Home/ Services/ 3D Site Survey
FIG.05 SERVICE / 3D SITE SURVEY

3D site survey,
at flight speed.

Orthomosaics, digital elevation models, point clouds, and stockpile volumetrics for job sites, quarries, and aggregate yards. Measurable, repeatable, and delivered in days — not the weeks a conventional survey crew needs.

Estimate this job → Request quote
Typical range $600–$5,500
Coverage rate ~100 ac / day
Volumetric accuracy 1–2% (w/ GCPs)
Turnaround 24 hr – 5 days
// 01 — USE CASES

What gets mapped.

01

Stockpile volumetrics

Aggregate yards, quarries, mulch operations. Monthly inventory counts at a fraction of the cost of a survey crew on the ground.

02

Construction progress

Weekly or monthly flights document site progress. Earthwork volumes, pad elevations, and as-built comparisons against the design.

03

Topographic survey

Site topo for design and engineering. Contour generation, drainage analysis, cut-and-fill calculations.

04

As-built documentation

Final-state mapping at project closeout. Orthomosaic and 3D model archived with the project file.

05

Pre-construction baseline

Document conditions before mobilization — vegetation, drainage, existing improvements. Protects against scope creep claims.

06

Quarry / pit reconciliation

Monthly extraction volumes, bench geometry, slope stability monitoring. Compatible with mine planning software.

// 02 — DELIVERABLE

What you get back.

CORE

Orthomosaic + DEM

Geo-referenced GeoTIFF outputs at ground sampling distance appropriate to the flight altitude. Typical 2–3 cm per pixel.

CORE

Point cloud (.las/.laz)

Industry-standard format for import into Civil 3D, ArcGIS, QGIS, and most mine-planning packages.

CORE

Stockpile volumetrics

Per-pile volumes with base-plane methodology documented. CSV export for accounting reconciliation.

ADD-ON

Progress comparisons

Cut-and-fill volumes between successive flights. Time-lapse overlay video for stakeholder updates.

ADD-ON

Ground control (GCPs)

Surveyed targets placed before the flight to lock the model to your site coordinate system. Required for billing-grade volumetrics.

ADD-ON

Detailed survey report

Extended PDF with annotated orthos, volumetric tables, accuracy assessment, and methodology documentation.

// 03 — FAQ

Site survey FAQ.

How accurate is a drone-based volumetric measurement?

With ground control points placed and surveyed before the flight, stockpile and earthwork volumes typically come within 1 to 2% of conventional GPS survey results. Without GCPs, accuracy is closer to 5% — fine for trend monitoring, not for billing-grade accounting.

What file formats do you deliver?

Standard outputs include orthomosaic (GeoTIFF), digital elevation model (GeoTIFF), point cloud (.las or .laz), and a 3D textured mesh (.obj). Reports include CSV exports of volumetric calculations and PDF visualizations. Coordinate systems are matched to your project on request.

Can you fly the same site monthly for progress tracking?

Yes. Recurring progress flights are priced at a discount to one-off jobs because the ground control infrastructure is reusable. Monthly stockpile volumetric tracking, construction earthwork comparisons, and project as-built progressions are common scopes.

How long does processing take?

Small sites under 10 acres process within 24 hours. Mid-sized sites 10 to 50 acres typically deliver in 48 hours. Large surveys with high point-cloud density may take up to 5 business days, particularly when paired with engineering deliverables.

Do I need to provide ground control points?

No — we provide and place the GCPs as part of the survey. Existing site control monuments can be used if available. If billing-grade accuracy isn't required, GCPs can be skipped to reduce cost.

// 04 — RELATED

Other services.

Got a site to map?
Estimate in 30 seconds. Firm quote back within one business day.