Topographical Drone Surveying
Irelands Leading Drone Surveying Services
- We Use High-Precision GPS and RTK/PPK Solutions for Accuracy
- Cost-Effective Drone Surveying Services
- Capturing High-Quality Data
- GDPR Compliant and Fully Insured For All Projects
What is Drone Surveying?
Drone mapping and surveying combine capturing high-resolution images and accurate GPS data from the ground through ground control points and checkpoints, processing the data to create outputs.
These outputs are usually a point cloud, a digital elevation model, a digital terrain model, and an orthomosaic. We provide survey-grade results through our RTK-enabled UAV drone surveying equipment, surveyed ground points, and processing workflow.
Our data outputs can then be imported into CAD and GIS applications so analysis can be done on the topography. Within third-party applications, creating a TIN surface allows contours to be generated at specified intervals, usually 0.5m or 1m.
Applications of drone surveying include:
- Cut and fill volume calculations
- Slope analysis and gradient measurement
- Contour generation of the topography
- Custom point grids
- Topographical surface generation
- Terrain comparison
- Detailed terrain change analysis
Drone Survey Services For a Wide Range of Industries
Drone survey services find applications in various industries that benefit from aerial data collection and mapping. Some of the industries that rely on drone survey services include:
- Aerial Mapping
- Mining and Quarrying
- Industrial Applications
- Energy and Utilities
- Environmental Management
- Engineering and Construction Industry
- Property Development, Infrastructure Inspection and More
If you would like to talk about a specific project, please contact us!
Providing High-Resolution Aerial Imagery for Your Company's Projects
Drone surveying enables the capture of high-resolution imagery that can be used to create detailed visual representations of your project. This imagery is created using photogrammetry, a process that combines overlapping photos taken from different angles and then we use software to stitch them together to provide accurate data collection.
Our Drone Surveying Process
Comprehensive Visual Inspections
Completing a successful aerial drone surveying mission requires as much planning before turning up to the site as it takes time on-site to complete. We take the requirements from the client as a boundary KML or a screenshot from Google Earth of the area.
Selecting Our Industry-Leading Technology
We import the boundary into our flight planning software, UGCS, selecting the appropriate drone for the mission while planning. We set up the job parameters; these vary based on requirements and include front and side overlap, ground sampling distance calculations, flight height limitations, etc. to provide an accurate depiction of the flight and avoid costly mistakes.
Some of the typical outputs of a topographical survey are:
2D Orthomosaic
3D Point-Cloud
Digital Surface Model / Digital Elevation Model
Digital Terrain Model – Earth
Contours generated at 0.25m / 0.5m / 1m
Point Grids
Thorough Pre-Flight Checks
We conduct a risk assessment following our Specific Category Authorisation, and then we check the weather conditions to ascertain when we can complete the mission. When on-site, we lay out ground control points in pre-determined locations and survey them. We launch the drone when all our pre-flight checks are completed, and it captures the data based on our flight plan.
GDPR Compliant Processed Data
Once the data has been collected, we’ll process it. Our processing is fully GDPR compliant, so you can be assured that your data is safe and secure.
Professional Drone Surveys Ireland
If you need help with surveying a construction project, a land management survey, a drone building survey, construction monitoring, or any other surveying project, we use advanced drone technology and meticulous planning and processing techniques to ensure that you receive accurate recordings. We are passionate about our services and have provided many years of hands-on experience for many industries. We are the ideal solution for drone surveying.
Drone technology is a massive advancement from traditional survey methods and this option is a safer and more cost-effective solution. Drone surveying provides accurate measurements with no need for expensive construction or risks to health and safety.
Additionally, our comprehensive insurance coverage and our wealth of experience in custom-tailored service enhance our ability to assist clients. Our team of experienced surveyors is well-prepared to provide expert advice and support for an array of project needs.
Drone Surveying FAQs
The simple answer is that pricing varies based on several factors.
The location, size of the project, time of year, weather, airspace and surrounding areas such as roads and building structures can all affect pricing. We consider all these and provide a custom price per job based on these variables.
Drone Services Ireland is recognised as one of Ireland’s leading drone survey companies, providing the highest quality digital aerial surveys. We provide data-only collection services for many companies that process their own data, or we can do that for you as part of the deliverables.
We have spent thousands of hours perfecting our workflows and heavily invested in the latest hardware and software to give you the best drone surveying solutions in the country.
Adding high-precision GPS or an RTK/PPK solution increases overall accuracy. Surveyed ground control points (GCPs) can be input to orthorectify the image and verify its accuracy when used as checkpoints.
We use a combination of RTK and PPK workflows, depending on conditions such as mobile data coverage on the project and use the most suitable workflow. We cater to all sites, from a few acres to hundreds of hectares. We price accordingly; the more significant the drone survey, the more time and processing will be involved.
This highly detailed output is accurate regarding global position and elevation, and it can be output in local coordinate systems such as the Irish Transverse Mercator (IRENET95) and Malin Head vertical datum.
We have conducted many aerial photogrammetric surveys and have spent hundreds of hours in the field, at the computer, and working with experts to deliver survey-grade results with our workflows. We have worked with surveyors and have in-house surveyors who verify the work we complete. We achieve <5cm accuracy in X, Y, and Z coordinates.
The significant advantage of drone surveying over traditional surveying is the speed at which data can be delivered. Drone surveys can cover much larger areas more quickly than traditional surveying methods.
Drone surveying is also safer; people do not have to walk in dangerous places. Where ground control is required, this can be planned and placed safely without the risk of twisted ankles or breaks.
As you can see in the image below, taken from a quarry point cloud, the level of detail is exceptional. The survey delivered 1.3 billion data points, each allowing us to gather vital data, allowing for accurate stockpile calculations, cut and fill measurements, slope analysis and general measurements on-site.
Recent regulation changes have significantly impacted some operators, and regulators are clamping down more on illegal drone operations that put people at risk. We have gone the extra mile to attain a SORA, which allows us to operate where others cannot. Many factors and planning are involved in drone surveys, and we continuously operate safely and only take on jobs we know we can complete.
We use the latest aerial survey equipment to provide the highest-quality data deliverables. Keep an eye on our blog for updates to our services and equipment.
Another reason we may seem more expensive is that we process the data ourselves. Many drone operators throw the data at a cloud processing service and send the client the outputs. We manually process and verify the data through our established workflows to ensure we deliver quality, accurate data.
We do not use cloud-based data processing; your data is securely stored and processed locally.
We are always fair in pricing and are happy to discuss if you receive cheaper quotes. We do discount ongoing work or for repeat customers. We are professional drone operators and hold an EASA Specific Category SORA, which allows us to complete more complex projects that others may not be able to do legally.
In Ireland, there are two main limitations of drone surveying, airspace restrictions and weather. In nearly all cases, we can apply for permission to fly in restricted areas; mother nature is something we cannot control.
Wind and rain are the two main issues, but a low-cloud base can also be challenging. While our cutting-edge equipment can fly in 15m/s winds, the data quality may be affected, and we won’t take the chance on that. Also, while nadir data capture is standard for drone surveying, if raindrops get on the lens, again, the data quality is compromised.
We plan our jobs when we can safely capture the best quality data.
Yes, we can provide a UAV drone survey. Our drone services are available for projects of all sizes and include topographical mapping, 3D modelling, elevation/contour data, and orthomosaic imagery. We use the latest aerial survey equipment to ensure our data is of the highest quality and accuracy.
