The process of drone surveying begins by capturing aerial images of the area. The photos are then processed to create a map of the site. This map can be used to identify features, measure distances, and calculate elevations; all this assisted a digital terrain model.

A drone may be used to survey a vast area quickly. It's an excellent choice for tasks that need a lot of data or need to get done quickly.

Topography made with a drone for an industrial area

What are the benefits of using drones for surveying?

Drone surveying has several benefits over traditional survey methods, including speed, accuracy, cost, and safety. Drones can quickly cover a large area, making them ideal for large projects. They are also able to obtain accurate data with little margin for error. Drones are less expensive than traditional survey methods and are safe to use.

Using drone surveying to obtain the image of the representation of digital elevation models is an excellent way to do this. Also, some benefits of drone surveying, for example, are not necessarily drone pilots every moment. When deploying aerial surveying, they can directly procure accurate measurements.

How to use a drone topographic survey in my project

There are two ways to use a drone for surveying: photogrammetry or LIDAR. Photogrammetric techniques involve taking measurements from photographs. This method is ideal for small surveys or areas with simple terrain. LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a laser-based technology that measures distance using light instead of sound waves, as in sonar.

This method is ideal for large surveys or areas with complex terrain if you use aerial mapping with drones to obtain a 3d model terrain.

Once you have the aerial images, they need to be processed to create a map and obtain the drone survey data; this can be done in several ways, depending on the software you are using. The most common methods are:

Point clouds
Digital Surface Models (DSMs)
Orthophotos
3D Models

Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. You should choose the method that best meets your needs.

When choosing a drone survey company, ask about their experience with your type of project. Also, be sure to ask for references from previous clients.

Aerial view of a topographic survey with drones carried out by JT Reality Capture

Points of considering when using a drone surveying

Photogrammetry software occasionally helps generate precise measurements and point clouds or other data from topographic surveying. It's important for a visual inspection of terrain or survey site.

Orthomosaic Maps Drone images can be stitched together to create an orthomosaic map; this is a 2D map that shows the area in true-to-life colors and shading. This type of map is often used for land planning and management purposes.

Also, if you decide to obtain drone imagery for topographic data in urban planning or other construction sites, it's the way for some project requirements or post-processing.

In this case, we need a licensed surveyor to use drone surveying, and the experience for his project requirements it's essential.

Drone surveying is a process that can help to be more efficient when preparing topographic surveys.

Drone surveying vs traditional methods

Use drone surveys to obtain data and digital terrain models, drone images, contour lines maps, contour data, and aerial data, all with the art and science of land surveying.

There are several advantages to using drones for surveying:

Speed: Drones can cover a large area quickly, making them ideal for large projects.
Accuracy: Drones can obtain accurate data with little margin for error.
Cost: Drones are less expensive than traditional survey methods.
Safety: Drones are safe and do not require heavy equipment or dangerous chemicals.

Traditional survey methods have their advantages:

Manual Control: With traditional survey methods, you have more control over the data collection; this can be important in areas with complex terrain or when accuracy is critical.
Flexibility: Traditional survey methods can be used in various settings, including urban areas and rugged terrain.
Size: Traditional survey methods can be used for surveys of all sizes.

When choosing between traditional survey methods and drone surveying, it is important to consider the needs of your project. Drones are ideal for large projects with simple terrain or when speed is critical. Traditional survey methods are better suited for projects with complex terrain or when accuracy is important.

Engineer carrying out a survey with a drone in an industrial area

Topographic surveys to obtain a digital terrain model

There are two main ways to use a drone for surveying: photogrammetry or LiDAR. Photogrammetric techniques involve taking measurements from photographs. This method is ideal for small surveys or areas with simple terrain. LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a laser-based technology that measures distance using light instead of sound waves. This method is ideal for large surveys or areas with complex terrain.

When choosing a drone survey company, ask about their experience with your type of project. Also, be sure to ask for references from previous clients.

Drones are much more advanced today and can be used in various situations. With the use of uncrewed aerial vehicles or drones, large areas can quickly be covered to give an accurate portrayal of the land surface. The data types that can be collected with this technology are limitless and include such items as 3D models, contour lines, and mapping data.

When deciding if a drone topographic survey is right for your needs, it is important to understand this technology and how it works. Drone surveys use images from above to create a map of the area. These images are then processed using software to create a digital terrain model (DTM). A DTM is a 3D representation of the earth's surface.