Drone Services

Drone photogrammetry is the workflow where overlapping drone imagery is processed to reconstruct spatial data: orthomosaics, photogrammetric point clouds, and digital surface models. The drone captures the imagery; photogrammetric processing produces the 3D data from the image overlap. Deliverables are produced from the captured data and reviewed before handoff. They are not automatically generated in final form by the drone during the flight. Drone photogrammetry is a supporting phrase for Drone Services, not a separate offering.

Aerial mapping is the use of drone capture and photogrammetric processing to produce georeferenced imagery and spatial data of a site or area. Common outputs include orthomosaics, digital surface models, and photogrammetric point clouds. Aerial mapping is a documentation and planning reference service. It is not a cadastral survey, boundary survey, legal land survey, or licensed topographic survey. Aerial mapping is a use case within Drone Services, not a separate offering.

Drone roof capture documents visible surface conditions from above: roof geometry, drainage features, penetrations, visible surface conditions, and roof-level elements accessible during the flight. It does not document concealed roofing layers, below-membrane conditions, or structural conditions not visible from the air. Drone roof documentation is not a structural engineering inspection, not a roofing warranty inspection, and not an insurance inspection certification. If specific concealed conditions are critical to your project, alternate methods should be discussed before the scope is confirmed.

Site progress capture is periodic drone flights over a construction site to produce dated aerial records of progress across a project timeline. Flights are planned to repeat a consistent coverage pattern so that imagery and data from different dates can be compared. Common deliverables include dated orthomosaics, georeferenced imagery, and aerial video when agreed. Site progress capture is a use case within Drone Services, not a separate offering.

Deliverables depend on the agreed scope. Options that may be available when scoped include georeferenced orthomosaics (GeoTIFF), photogrammetric point clouds (LAS/LAZ, E57), digital surface models (GeoTIFF), annotated aerial imagery, and aerial video. Elevation-derived outputs such as contours may be available when in scope. Not every project requires every deliverable type. Format and scope are confirmed before work begins.

Accuracy depends on flight planning, image overlap, ground control or other control methods when included, site conditions, processing workflow, and required deliverables. Ground control points can improve spatial accuracy when the project requires georeferenced outputs or tighter spatial control. Accuracy requirements should be discussed during scope confirmation so the flight plan and processing approach can be planned around them where feasible.

Commercial drone operations in Canada are governed by Transport Canada under the Canadian Aviation Regulations, Part IX. Drone operations are planned under applicable RPAS requirements. The required pilot certificate, aircraft requirements, airspace authorization, and scheduling constraints depend on the drone, site location, proximity to people, aerodrome proximity, airspace classification, and the type of operation. Projects near aerodromes or in controlled airspace may require authorization through NAV CANADA, and some military or DND-controlled airspace situations may require Department of National Defence involvement before flights can proceed. For current regulatory information, refer to Transport Canada's drone safety resources at tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety.

Several factors influence project cost: Area to cover: Larger sites require more flight time and more processing time Project type: Roof documentation, site mapping, and construction progress capture each have different field and processing requirements Required deliverables: An orthomosaic requires different processing time than a full point cloud and surface model package Ground control: GCP placement and control measurement add field time and cost when in scope Flight frequency: Periodic progress flights are scoped differently from one-time capture Airspace and access: Controlled airspace authorization, occupied facilities, and access restrictions affect scheduling and lead time Site location and mobilization: Location, travel, and access coordination affect the total project cost We do not publish standard pricing because project conditions vary too much to make a price list useful. Contact us with your project details and we will discuss what the scope realistically involves.