How Aerial Surveying Supports Projects

Surveying has always played a critical role in construction, engineering and industrial projects. The data provided by surveyors allows project leaders to manage their teams and make informed decisions to deliver high-quality results.

Now increasingly common, aerial surveying services are the industry’s next evolution, with advanced surveying teams employing drones to capture the critical data they need.

The commercial drones used for aerial surveying have large payload limits and are capable of carrying a range of equipment. That means surveyors can use drone technology to record information and provide support for all types of projects.

We’re going to take a closer look at how modern project managers are employing aerial surveyors to complete their projects on time and budget.

What is Aerial Surveying?

Aerial surveying represents one of the surveying industry’s latest developments. By employing remotely piloted drones, surveyors can generate a variety of data that would otherwise be difficult, impossible or impractical to collect.

The drones used for aerial surveying are extremely versatile and can be equipped with a wide range of technologies, such as:

• High-definition still image and video cameras
• Thermal imaging cameras
• LiDAR laser scanners 
• Inspection cameras
• Photogrammetry and aerial mapping cameras

Depending on the needs of the project, the aerial surveying team will choose the imaging and other equipment they need to return relevant results.

For instance, surveyors providing support for infrastructure projects might use laser scanners to create 3D models of existing structures to look for shifting over time. Similarly, a large-scale project could employ photogrammetry to map out vast areas that would require weeks of work using traditional survey methods.

How Does Aerial Surveying Support Projects?

Aerial surveying services are used widely for all types of civil, engineering, agriculture, construction and industrial projects. The versatility of the technology makes it indispensable for project leaders who need to deliver results on time and budget.

Some common uses of aerial surveying for projects include:

• Civil. Planning and building civil infrastructure is a major undertaking. Aerial surveying provides detailed information about building sites, terrain, existing structures and nearby features to ensure civil projects are delivered without a hitch.
  
  
• Agriculture. Large farming operations employ aerial surveying for mapping, monitoring and expanding their crops. This is done through aerial surveying or crop spraying drones. Capable of covering large areas quickly, aerial surveying drones provide rapid information that powers modern farming techniques.
  
  
• Construction and engineering. Whether you’re building a single home or a large commercial development, aerial surveying can support all construction projects. From cadastral information and 3D modelling to as-built surveys, drones can be used to capture a range of critical data.
  
  
• Industrial. Manufacturing, mining and other industrial projects use aerial surveying to support their decision-making. Aerial surveys are especially useful for capturing information over large areas and providing quick, accurate volumetric surveys for stockpile management and excavation work.

The Benefits of Aerial Surveying for Projects

Advances in drone technology have made aerial surveying more accessible than ever. The process is now widely used across Australia to support civil, commercial, residential and industrial projects. The benefits offered by aerial surveying have the potential to save time, money and labour that could be better focused elsewhere.

Aerial surveying offers several key advantages over other surveying methods. Drones surveys are:

• Cost-effective
• Precise
• Quick to deploy and retrieve
• Suitable for inaccessible or difficult terrain

Among those benefits, time and cost savings can be a major win for project coordinators. Drones are capable of rapidly collecting information that could take weeks of work by ground teams. Additionally, drones are ideal for reaching remote or difficult locations that would be unsafe or impractical for other survey methods.

Put these things together, and aerial surveying represents a technical leap forward that has revolutionised the structure of most projects.

Support Your Next Project with Aerial Surveying With Toll Uncrewed Systems

Aerial surveying is among the most cost-effective and accurate surveying methods available for agriculture, infrastructure, construction and engineering projects.

Properly equipped, a drone can rapidly collect and retrieve a wide range of information, providing the data your project needs. Our team of CASA certified operators is available to carry out aerial surveying services and deliver accurate information about almost any project. 

You can contact us at any time to find out more about our aerial surveying services or to make an appointment with our team.