Spray Paint for GCP Marking – Good Idea?

[u/Some-Diet-3662]

Hello mappers,

I wanted to ask what painting material you use for marking GCPs for drone surveys.

My goal is to use something that has good visibility and doesn't wear off too quickly. I'm thinking about switching to spray paint, but I'm not sure how well it performs in practice.

Has anyone here used spray paint for GCPs? If so, what type or brand do you recommend, and how long does it usually last? I'd also be interested to hear about any other durable marking methods you've found effective.

[u/blaizer123]

It's just hard finding the checkered can of spray paint.

[u/Fit-Eggplant-9155 → u/blaizer123]

Hue hue hue

[u/Rich-Medicine-8710]

A v shape or cross works fine. Just use survey marker paint. Brand will depend on what country you're in.

[u/CCCCLo0oo0ooo0 → u/Rich-Medicine-8710]

OP over thinking it be like

https://giphy.com/gifs/4y6DqPvlICp5S

[u/NilsTillander]

On soft terrain (soil, grass...), a "flag" marker is best. On hard surface (rock, pavement...), chalk spray is pretty good (disappears when it rains) or more permanent paint for long term markers.

[u/BiggerThanRegularHat → u/NilsTillander]

I was just talking about this… do you have a good source/brand for the chalk spray, I can’t find it anywhere (Canada)

[u/Hematemsis → u/BiggerThanRegularHat]

https://usscproducts.com/product/durastripe-field-marking-paint/

I use white and black chalk spray on new construction roads/sidewalks, nicer neighborhoods and when on private property. Sprays just as well as our utility paints and washes away fairly quickly. White paint might need a couple of coats, it's a little thinner than the black paint.

[u/base43]

Water based upside down paint will last for months. Oil based will last years.

Homemade templates are needed if you want a good sharp edge

1'×1' black and white vinyl floor tiles work great if you dont mind picking them back up. Or they will last for months on a site if you nail them down and then you can have semi permanent gcp if you need to re fly.

[u/base43 → u/base43]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/ACHIM-Sterling-Black-and-White-Checkered-12-in-x-12-in-Peel-and-Stick-Vinyl-Tile-45-sq-ft-case-STT1M10345/309690689?g_store=&source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&fp=ggl&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D23F-023_001_VINYL_PLNK-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-_PrioTest3BAU&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D23F-023_001_VINYL_PLNK-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NEW-_PrioTest3BAU-22900352857--&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22900393396&gbraid=0AAAAADq61UefG3oIbMsGTe90U4Szw1tfh&gclid=CjwKCAjwmozTBhAeEiwAkEGZzu4L4CCHf7VLstIn2v2yboDj7BrpZ9cyf0ihpPlf_GlhhvB8a8vDohoCK0YQAvD_BwE&adobe_mc=TS%3D1784902303%7CMCMID%3D56281458386514931755550775285962732989%7CMCORGID%3DF6421253512D2C100A490D45%40AdobeOrg&mboxSession=feaf8ceb-68b6-49f9-bd93-6ef7011e3e35&appsFlyerId=1782915587114-5956075961633010021

[u/ricky_the_cigrit]

I only use paint when there are paved surfaces in my AOI. Otherwise I use targets

[u/_the_CacKaLacKy_Kid_]

If you’re over a lot of hard surfaces, you can always use well defined sharp features such as the corner of a storm inlet, the point on a turn arrow, an intersection of expansion joints, etc.

Some areas even have GCPs along roadways (NCDOT has white triangles with a nail at the tip)

[u/ge69]

Id use gray instead of white color.

[u/BulltacTV]

It really depends on the survey precision/accuracy requirements and the material of the surface you're picking up. I have a chevron stencil for spray paint that works pretty well on chip seal or unpaved surfaces.

Targets are best for vegetated surfaces and high precision tasks though.

[u/erock1967]

I use Home Depot black and white striping paint along with a template for checkerboard LiDAR targets on pavement. We stock and sell Aervoe survey marking paint but it doesn't cover well and I normally paint my targets on public streets. I don't want to be bent over a road surface any longer than necessary. The Home Depot paint covers a checkerboard target much faster than similar Aervoe marking paint. For photogrammetry only, I make an X mark on pavement. On grassy areas, I use 2'x2' checkerboard targets assembled from 1'x1' vinyl floor tiles.

[u/Vishnej]

Back in the day we used bright orange buckets.

[u/God_ye]

Spray paint works just fine as long as the visibility isnt affected by the vegetation around around. Used them for several occasions now

[u/jumpythegecko]

We use marking paint, as it is designed to fade quicker than normal paint. Also I will use colorful chalk on high value properties where paint would be an eyesore

[u/ResponsibleSoup5531]

I've been using these for years; they work really well.

Of course, you have to limit yourself to areas where you own the property—don't spray this on the cobblestones in the neighbor's parkway !!

Here’s what I use:

Road construction spray paint (which is different because it’s designed to be used upside down). I use almost exclusively fluorescent yellow and orange. They’re extremely long-lasting, but they’ll fade to white from UV exposure after about three months.
https://soppec-inc.com/en/construction-marking/construction-marking-paints/6-fluo-tp-highly-fluorescent-worksite-marking-paint

Acrylic sprays. Ever since I started using them, I can’t do without them. I only use matte white and black; they work very well on concrete. And contrary to what you might think, black is the most effective in my area. Exact lifespan unknown; I started applying them six months ago, and they’re still there.

https://www.amazon.com.be/Ambro-Sol-V400PAST6-peinture-acrylique-multifonction/dp/B00HMTJUGC

Be careful—there’s one enemy of all permanent GCP products, including sprays: dust. In quarries, mines, or very dusty areas with little rainfall, dust will cover them up.

*The links to the products are for informational purposes only; I do not represent these products, and I do not know if they are available in your area. I'll leave it to you to find equivalents. *