Drone Mapping
for real-world decisions.
Drone mapping and 3D scanning of sites, yards, roofs, and campuses — not just pretty aerial video.
From site conditions
to a confident next step.
Drone photogrammetry answers the outdoor half of most industrial questions: how big is the roof, how much material is in that pile, where does the yard drain, and what has changed since the last site plan. Flights are planned for overlap and ground sample distance first, imagery second.
Ground control is what turns nice imagery into a measurement. We set and survey targets so the orthomosaic and surface model land in the same coordinate system as the interior scans, which is what lets a roof takeoff and a mechanical model coexist in one project.
Airspace work happens before mobilization: Part 107 rules, LAANC authorization where controlled airspace applies, visual line of sight, and site-specific safety requirements. Around the tri-state area that airspace planning is a real constraint — much of northern New Jersey, Long Island, and Fairfield County sits under approach paths.
- Orthomosaic + surface models
- Contours and volumes
- Part 107 / LAANC planning
- Standalone or paired with TLS
- GeoTIFF ortho
- DSM / DTM
- Contours
- Volume report
Also called
Different teams ask for this work under different names. These all land on the same scope conversation.
Where we fly
Airspace planning is a real constraint around here — much of northern New Jersey, Long Island, and Fairfield County sits under approach paths — so the authorisation work starts long before the flight does.
The New York side of the service area adds aerial site surveys in Cheektowaga, site and roof mapping in Colonie, orthomosaic and contour work in Irondequoit, and stockpile and yard volumes in Islip. In New Jersey that covers site and roof mapping in Edison, orthomosaic and contour work in Franklin, stockpile and yard volumes in Howell, and aerial site surveys in Jackson. Connecticut coverage includes orthomosaic and contour work in Danbury, stockpile and yard volumes in Norwalk, aerial site surveys in Stratford, and site and roof mapping in Torrington.
Drone Mapping questions
What does drone mapping actually produce?
Drone mapping produces a georeferenced orthomosaic, a surface model (DSM/DTM), and contours or volume reports, built from overlapping aerial photographs processed with photogrammetry software. It is the outside-the-envelope counterpart to terrestrial laser scanning — the right tool for roofs, yards, sites, and campuses rather than interior geometry.
How accurate is drone mapping?
Accuracy is driven mainly by ground sample distance and ground control. With surveyed ground control points and RTK or PPK positioning, centimetre-level results on hard surfaces are realistic; without control, results are noticeably looser. We scope ground control against the accuracy the deliverable actually needs rather than assuming the flight alone is enough.
Are you licensed to fly drones commercially?
Yes, flights are conducted under FAA Part 107, with LAANC airspace authorization obtained wherever the site sits in controlled airspace. Access, flight restrictions, and the deliverable are all confirmed as part of scoping before a flight is planned.
What file formats do we get?
Deliverables are typically a GeoTIFF orthomosaic, a DSM/DTM surface model, and LandXML contours, with volume reports available as PDF and CSV where the project calls for quantities. These formats drop directly into Civil 3D, GIS, and most design software.
Can drone mapping replace a terrestrial 3D scan?
No — they answer different questions. Drone mapping is the right tool for roof area, yard grading, stockpile volume, or a whole site; a terrestrial 3D scan is the right tool for pipe, structure, above-ceiling conditions, or equipment clearance. Many industrial projects need both, captured into one shared control network so they line up.
What site or weather conditions affect a flight?
Wind, precipitation, and low light all affect flight quality and safety, so flights are scheduled around forecast conditions rather than a fixed date. Site-specific restrictions — nearby airports, security-sensitive areas, or facility airspace rules — are worked out during scoping and factored into the flight plan.
Make the invisible
measurable.
Tell us what is inside, outside, and on the line. We will help you scope the capture and the handoff — in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut.
Request a scan quote