Drone-assisted topographic survey
A topographic (existing conditions) survey maps the current state of a site — buildings, roads, utilities, levels and contours — to regulatory standards. Drone photogrammetry complements traditional ground survey: large areas are captured quickly with consistent accuracy, and critical detail is picked up on the ground.
What you get
A layered, scaled digital topographic survey (1:1000, 1:500 or other scales on request): spot heights, contours, building and structure outlines, road and kerb lines, and point features such as poles, manholes and trees. DWG/DXF and NCZ (Netcad), optionally with an orthomosaic backdrop.
Applications
- Zoning and subdivision
- Architectural and infrastructure design
- Road, canal and utility schemes
- Planning and permit applications
Zoning plans and subdivision, architectural and infrastructure design, road and canal schemes, planning and permit applications, grading and landscape design.
Method: drone plus ground survey
Photogrammetry is the primary method in open and moderately built-up areas; anything the camera can’t see — under eaves, beneath trees, at the foot of walls — is completed with GNSS and total station. The result: speed plus regulatory accuracy.
Standards and QA
Surveys follow the layer structure and accuracy tolerances of the Turkish Large-Scale Map and Map Information Production Regulation; position and level accuracy are verified with checkpoints.
How it works
- ScopingWe confirm the site location and extent, the deliverables you need and the accuracy required, and check airspace permissions and site conditions.
- Flight planning and ground controlOverlap, flight altitude and ground sampling distance (GSD) are set to meet the spec; ground control points (GCPs) are surveyed with GNSS where required.
- Data captureThe site is flown to plan, capturing imagery and position data with RTK/PPK positioning.
- Photogrammetric processingImages are aligned, a dense point cloud and surface model are generated and tied to the GCPs, and accuracy is verified against independent checkpoints.
- QA and deliveryDeliverables are produced in your coordinate reference system (e.g. ITRF96 / TM zone) and file formats, and handed over with an accuracy report.
File formats
DWG, DXF, NCZ
FAQs
Are drone-based topographic surveys accepted by authorities?
The survey is produced under the responsibility of a licensed survey engineer to regulatory accuracy — the drone is simply the data capture method. We provide the formats and QA documentation that applications require.
Which scales do you work at?
Typically 1:1000 and 1:500; 1:2000 or larger scales where the project requires.
Is there a minimum or maximum site size?
From small plots to several hundred hectares; larger sites are flown over several days.
Services behind this deliverable
Geomatics and engineering surveying
Topographic surveys, setting out, spot height plans, existing conditions surveys, cut-and-fill and volumes, as-built, road, corridor, utility and mine surveys — carried out under a licensed survey engineer.
Aerial mapping
Drone photogrammetry, RTK/PPK surveying, orthomosaics, topographic surveys, DSM/DTM, point clouds, volumes and cross-sections — the data capture layer of Dronemeters.
GIS and spatial intelligence
Geographic information systems, spatial data management, PostGIS, raster and vector analysis, terrain and suitability analysis, change detection, 3D GIS, WebGIS and decision support.
Related deliverables
Orthomosaic
A georeferenced, distortion-corrected aerial image mosaic you can measure directly from.
GeoTIFF, ECW, JPEG 20003D terrain model
A 3D model of the ground and everything on it — surface model (DSM), bare-earth model (DTM), classified point cloud and textured mesh.
GeoTIFF (DSM/DTM), LAS/LAZ, OBJ, 3D TilesEarthworks & volumes
Cut and fill volumes from the difference between existing ground and the design surface, with cross-sections, schedules and a checked and approved report.
PDF report, DWG sections, XLSX