Aerial Drone Mapping Vs. Traditional Survey Methods

Many businesses invest heavily in infrastructure to scale and expand their portfolio and bring about development. However, before making a real estate purchase, extensive land surveys must be conducted to assist with infrastructure development plans. Land surveying has evolved rapidly with technology and eliminated the primitive and persistent issues which existed almost thirty-five years ago. The previously available tools for land surveys produced adequate results for the time and prevalent land surveying requirements.

However, with the new age developments, land surveying assumed a critical role in determining smooth infrastructure development. This gave rise to drones, an even more advanced tool in land surveying. Drones have simplified the entire process and produced great results.

While drones do offer several benefits, many are still wondering if it’s worth it compared to the traditional means of surveying. To help you see how aerial drone mapping stands against traditional survey methods, Excel Drone Services has explained a few pros and cons of each mapping method below.

A. Aerial drone mapping
Drones, otherwise known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are aircraft devices capable of flying above the ground and carrying out certain actions without direct human piloting. They can be remotely controlled by a human operator or automatically piloted by computers. Many drones carry digital imaging technologies and communication systems, making them extremely versatile systems that can accomplish a wide variety of tasks, including mapping the land for construction purposes.

Advantages of aerial drone mapping
Drones can take high-quality aerial videos and photographs and collect vast amounts of high-resolution data. This data can be used to create accurate 3D maps and detailed 3D models, which have many critical uses. For instance, 3D mapping of hard-to-access areas can enable people to be better equipped before entering hazardous situations. The data is all proven to be more accurate, and it can save energy and operating costs because a single drone can accomplish tasks that would typically require multiple vehicles to complete.

Disadvantages of aerial drone mapping
There are not many widely known disadvantages to this product. All that is needed is to get a surveyor to sign off on the data to verify it. Additionally, the drones need to be programmed to sense and detect potential collisions and safely maneuver their way around them. To avoid any possible dangerous repercussions, these capabilities need to match those of manned aircraft pilots. When using a drone, it is important to do so responsibly and make sure it is working from a level playing field whereby it doesn’t invade anyone’s privacy or put people at risk. At Excel Drone Services, we ensure we get the necessary legal work done so that we can fly our drones safely and without liability.

B.Traditional survey methods
In this method, survey field crews will go out to the project site, measure the horizontal and vertical angles between points, and measure distance using a total station or a similar instrument. The survey crew will take note of any subdivision monuments, which helps validate property corners and any infrastructure on the piece of land. A drawing is then created using the data from the survey crew, as well as information from the subdivision plan and title work. From this point, a licensed surveyor will review the product, approve it, then sign and seal it.

Advantages of traditional survey methods
For companies that already own total stations and have a trained team of traditional surveyors, they may be hesitant to make the shift to drone surveying because of concerns of purchasing more expensive equipment and having to acquire additional skills. Because they are more widely known, many people and companies are better equipped and trained to do work in a particular way. The traditional method includes conducting a visual inspection of the area. This adds a human element to it that many people prefer. Depending on the requirements of the survey, traditional methods may be more suitable for the level of detail required and, as such, can be a more budget-friendly option. It is also a timeless and proven method of surveying the land around.

Disadvantages of traditional survey methods
The main disadvantages of traditional land surveying are time, cost, and safety. More often than not, survey crews are working on undeveloped or highly vegetated land and have a greater chance of falling or being exposed to harsh elements. Moreover, if a crew is working near an interstate, more safety precautions must come into play to minimize risk. In addition to potential safety hazards, this is an incredibly time-consuming, expensive task. Measuring large areas requires a team of people, which increases labor costs, and often weeks or months to complete before the data is ready for analysis and compilation. As a result of this, it’s easy for a project to quickly fall behind schedule, which can add to the cost of the project as a whole. Lastly, it is not as accurate as drone mapping, as some areas are hard to access without the use of aerial drones.

Which options should you choose?
If you have large projects that need updated data on a regular basis that can be easily shared with partners to stay on top of the project, then we believe that aerial drone mapping will be more beneficial for you. But, if you have small projects that need infrequent updating, then traditional survey methods might be more beneficial and cost-effective for you. Also, if the project is near an airport or military base where the airspace is controlled, aerial drone mapping might not be possible, and you will have to go with the traditional options. In the end, we believe that for more cost-effective and accurate data, done quicker, you should choose aerial drone mapping. It can help you record a vast amount of data, foresee potential risks or avoid costly mistakes which may not be visible with a basic surveying approach.

If you are looking for aerial mapping and videography services in Vancouver Island, then reach out to us at Excel Drone Services. Whatever your project, we can advise you on aerial drone mapping, discussing in detail what your end goals are and how you wish to use the data produced. What sets us apart from our competitors is over thirty years of combined work experience in the sectors we are serving. We know first-hand the challenges and the pain you deal with. We know drones, where they can fly, and how to safely fly them to get the best images possible. We offer aerial drone services for mapping, volumetric surveying, inspections, 3D modeling and printing, and construction. We provide aerial drone mapping and videography services to clients across Victoria, Sooke, Duncan, Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Tofino, Courtenay, Campbell River, Port Mcneill, Port Hardy, Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, Metro Vancouver, and beyond. Visit our website to learn more, or get in touch with us by clicking here.