Which Aerial Survey Method Do I Need?

Choose photogrammetry for visual mapping, orthomosaics, and projects where the ground surface is visible (open construction sites, rooftops, agricultural fields). Choose LiDAR when you need to see through vegetation to map bare-earth terrain, or when you need highly accurate elevation data regardless of lighting conditions. Many projects benefit from combining both technologies.

Fixed-wing drones are more efficient for large areas (100+ acres) because they cover more ground per flight with longer endurance (60-90 minutes vs 30-45 minutes). Use fixed-wing for agricultural monitoring, mine site mapping, corridor surveys, and any project where the survey area exceeds what a multirotor can efficiently cover in a single battery cycle.

Helicopter LiDAR is used for very large survey areas (1,000+ acres), long corridors (power lines, pipelines, highways spanning hundreds of miles), and situations where FAA airspace restrictions prevent drone operations. Helicopter-mounted sensors are also more powerful, capturing data at higher altitudes and speeds. For most projects under 500 acres, drone LiDAR is more cost-effective.

Most construction sites benefit from drone photogrammetry for regular progress monitoring, stockpile volume calculations, and visual orthomosaics. If the site has heavy vegetation that needs to be mapped before clearing, add drone LiDAR for bare-earth terrain models. For large linear projects (roads, utilities), fixed-wing drones or helicopter LiDAR may be more efficient.

Drone photogrammetry achieves 1-3 cm accuracy with RTK/PPK and ground control points. Drone LiDAR achieves similar 1-3 cm accuracy with the advantage of vegetation penetration. Fixed-wing drone mapping achieves 2-5 cm accuracy at higher altitude coverage. Helicopter LiDAR achieves 2-5 cm accuracy over much larger areas. All methods meet ASPRS survey standards when properly executed.