Drone Surveying uses Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with sensors, cameras, and GPS to capture high-resolution imagery and spatial data, creating precise 2D maps, 3D models, and digital terrain models (DTMs) efficiently and safely, offering a significant upgrade over traditional ground-based methods for construction, agriculture, forestry, and land management. Key technologies include photogrammetry for detailed imagery and Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS for survey-grade accuracy, often requiring specialized software for data processing.
It’s worth mentioning that drone surveying data is available in a wide range of formats, including point clouds and flyover video footage. Some of this drone surveying data can be supplied in 2D and 3D formats with a range of additional options available, all providing you with the high level of technical detail that supports your project needs.
How It Works:
- Data Capture: Drones fly pre-planned routes, capturing overlapping photos or LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data.
- Photogrammetry: Software stitches images together, using points on the ground (Ground Control Points or GCPs) to create accurate 3D models.
- RTK/PPK: For extreme precision, RTK drones use satellite corrections for centimeter-level accuracy without many GCPs.
- Data Processing: Specialized software (like Pix4D, Metashape, and DJI Terra) processes raw data into usable outputs like orthomosaics, 3D point clouds, and digital elevation models.
The Key Benefits:
- Speed & Efficiency: Cover large areas much faster than ground crews.
- Accuracy: RTK/PPK drones provide survey-grade results.
- Safety: Access hazardous or difficult-to-reach areas without risk.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Reduces labor and time, especially for large projects.
The Most Common Applications:
- Construction: Site monitoring, volume calculations, progress tracking.
- Agriculture: Crop health analysis, field mapping.
- Forestry: Inventory, management, and biomass estimation.
- Mining & Aggregates: Stockpile measurement, site planning.
The Most Essential Equipment:
- UAV: Drone with high-resolution camera (e.g., DJI Matrice series).
- Sensors: RGB cameras, multispectral, or LiDAR.
- RTK/GPS: For positioning accuracy (base station/rover).
- Software: For flight planning and data processing.
When you work with Medir Instruments Limited, you will have access to a range of Drone Surveying tools and technology that meet your individual project requirements. Drone Surveying is becoming an ever-increasing solution for both land and measured building projects. From holiday parks through to domestic roof inspections, we offer Drone Surveys across a range of projects. The use of drone technology can deliver survey data in a faster, safer, and more accessible manner than other types of surveys.
Drone Surveying For Land
A cost-effective solution for projects that include agricultural inspections, quarries, landfills, traffic surveys, or large-scale development, our drone land surveying services can be used for quick and effective data gathering. Also known as UAV surveys, this is an increasingly popular method because of its versatility in data capture on projects, and it can minimise the time needed on site.
Our highly experienced drone surveying team fully complies with the Civil Aviation Authority regulations for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems and will ensure you receive a high level of technical detail to support your project.
Some Notable Benefits
Key advantages of choosing drone surveying for land and development projects are the speed with which large areas can be surveyed, access to otherwise inaccessible areas, and navigating restrictions on heritage projects. Both 2D and 3D data formats are available, and additional options include point cloud data, ortho-rectified photography, and fly-over video footage.
Aerial drone surveying can be an excellent choice for many projects, depending on your location and needs. Recent improvements in the quality of data and storage, as well as their increased battery life, have also driven increased use of drones in surveys. Our team will be able to advise you when you contact us. Drone surveys can also be combined with our other traditional surveying methods, including Hydrographical and Measured Building Surveys.
Drone Surveying For Buildings
You can utilize the drone surveying method to complete your measured building survey projects. Our use of drone technology delivers multiple advantages to your project. Drone surveys offer great versatility, fast data collection, and are equally effective as a stand-alone survey or a complementary service alongside more traditional surveying methods.
Collect data with no physical impact on the building. This is ideal for heritage projects where architectural conservation is paramount or investigations of inaccessible areas and potentially unstable structures. Surveying with a drone reduces risk, allowing the surveyor to remain on the ground, whilst retaining the accuracy of the data collected. The versatility of drone surveying makes it suitable for a range of measured building projects and multi-site schemes.
Some Notable Benefits
UAV drone surveys are ideal when working on projects where capturing a large amount of data is required, or could be used as part of a project where multiple sites all need to be surveyed. It can minimise the amount of survey time on site because the data capturing can be quicker, safer, and less intrusive than using other means.
We have seen our clients choose drone surveys when looking to carry out surveys for holiday parks and as part of roof inspections. Our drone team is fully compliant with the Civil Aviation Authority regulations for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems.
Hire Expert Drone Surveying Pilots
We have our own in-house team of qualified drone pilots available across the nation, meaning we can be on site quickly. Equipped with the latest in drone survey tech, this team has completed multi-site projects as part of a national survey programme, travelling the length and breadth of the country to provide our client with a range of survey data and add-on footage.
Our drone pilots are all fully compliant with the Civil Aviation Authority regulations for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems. Surveying drones can deliver a vast range of survey data from typical 2D and 3D site plans through to point clouds, ortho-rectified photography, and video flyovers. Our team is always on hand to discuss the best data options for your project.
To find out more, please complete our Contact Us Form to get in touch with one of our specialist surveyors. Available across our nationwide network of offices, our teams of surveyors share many years of experience and are ideally positioned to discuss your project in more detail and offer the best survey solution from our broad range of complementary services.
