tight urban corridors, stopping and repositioning manually often proves safer than automated bypass attempts.
When Weather Changes Mid-Flight
During a recent community garden documentation project, conditions shifted dramatically within minutes. Clear skies gave way to 15 km/h gusts with scattered cloud shadows racing across the field.
The Air 3S handled this transition remarkably well. Here's what happened and how the drone adapted:
Wind Response
The gimbal stabilization maintained smooth footage despite sudden gusts. Internal sensors detected the wind shift and automatically adjusted motor output to maintain position. Battery consumption increased approximately 18% compared to calm conditions, but tracking accuracy remained consistent.
Lighting Adaptation
Cloud shadows created exposure challenges. With D-Log engaged, the camera preserved detail in both shadowed crops and sunlit sections. Auto ISO responded appropriately, staying within my preset ceiling.
Expert Insight: When weather shifts during tracking flights, resist the urge to immediately land. The Air 3S handles moderate weather changes gracefully. Monitor battery consumption and wind warnings, but trust the stabilization systems. Some of my best footage comes from these dynamic lighting conditions.
Completing the Flight Safely
As gusts increased toward the 20 km/h threshold, I received wind warnings on the controller. I completed my current tracking pass, then initiated Return-to-Home rather than pushing conditions further.
The drone navigated back through the urban corridor, adjusting its path to avoid a construction crane that had swung into a new position during my flight. Obstacle avoidance detected the change and routed around it automatically.
Post-Processing Urban Field Footage
D-Log footage requires color grading to achieve final look. Import into your preferred editor and apply a base LUT designed for DJI's D-Log profile.
Key adjustments for urban field footage:
- Lift shadows to reveal crop detail in building shadows
- Reduce highlights to recover sky detail
- Add subtle saturation to vegetation greens
- Apply mild sharpening at 0.3-0.5 radius
Hyperlapse sequences work exceptionally well for showing crop growth over time. The Air 3S stores source frames, allowing post-capture speed adjustment and motion smoothing.
Technical Comparison: Tracking Capabilities
| Feature | Air 3S | Previous Generation | Competitor Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| ActiveTrack Range | 120m | 80m | 60m |
| Obstacle Sensing | Omnidirectional | Forward/Backward/Down | Forward/Down |
| Max Tracking Speed | 43 km/h | 36 km/h | 28 km/h |
| Subject Reacquisition | Automatic | Manual | Manual |
| Vertical Tracking | Yes | Limited | No |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Launching too close to structures. GPS lock requires clear sky view. Launch from open areas, then navigate to your tracking zone.
Ignoring magnetic interference warnings. Urban environments contain metal structures that affect compass calibration. If prompted, move to a new launch location rather than forcing calibration.
Setting obstacle avoidance to "Off" for cleaner shots. The footage improvement rarely justifies the collision risk. Bypass mode provides smooth movement while maintaining protection.
Tracking at maximum altitude. Higher isn't always better. Urban field documentation benefits from 30-50 meter altitudes that capture crop detail while maintaining context.
Forgetting to check airspace restrictions. Urban areas frequently contain controlled airspace, heliports, and temporary flight restrictions. Verify authorization before every flight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Air 3S track multiple subjects simultaneously?
The Air 3S tracks one primary subject at a time. However, you can use QuickShots modes like Dronie or Circle that follow your controller position while capturing wider scenes that include multiple subjects in frame.
How does ActiveTrack perform when the subject enters shadows?
The visual recognition system adapts to lighting changes, maintaining lock even when subjects move between bright and shadowed areas. Extreme contrast transitions may require brief reacquisition, which happens automatically within 1-2 seconds.
What's the maximum wind speed for reliable urban tracking?
DJI rates the Air 3S for winds up to 12 m/s (approximately 43 km/h). For precision tracking in urban environments with turbulence from buildings, I recommend limiting flights to conditions below 8 m/s for optimal footage stability.
Urban field tracking demands precision, adaptability, and intelligent automation. The Air 3S delivers these capabilities in a portable package that handles the unique challenges of agricultural documentation in built environments.
Ready for your own Air 3S? Contact our team for expert consultation.