Drone surveying
Drone surveying: your site as orthophoto, 3D model and point cloud.
We fly sites from half a hectare to well over 60 hectares from Zürich, process the images photogrammetrically on our own hardware and deliver measurable data at 1 to 3 cm ground resolution. Price range in two minutes, binding fixed-price quote to sign.
What is drone surveying?
In drone surveying, a drone captures a site in hundreds of overlapping aerial photos. Photogrammetry computes a three-dimensional model from them: every point on the ground is seen from several angles and located in space. The results are an orthophoto (a true-to-scale aerial image without distortion), a point cloud, a surface and a terrain model, and a textured 3D model.
The difference to classic surveying: instead of single points with a total station, the drone captures the whole area in a flight of a few minutes. Every distance, area and height can be measured afterwards in the model without returning to site. Setting-out and cadastral surveying remain with the licensed surveyor; for as-built capture, planning bases, volumes and documentation the drone is faster and cheaper.
What you get
All deliverables come from the same flight and therefore fit together exactly. You download them in common formats, ready for QGIS, ArcGIS, AutoCAD, Revit or your construction software.
Orthophoto
- A rectified, georeferenced aerial image with 1 to 3 cm ground resolution. True to scale like a plan, detailed like a photo. GeoTIFF, optionally as map tiles for the browser.
3D model
- Textured mesh of terrain and buildings, rotatable in the browser and importable into CAD and BIM software (OBJ, GLB). For visualisation, planning and evidence.
Point cloud
- Millions of georeferenced, coloured points classified into ground and non-ground. LAS/LAZ for CAD, GIS and engineering offices.
DSM and DTM
- Digital surface model with everything on it, and digital terrain model with the ground only. Basis for contours, slopes, drainage analysis and volumes.
Volumes and quantities
- Excavation, fill, stockpiles and landfills as the difference of two models or against a reference plane. Details on the volume calculation page. Go to volume calculation
Processing report
- Accuracy, control points, camera calibration and overlap documented, so every delivery is traceable and verifiable.
How accurate is a drone survey?
It depends on three things: the ground resolution of the images, the georeferencing and the on-site control. We fly DJI Matrice 4E and 4T at 1 to 3 cm ground resolution. The distinction matters: ground resolution tells you how fine the image is, not how accurately it sits. With RTK fix and no ground control points we expect 2 to 5 cm horizontally. On height we deliberately make no commitment without control points: it can carry a systematic offset across the whole site that cannot be detected or quantified without a point on the ground. With control points surveyed by GNSS RTK we expect 1 to 3 cm horizontally and 2 to 4 cm vertically; additional check points that are kept out of the computation document the result in the report.
What you need depends on the purpose. For visualisation and documentation, GNSS accuracy of about one metre is enough (“visual” in the calculator). For planning bases, volumes and construction monitoring you choose RTK. The report states what was achieved, in numbers rather than adjectives. These are expectation values from comparable projects, not a guarantee. What is actually achievable depends on the terrain, vegetation, block geometry and whether the RTK correction signal holds for the whole flight — it varies from job to job. The accuracy of a specific project can only be proven with control points on the ground; without them we state an expectation, not a measurement. If your project needs documented accuracy, tell us beforehand and we will plan the control points in.
How a drone survey works
Request
Area, location and purpose into the calculator: price range immediately, binding quote within 24 hours.
Preparation
We check airspace and permits — the federal drone map and DABS, and where needed clearances from Zürich Airport, Skyguide or the responsible cantonal office, plan the mission and agree the date with you.
Flight
Autonomous grid mission with terrain following, typically over 80 % forward and 60 to 70 % side overlap. One hectare takes minutes, 60 hectares a morning.
Processing
Photogrammetry on our own and rented compute: point cloud, ground classification, models, orthophoto, report.
Delivery
Download portal with all files within one to two weeks, available for three months, follow-up questions included.
Who benefits from drone surveying
- Contractors and site management — As-built capture before construction, progress, quantities for invoicing.
- Architecture and planning — True-to-position basis for designs, context models, visualisations.
- Agriculture and municipalities — Areas, tracks, drainage, documentation after storms.
- Gravel, landfill, quarry — Survey stockpiles and extraction regularly, prove volumes.
- Golf and sports facilities, estates — Overview of 60 hectares and more in one morning.
- Insurers and assessors — Damage capture as a measurable 3D model, verifiable at any time.
What does a drone survey cost?
The price depends on area, accuracy and the deliverables you need, not on hours. The calculator gives you a price range in two minutes; you choose the processing level and see its price. Travel from Zürich, expenses only beyond 100 km. Solar thermography and pure inspections have their own prices.
Example: landfill, 7.0 hectares, one morning
An active 7.0 ha landfill, mapped on 1 August 2026 with a DJI Matrice 4E. 443 photos in 7 minutes of flight time, 1.6 cm ground resolution, relief from 428 to 533 m. Georeferenced by RTK, without ground control points. Processed into a point cloud (384 million points), DSM, DTM, 3D model and orthophoto, plus the report. The showcase page shows the original data in the browser.
See the landfill showcaseFrequently asked questions about drone surveying
- Does a drone survey need ground control points?
- Not necessarily. With RTK fix and no control points we expect 2 to 5 cm horizontally. For height we give no figure without control points. Where the height has to be absolutely right, or where the accuracy has to be documented, we survey control and check points with GNSS RTK; we then expect 1 to 3 cm horizontally and 2 to 4 cm vertically.
- Which site sizes make sense?
- From about half a hectare to over 60 hectares in one morning; larger estates in several flights. For a single building, a drone inspection is often the better choice.
- Does this replace the licensed surveyor?
- No. Cadastral surveying, boundaries and setting-out stay with the surveyor. Drone surveying delivers as-built data, planning bases, volumes and documentation, faster and area-wide.
- Which formats do you deliver?
- GeoTIFF (orthophoto, DSM, DTM), LAS/LAZ (point cloud), OBJ/GLB (3D model), PDF (report), on request DXF contours and map tiles. Coordinate system LV95 or as specified.
- Can you fly anywhere?
- No. We check airspace and permits beforehand, for example Zürich airport, nature reserves and crowds. We are registered with FOCA as an operator, the pilot holds the A2 remote pilot certificate, and liability cover is CHF 3 million.
- How fast is delivery?
- Flight by appointment, delivery usually within one to two weeks of the flight.
Have your site surveyed?
Price range in two minutes, binding fixed-price quote to sign. Or send us area and location and we will come back with a date proposal.