Drone Surveys and Photogrammetry
We fly a DJI Matrice 4 with RTK positioning to capture sites, roofs and facades as orthomosaics, 3D models and topographic surveys. Hampshire, Dorset, the South Coast, London and nationwide.
What we capture
Flights are planned and flown under our CAA General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVC), and the drone data is merged with our Leica RTC360 terrestrial scans so you get one complete model, inside and out.
- Topographic surveys: levels, contours, boundaries and site features for planning, design and civils
- Roof surveys: geometry, condition and photographic record without scaffold or access equipment (see also drone roof inspections)
- Facade capture of high elevations to complete a measured building survey
- Orthomosaics: georeferenced aerial plans of a whole site at centimetre resolution
- 3D site models and digital surface models for massing, daylight and drainage studies
- Volumes and stockpiles for earthworks and material reconciliation
- Progress monitoring: repeat flights that show what has changed, month by month
- Solar and infrastructure: site surveys supporting G99 applications and feasibility
How a drone survey works
We check airspace, obtain any permissions needed and plan an automated flight grid for the overlap photogrammetry needs. Ground control points or the Matrice 4 RTK link tie the survey to the Ordnance Survey grid. Images are processed into a point cloud, mesh, orthomosaic and digital surface model, then QA-checked against control before delivery. Where the brief needs interiors or ground-level detail, we merge the drone data with Leica RTC360 scans into one registered dataset.
Deliverables
- Orthomosaic (GeoTIFF, JPG)
- Digital surface and terrain models
- Point cloud (LAS, E57) and 3D mesh (OBJ, FBX)
- Topographic survey drawing in DWG and PDF
- Volume reports and comparison surfaces
- Photographic record, still and video, in 4K
Compliance
CAA GVC operational authorisation, public liability insurance, airspace and NOTAM checks before every flight, and a written flight risk assessment for each site.
Recent drone survey work
- Solar farm site survey supporting a G99 application: drone photogrammetry of the proposed site for the grid connection submission.
- Commercial building roof survey, Basingstoke: detailed survey of the roof structure on a 12-year-old building for a corporate client.
- Drone roof inspection, Southampton: high-level roof with recurring leaks surveyed without access equipment.
- Portland Lodge, Dorset: roof and elevations captured by drone to complete the measured survey of a 40-bedroom hotel.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is a drone survey?
With RTK and ground control, photogrammetry typically achieves 20 to 30 mm horizontally and 30 to 50 mm vertically on open ground, and better on hard surfaces. For millimetre accuracy on buildings we combine the drone data with terrestrial laser scanning.
Can you fly in a town or near an airport?
Usually, with planning. Our GVC allows operations in congested areas subject to the risk assessment, and we obtain permissions for controlled airspace where needed.
How big a site can you survey in a day?
Typically 20 to 50 hectares for a topographic survey, depending on required resolution and airspace. Larger sites are flown over several days.
Do I get the photos as well as the survey?
Yes. Every flight produces a geotagged photographic record in 4K that we supply alongside the survey outputs.
Reach out to see how we can assist you
For expert advice and consultancy on your project, contact us today.