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Survey Types & Techniques

UAV Survey

A UAV survey uses a drone with cameras or other sensors to collect survey-grade spatial data. It produces high-resolution aerial imagery and 3D models for topographic mapping, construction monitoring, and mapping hard-to-access areas.

A UAV (drone) flying over a construction site to perform a survey.

Last updated: August 14, 2025

Use Cases

Topographic mapping for site design and planning.

Construction progress monitoring and cut/fill volume calculations.

Mapping hazardous or inaccessible areas like steep slopes or active sites.

High-detail mapping for large corridors like pipelines or transmission lines.

Creating orthophotos for environmental permitting and site documentation.

Challenges Without Job Book

Estimates rely on memory or spreadsheets instead of historical job data.

Finding details from past jobs is slow and manual.

Crew and asset scheduling conflicts cause rework and idle time.

Time capture and approvals delay invoicing and miss billables.

Profitability and job status are unclear until month-end.

How Job Book Helps

Tag jobs with this scope and use search and maps to quickly find similar work.

Use budgets and estimates plus past jobs to benchmark labor and equipment for new proposals.

Report profitability and WIP by scope, client, and region.

Assign tasks and crews to avoid conflicts and track progress.

Link equipment and assets to jobs for utilization and cost tracking.

Collect field time (DWR/LEM) and speed manager approvals and invoicing.

Overview

A UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) survey uses a drone equipped with cameras or other sensors to collect survey-grade spatial data from the air. This method typically uses photogrammetry or LiDAR to produce high-resolution aerial imagery and detailed 3D models of a site. UAV surveys are valuable for their ability to rapidly acquire data over large or difficult-to-access areas, improving safety and efficiency compared to traditional ground-based methods.

Context & Industry Use

UAV surveys are frequently used for:

  • Topographic Mapping: Creating detailed site plans for engineering design, land development, and resource management.
  • Construction Monitoring: Tracking progress, verifying earthwork quantities, and calculating stockpile volumes.
  • Hazardous Area Mapping: Safely surveying unstable slopes, active mines, or disaster sites without endangering field crews.
  • Corridor Mapping: Efficiently mapping long linear projects such as roads, railways, and pipelines.

Estimation & Planning

  • Estimation drivers:
    • Area Size & Flight Time: The total area to be mapped directly impacts the number of flights and batteries required.
    • Required Resolution (GSD): Higher resolution imagery requires lower flight altitudes, increasing flight time and data volume.
    • Ground Control: The need to establish and survey Ground Control Points (GCPs) adds field time but is crucial for accuracy.
    • Airspace & Regulations: Operating in controlled airspace requires additional time for FAA authorization.
    • Terrain & Obstacles: Complex terrain or numerous obstacles may require multiple flight plans and careful navigation.
  • Client questions before quoting:
    • What are the required outputs (orthomosaic, DTM, contours) and accuracy specifications?
    • What are the site conditions, including vegetation cover and any potential flight hazards?
    • Is there existing survey control on site to tie into?
    • Are there any airspace restrictions or site access limitations?
    • What is the project timeline and are there any weather-dependent constraints?

Deliverables & Hand-off

  • Orthomosaic Imagery (GeoTIFF): A georeferenced and orthorectified aerial image map.
  • 3D Point Cloud (LAS/LAZ): A dense point cloud representing the site’s topography and features.
  • Digital Terrain Model (DTM/DEM): A bare-earth raster grid of elevations.
  • CAD Topographic Map (DWG/DXF): A drawing with contours, spot elevations, and planimetric features.
  • Accuracy Report: A report documenting the survey’s horizontal and vertical accuracy, typically verified with independent checkpoints.

Workflow with Job Book

  1. Tagging: Tag jobs with UAV Survey to easily search and filter past projects.
  2. Estimating: Use historical data from similar UAV jobs to benchmark flight times, processing effort, and costs for new proposals.
  3. Scheduling: Assign pilots and equipment, and schedule flights around weather and site access constraints.
  4. Asset Tracking: Link drones, sensors, and ground control equipment as assets to track utilization and maintenance.
  5. Field Data: Capture field notes, GCP coordinates, and flight logs within the job record.
  6. Reporting: Monitor project profitability and WIP by scope, client, and region to understand business performance.

Common Pitfalls & Tips

  • Insufficient Overlap: Not planning enough overlap between images can lead to gaps and poor accuracy in the 3D model. Tip: Plan for at least 75% forward and 60% side overlap.
  • Poor Ground Control: Inadequate or poorly distributed GCPs can result in a warped or inaccurate model. Tip: Distribute GCPs evenly across the project area, including at high and low elevations.
  • Ignoring Weather: Flying in high winds or poor lighting can degrade data quality. Tip: Plan flights for calm, brightly overcast days to minimize wind effects and harsh shadows.
  • Datum/Projection Errors: Delivering data in the wrong coordinate system is a critical error. Tip: Verify all coordinate system and vertical datum requirements with the client before processing.
What is the typical accuracy of a UAV survey?

With proper ground control points (GCPs), UAV photogrammetry can achieve absolute accuracy of a few centimeters, suitable for most design-grade topographic surveys.

Can UAVs survey through trees?

Photogrammetry-based UAVs cannot see through dense vegetation. For ground mapping in forested areas, a UAV equipped with LiDAR is a better option as it can penetrate tree canopies.

What regulations apply to UAV surveys?

In the US, commercial UAV operations must comply with FAA Part 107 rules, which include pilot certification, airspace authorizations, and operational limitations.

What are the main deliverables from a UAV survey?

Common deliverables include a high-resolution orthomosaic image, a 3D point cloud, a digital terrain model (DTM), and contour maps in CAD or GIS formats.

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