Aerial Survey & Mapping Services

An aerial survey is the process of collecting geospatial data from above using aircraft, drones, or helicopters equipped with cameras, LiDAR sensors, or other instruments. The data is processed into deliverables such as orthomosaic maps, 3D point clouds, digital elevation models (DEM/DSM), contour maps, and volumetric calculations. Aerial surveys are used in construction, engineering, mining, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure inspection.

Aerial survey pricing depends on area size, method, and deliverables. Drone photogrammetry for small sites (up to 10 acres) costs $1,500-$3,000. Large-area drone surveys (10-50 acres) range $3,000-$10,000+. Drone LiDAR surveys start at $3,000 for small sites. For large areas (500+ acres), per-acre pricing of $150-$500/acre applies depending on detail level. Helicopter and manned aircraft LiDAR surveys for corridor or large-area projects are quoted on a project basis. All pricing varies by location.

Photogrammetry uses overlapping photographs to create 3D models and orthomosaics, producing visually rich outputs at 1-3 cm accuracy. LiDAR uses laser pulses to directly measure distances, achieving 1-3 cm accuracy and the ability to penetrate vegetation canopy to map bare-earth terrain. Photogrammetry is more cost-effective for visual mapping and stockpile volumes. LiDAR is required when vegetation penetration, bare-earth modeling, or corridor mapping is needed.

Drones (multirotor or fixed-wing) are ideal for sites up to 500 acres, offering lower cost, higher resolution, and faster deployment. Helicopters are used for large-area surveys (1,000+ acres), corridor projects (power lines, pipelines, highways), and areas where drones face airspace restrictions. Helicopters can also carry larger, more powerful LiDAR sensors that capture data at higher altitudes and faster speeds.

An orthomosaic is a geometrically corrected, georeferenced aerial image created by stitching together hundreds or thousands of overlapping drone or aircraft photographs. Unlike a single aerial photo, every pixel in an orthomosaic is corrected for lens distortion and terrain displacement, making it a true-to-scale, measurable map. Orthomosaics are standard deliverables for construction progress monitoring, agriculture analysis, and site planning.

Standard deliverables include orthomosaic maps (GeoTIFF), digital elevation models (DEM/DSM), 3D point clouds (LAS/LAZ/E57), contour maps, volumetric calculations, and georeferenced imagery. Additional deliverables may include 3D mesh models, oblique imagery, cross-section profiles, and CAD-compatible exports (DWG). All data is delivered in industry-standard formats compatible with ArcGIS, QGIS, AutoCAD Civil 3D, and similar platforms.

Professional drone surveys achieve 1-3 cm vertical accuracy and 3-5 cm horizontal accuracy when using RTK/PPK positioning and ground control points. This meets ASPRS accuracy standards for most engineering, construction, and land development applications. Accuracy depends on flight altitude, ground control point distribution, GPS correction method, and processing workflow.

Corridor mapping is the aerial survey of linear features such as roads, railways, pipelines, power lines, and waterways. Fixed-wing drones or helicopters fly along the corridor capturing LiDAR and/or photogrammetry data in overlapping strips. The resulting point clouds and orthomosaics are used for route planning, vegetation management, clearance analysis, and asset inspection. Corridor surveys typically cover 5-50+ miles per flight day.

Fixed-wing drones are optimized for large-area mapping — typically 100-1,000+ acres per flight. Their efficient aerodynamics allow 60-90 minute flight times at higher speeds than multirotor drones. They excel at topographic surveys, agricultural monitoring, mine site mapping, and corridor surveys. Popular fixed-wing mapping drones include the senseFly eBee X, WingtraOne, and DJI Mavic 3M (for smaller areas).

Yes. Aerial LiDAR is specifically designed to penetrate vegetation canopy. Each laser pulse can register multiple returns — the first return from tree canopy, intermediate returns from branches, and the last return from the ground surface. This allows creation of bare-earth digital terrain models (DTM) beneath dense forest cover, something photogrammetry cannot do. Vegetation penetration rates of 20-40% are typical in moderate forest cover.

Oblique aerial imagery consists of photographs taken at an angle (typically 40-45 degrees from vertical) rather than straight down (nadir). This perspective captures building facades, structural details, and vertical features that nadir imagery misses. Oblique capture is used for building inspections, urban mapping, 3D city modeling, insurance assessments, and property valuation. Modern drone missions often combine nadir and oblique passes for complete coverage.

Field time depends on area size and method. A drone photogrammetry survey of 10 acres typically takes 30-60 minutes of flight time plus setup. A 100-acre fixed-wing survey takes 1-2 hours of flight. Helicopter LiDAR surveys can cover 50-200 square miles per day. Data processing adds 1-5 business days depending on deliverables. Total project turnaround from mobilization to final deliverables is typically 3-10 business days.

Commercial drone operations in the US require an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Additional approvals may be needed for flights near airports (LAANC authorization), above 400 feet AGL, over people, or at night. All THE FUTURE 3D drone operators hold current Part 107 certificates and obtain necessary airspace authorizations before every mission. For helicopter and manned aircraft surveys, standard aviation regulations apply.

A Digital Elevation Model (DEM), also called a Digital Terrain Model (DTM), represents bare-earth elevation with vegetation and structures removed. A Digital Surface Model (DSM) represents the top surface including trees, buildings, and other objects. Both are derived from aerial survey data. DEMs are used for drainage analysis, grading design, and flood modeling. DSMs are used for obstruction analysis, canopy height mapping, and solar potential studies.

Major industries include construction (progress monitoring, earthwork volumes), mining (stockpile measurements, pit design), agriculture (crop health analysis, irrigation planning), energy (power line inspection, solar site assessment), oil and gas (pipeline corridor mapping), transportation (road and rail surveys), environmental (wetland delineation, erosion monitoring), real estate development (site planning), and government (floodplain mapping, infrastructure inventory).