Drones For Surveying

Our dedicated survey department comprises three highly-qualified surveyors who work with the latest mapping hardware and software on a daily basis.

They will support your end-to-end surveying workflows through dedicated drone surveying consultancy and advice, hardware and software supply and support, and industry-specific drone survey training.

The team - proficient in drone LiDAR and drone photogrammetry applications - can also offer onsite survey support, helping your organisation learn how to collect real-world survey data.

We have also forged industry-leading partnerships with hardware and software companies to help you integrate the best solutions for your workflows.

Our surveyors take a client-first approach, ensuring you adopt the most suitable hardware and software for your applications This accelerates drone technology adoption and helps you collect precise and efficient survey data.

Recognising the value of drone surveying as an application, heliguy™ has developed and grown a dedicated surveying division.

This department comprises three highly-experienced surveyors - including graduates from Newcastle University's prestigious geospatial school - who focus purely on helping organisations maximise drone survey technology.

This dedicated provision includes consultancy, hardware and software supply and support, and training on the principles of LiDAR and photogrammetry.

We offer:

• Consultancy and Product Supply: Bespoke aerial surveying consultancy and hardware/software supply to build a tailored programme for you. We help integrate your existing architecture into your evolving surveying workflows, or advise on enhanced solutions, based on your requirements.

• Training: Benefit from dedicated drone survey training. Learn from a team that has developed and delivered specialist surveying courses to the likes of Phillips 66, Associated British Ports, and Balfour Beatty VINCI to support drones on the HS2 scheme, as well as produced an online LiDAR workflow course which DJI subsequently purchased for roll-out to its global drone surveying community.

• On-site Data Collection - Drone Assistive Programme: On-site assistance to help you obtain and process data, blending real-world data collection with on-the-job, scenario-based training. Our team has previously helped with a coastal erosion survey at Pagham Harbour, and an archaeological survey with the Museum of London Archaeology.

• Technology Handovers: Access on-site technical assistance and technology handovers to help realise the full potential of your equipment.

• Partnership Network: Having developed a strong worldwide partnership network, our team can offer you a vast inventory of technology to equip you with powerful hardware and software solutions based on your specific needs.

Our surveyors’ in-depth knowledge, experience, and technical proficiency are key assets for any organisation looking to improve its surveying capabilities.

Our survey specialists are hands-on with drone survey technology on a daily basis and have vast experience of deploying it in the field.

This enables them to share best practices and optimised operating procedures, and offer consultancy on the best hardware and software solutions for you, based on their real-world experience.

The team has delivered survey training to major organisations, such as Balfour Beatty Vinci and Phillips 66, and developed an online drone LiDAR course that was purchased by DJI Enterprise to share with its worldwide survey community.

With our surveyors' continuous use of cutting-edge drone technology and software, we guarantee high-quality, reliable data. Their ability to harness the full potential of these tools ensures superior results for your projects.

Our in-house team is adept at using drone survey software, including GIS-based platforms (such as ArcGIS and QGIS), photogrammetry and LiDAR software (eg DJI Terra, Esri SiteScan, and Terrasolid), LSS for topographic surveys, and XGRIDS Lixel CyberColour for reality capture and 3D modelling.

The team - hands-on with survey software on a daily basis - advise clients on the best platforms for their needs, based on real-world experience. We leverage an established partnership network to equip you with the right solutions - based on your application, drone hardware, and workflows.

Our ongoing support includes troubleshooting queries and issues, while dedicated training courses walk people through from data collection to outputs, including data processing, cleaning, analysis, volume calculations, and types of digital assets.

Absolutely. Our experienced surveyors are adept at tailoring their approach to meet specific project needs, utilising their extensive knowledge of drone technology to develop customised surveying solutions that deliver optimal results.

We take a client-first approach, equipping you with the right technology and training for your applications.

Our wide partnership network, with companies such as Emlid, XGRIDS, ShareUAV, Terrasolid, Esri, and DJI, enables us to offer a breadth of hardware and software solutions. This application-agnostic approach ensures we can meet a wide scope of surveying demands, tailored to you.

Our surveyors are committed to continuous learning and regularly update their skills with the latest technological advancements in drone surveying.

The team also forges partnerships with industry-leading companies to help you adopt the best technology for your workflows.

This ongoing education ensures they can provide your organisation with the most advanced and effective surveying solutions available.

There are several benefits of using a drone for surveying:

• Cost-effective: Drone surveying is usually more cost-effective than traditional surveying methods, as it eliminates the need for hiring ground teams and reduces the time required for data collection.

• Increased Accuracy: Drones can collect high-resolution aerial imagery and data, which can lead to more accurate results in mapping, volume calculations, and measurements.

• Improved Safety: Drone surveying is safer than traditional surveying methods that require personnel to work in hazardous or hard-to-reach areas, such as steep slopes, tall buildings, or near water bodies.

• Faster Data Collection: Drones can cover a large area in a shorter time than traditional surveying methods, which can save time and increase efficiency.

• Versatility: Drones can be used for various surveying applications, such as topographic mapping, construction monitoring, environmental assessment, and disaster response. They can capture a range of data, including visual, thermal, LiDAR, and photogrammetry.

• Enhanced Visualisation: With 3D mapping software, drone surveying can produce highly detailed and accurate 3D models and visualisations, which can aid in decision-making and planning.

Drone surveying has multiple advantages over traditional surveying, including speed, safety, streamlined project management, and automated/repeatable data collection. However, drones don’t have to take away from traditional methods: Rather than can be used to complement existing workflows. As such, drones will not replace surveyors.

A range of deliverables can be achieved from using a drone for surveying:

• Orthomosaic Maps: A high-resolution aerial image that is stitched together to form a single, detailed image of the survey area. This can be used to measure distances, calculate areas, and create accurate maps.

• Digital Elevation Models (DEMs): A 3D model of the survey area that shows the elevation of the ground surface, which can be used for terrain analysis, volume calculations, and engineering design.

• Point Clouds: A collection of data points that represent the precise location and elevation of objects in the survey area. This can be used to create 3D models and visualise the survey area from any angle.

• Contour Maps: A map that shows the shape and elevation of the ground surface through contour lines. This can be used to analyse the slope of the land, identify potential drainage issues, and plan construction projects.

• 3D Models and Animations: A detailed 3D model of the survey area that can be used to create flythrough animations and virtual tours of the site.

Overall, using a drone for surveying can provide a range of deliverables that are accurate, detailed, and versatile, which can aid in decision-making and planning for a variety of industries, including construction, mining, agriculture, and environmental management.

Drone surveyors need to abide by UK drone laws. The rules and regulations will depend on the type of drone you are using and where you are planning to use it. Depending on your requirements, you may require drone training, such as the A2 CofC or GVC.

heliguy™ delivers both of these courses to help you fly legally and safely.

Surveying drones can produce high levels of accuracy.

However, not every project requires 1mm precision level, and a range of 15-20mm - achievable with the use of a UAV and ground control - is sufficient.

It does depend on the task at hand.

For some applications, like checking crop growth, or construction progress, high relative accuracy is sufficient.

For other jobs that also require high absolute accuracy, there are drones equipped with Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) and Post-Processed Kinematic (PPK) capabilities. When paired with a few Ground Control Points, survey-level accuracy can be achieved.