Photogrammetry · Surfaces · Volumes
Drone Mapping
A mapping drone turns an afternoon on site into a dataset: a measurable orthophoto, a dense 3D surface, and volumes computed from real geometry instead of estimates. For open sites — construction, pits, yards, cleared land — it's the most efficient measurement tool there is.
The difference between a pretty drone picture and survey-grade mapping is discipline: ground control, RTK positioning, calibrated processing and independent checks. We fly to survey standards because the numbers get used.
What a flight produces
- —Orthophotos at 1–3 cm resolution (GeoTIFF)
- —Dense point clouds and 3D surface models
- —Contours and terrain surfaces for design
- —Stockpile and cut/fill volumes
- —Dated progress documentation through construction
Where it fits
Drone photogrammetry is the right tool for open, visible ground: active construction sites, gravel pits and quarries, laydown yards, subdivisions in earthworks, cleared land ahead of design. Where trees hide the ground, we'll tell you plainly — that's LiDAR territory, and we do that too.
Repeat flights, real programs
The best value often comes from rhythm: monthly progress flights, quarterly inventory volumes, before-and-after earthworks records — same control, same processing, genuinely comparable results.
Deliverables
- GeoTIFF orthophoto
- Point cloud (LAS/LAZ)
- Surface model (DTM/TIN)
- Volume report
- Web-shareable imagery on request
Coverage
Available across Vancouver Island.
We fly across the Island from Courtenay — with proper airspace coordination where it matters (including the controlled airspace around CFB Comox/YQQ near our own home base), and weather planning that respects coastal flying windows.
Common questions
Are you certified to fly commercially?+
Yes — our drone operations run under Canadian RPAS regulations, with airspace authorization obtained wherever a site requires it. That coordination is part of the job, not your problem.
How accurate is drone mapping?+
With ground control and RTK positioning, centimetre-level on hard, visible surfaces — genuinely survey-grade for orthophotos, surfaces and volumes on open ground. On vegetated ground, photogrammetry measures what it can see, which is why we recommend LiDAR under canopy.
Related services
High-density point clouds and bare-earth terrain — even under vegetation.
OrthophotosMeasurable, georeferenced aerial imagery for planning and documentation.
Topographic SurveysAccurate existing-conditions data for design, planning and development.
Send us the scope.
Tell us what you need and where — we'll have pricing and a realistic schedule back within one business day.