Public Lab Wiki documentation



Kite Mapping

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Kite mapping is similar to balloon mapping, but uses kites to lift cameras to take aerial photographs. With kites and a 5-20 mph wind, many of the objectives of balloon mapping are possible without helium or balloons. If you want to map a site with consistent winds, you may be in luck!

Kite Aerial Photography has a large and active community of practitioners which is focused on high-performance kites that can lift large loads and/or fly in very light winds. Here, we're especially focused on

We sell a kite mapping pack with two kites and a lot of tails to help you get going.

Towing kites

Kites can also be used in large flat areas with no power lines or trees, such as on oceans or lakes, beaches, or deserts, by towing them behind a boat, car, or bicycle. Keep in mind that going downwind will drop the speed of your kite.

Activities

Purpose Category Status Author Time Difficulty Replications
DIY Mini Kite Kit first flight field-test - @mathew 1h easy 1 replications: Try it »
Building miniature kites at a family science night build - @SuziT9 - - 0 replications: Try it »
Jakarta Flood Kite Mapping - - @willie - - 0 replications: Try it »
Add GPS logging to a Saturn V Rig build - @cfastie - medium 0 replications: Try it »
Make a simple mylar/trash bag delta kite - - @warren 1h easy 0 replications: Try it »
Selecting Kite Flight Launch Sites in Centerville - - @Olivia - - 0 replications: Try it »
easy cut delta kite plans build - @mathew 3h easy 0 replications: Try it »
Constructing a <£2, 90g wooden/metal picavet - - @TedF - - 0 replications: Try it »
How to decide on a tool for mapping - - @stevie - - 0 replications: Try it »
super simple KAP mount with small tripod and velcro strap - - @gonzoearth - - 0 replications: Try it »
Kite mapping Barcelona - - @imvec - - 0 replications: Try it »
Fly a small camera on a very portable (squid-shaped) sled kite - - @warren - - 0 replications: Try it »
Easy Kites for Kite Trains build - @mathew - easy 0 replications: Try it »

Activities should include a materials list, costs and a step-by-step guide to construction with photos. Learn what makes a good activity here.


Questions

Title Author Updated Likes Comments
Favorite camera for balloon/kite mapping? @adam-griffith over 4 years ago 2
What's the best way of estimating the altitude of your balloon when mapping? @molangmuir10 almost 5 years ago 7
balloon and kite mapping @pataxte almost 5 years ago 2
Would using a kite messenger system help with mapping? @Ag8n almost 6 years ago 2
Is it possible to have a digital copy of the step-by-step instructions? @SuziT9 almost 6 years ago 2
Kite altitude question @Ag8n about 6 years ago 4
What are materials we could include in a Kite Making Materials Pack? @warren about 6 years ago 5
Which is the wind speed range (maximum) when mapping with balloon? @edugil over 6 years ago 3
What is the easiest and cheapest way to make a kite big enough to carry a camera? @warren over 6 years ago 1
What's the best way to attach a camera to a balloon? @warren over 6 years ago 2
Cheap, lightweight GoPro alternatives for aerial mapping? @warren almost 7 years ago 14
Size of aerial imagery from balloons and kites @Morgan about 7 years ago 5


Choosing a kite

Commercial kites

Kite Aerial Photographers, or KAPers, often select expensive kites which can lift large weights, and many use heavier, customizable cameras such as digital SLRs with remote control targeting or stabilization. If you just want to put a camera in the air for the lowest cost and highest reliability, we recommend a few different relatively inexpensive kites, paired with the PET Bottle Rig.

We sell two kites and a 15' Fuzzy Tail for high-wind flying, together as our Kite Mapping Pack: 9ft. Dazzle Delta is only $46 and a very good, easy flier. It doesn't pack down very small, but is a very affordable and high quality light wind kite. 7ft. High Sky Delta is only $30 and a great complement to the Dazzle Delta, providing easier flying in high winds.

Levitation Delta - ($65) 9 ft. wide - a strong and stable flyer in 7-20mph winds. In high winds it can take some effort to reel in, as it has a lot of lift. The spars all split in half and it packs down easily to 40." Good, high flying angle. Also available in 7 and 11 foot versions for high and low winds.

Zenith Delta - ($70) 7 ft. wide - This one is fantastic, a strong and stable flyer in even light winds (7mph). Not as much lift as the Levitation and it doesn't break down as small, but it is easier to handle in high winds. A great all-around kite.

Fled - ($110) stable, strong, very light-wind kite that flies at a line angle of 65 - 70 degrees. This kite is very quick to set up and simple to adjust. It flies in a wide range of conditions, and is a "go-to" kite for many KAPers. The high line angle is very useful for flying in tight spaces.

Gomberg Delta Conyne - ($37) - Harder to launch, and not great in light winds, but once it's in the air it's a stable flyer. A favorite of the Gowanus Conservancy in strong winter winds.

A chart for comparison

Kite Making

Making your own kite is great -- designs can range from easy and quick to bigger more ambitious one that can be more portable, stronger lifters, or light-wind flyers.

Kite Making


Delta kites are a quick build, and very effective

Mathew has step by step instructions as well as a spreadsheet of dimensions for a quick-to-build DIY Delta Kite. This is a proven design that flies well. He uses tvvek and bamboo, but wooden dowels and plastic sheeting will work as well.

Astoicof wrote great build notes and a PDF on using plastic sheeting to make a delta kite..

Jeff Warren and kids at Parts and Crafts have gotten good results from a mylar copy of the Dazzle Delta..

Safidy has been playing with NASA's Kite Modeler software and making DIY deltas.

Non-Deltas

Grassroots Mappers in Peru have had good luck with plastic and bamboo kites.

Mathew also made a series of Tyvek and Bamboo Fled kites based on the designs of Brooks Leffler. The third has been extremely successful at lifting cameras to very high flying angles, and he can now recommend others to build the same. follow his instructions in the link above.

Fled in the air

Leo Famulari has notes on kite bridle adjustment

Other Kite Building Resources

Kiteplans.org and the Kitebuilder forums are great online resources. The book One-hour Kites by Jim Rowlands provides excellent plans and construction details. Dan Kurahashi's Japanese Kites, Concepts and Construction has more great plans, great charts on predicting lift, and some excellent instructions on making plastic bag kites.

Published literature pertaining to KAP

Nathan Craig's Mendeley Group may require setting-up a free, public account.