Drone surveying is more popular than ever, but there are persistent misconceptions, both among the general public and even among experts in the industry. At its core, drone surveying is the art and science of creating land surveys using drone technology. In this Q&A, we answer the most common questions people ask about land surveying and drone surveying. Aerotas is the industry leader in data processing for land surveyors and civil engineers, and has helped thousands of land surveyors create tens of thousands of drone surveys since 2014.
If you work in land surveying or civil engineering, or simply want to understand how drone mapping becomes survey‑grade data, this guide is for you.
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Drone surveying is the process of performing land surveying with the aid of a drone. The aircraft captures precisely planned imagery and/or lidar data, which is processed into accurate measurements and maps under the oversight of a licensed professional.
Modern drones follow pre‑planned flight paths to collect data with high‑resolution cameras and/or lidar sensors, synchronized to survey‑grade GNSS (RTK/PPK). That data is transformed into survey deliverables, like point clouds, contours, and CAD drawings, through professional data‑processing workflows and quality control.
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A land survey is a very accurate map and set of measurements tied to real‑world coordinates and legal descriptions.
Surveys are foundational to property rights, design, permitting, construction, and infrastructure operations. Because errors can be costly or dangerous, surveying is a highly regulated profession with strict requirements around accuracy, documentation, and licensure.
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Land surveys support dozens of applications, including:
Establishing and marking property boundaries and easements
Creating legal records (plats, ALTA/NSPS surveys)
Topographic mapping for planning and design
As‑builts and verification of constructed features
Volume calculations (stockpiles, earthwork)
Corridor mapping (roads, rail, utilities, power lines)
Water drainage/runoff studies and environmental assessments
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For centuries, surveys were performed entirely from the ground, which is time‑consuming and sometimes hazardous. Drones provide:
Coverage: Map large or difficult areas efficiently (steep slopes, wetlands, highways).
Safety: Reduce time near traffic, cliffs, or unstable surfaces.
Speed & Cost: Capture more data in less field time, often lowering total project costs.
Detail: Produce rich orthomosaics, point clouds, DSM/DTM surfaces, and 3D models to support design‑grade drafting.
Under the hood: Professional drone surveys combine precision GPS/GNSS (RTK/PPK/PPP), inertial sensors, cameras, and optionally lidar to enable accurate, repeatable results.
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No. In most circumstances in the United States, creating a survey deliverable requires a licensed land surveyor (and, in some cases, a licensed professional engineer depending on the work type and state). Operating the drone typically requires an FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate, but Part 107 alone does not authorize producing legal survey documents.
Becoming a licensed surveyor generally requires years of education, supervised experience, and exams. Always verify state requirements and ensure a licensed professional is responsible for the work product.
What is drone surveying?
Short answer: Drone surveying is the process of performing land surveying with the aid of a drone. The aircraft captures precisely planned imagery and/or lidar data, which is processed into accurate measurements and maps under the oversight of a licensed professional.
Modern drones follow pre‑planned flight paths to collect data with high‑resolution cameras and/or lidar sensors, synchronized to survey‑grade GNSS (RTK/PPK). That data is transformed into survey deliverables, like point clouds, contours, and CAD drawings, through professional data‑processing workflows and quality control.
What is land surveying?
A land survey is a very accurate map and set of measurements tied to real‑world coordinates and legal descriptions.
Why it matters: Surveys are foundational to property rights, design, permitting, construction, and infrastructure operations. Because errors can be costly or dangerous, surveying is a highly regulated profession with strict requirements around accuracy, documentation, and licensure.
What are land surveys used for?
Land surveys support dozens of applications, including:
Establishing and marking property boundaries and easements
Creating legal records (plats, ALTA/NSPS surveys)
Topographic mapping for planning and design
As‑builts and verification of constructed features
Volume calculations (stockpiles, earthwork)
Corridor mapping (roads, rail, utilities, power lines)
Water drainage/runoff studies and environmental assessments
How can a drone help with land surveying?
For centuries, surveys were performed entirely from the ground, which is time‑consuming and sometimes hazardous. Drones provide:
Coverage: Map large or difficult areas efficiently (steep slopes, wetlands, highways).
Safety: Reduce time near traffic, cliffs, or unstable surfaces.
Speed & Cost: Capture more data in less field time, often lowering total project costs.
Detail: Produce rich orthomosaics, point clouds, DSM/DTM surfaces, and 3D models to support design‑grade drafting.
Professional drone surveys combine precision GPS/GNSS (RTK/PPK/PPP), inertial sensors, cameras, and optionally lidar to enable accurate, repeatable results.
Can anyone with a drone make a drone survey?
No. In most circumstances in the United States, creating a survey deliverable requires a licensed land surveyor (and, in some cases, a licensed professional engineer depending on the work type and state). Operating the drone typically requires an FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate, but Part 107 alone does not authorize producing legal survey documents.
Becoming a licensed surveyor generally requires years of education, supervised experience, and exams. Always verify state requirements and ensure a licensed professional is responsible for the work product.
Are drone surveys as good as “regular” surveys?
Yes, when performed correctly. Drone‑enabled surveys can meet or exceed traditional methods for many topographic and as‑built applications. The deciding factor is professionalism and process, not the aircraft. Boundary determination still relies on legal and physical evidence in addition to measurements; drones complement, not replace, that work.
At Aerotas, we partner with licensed surveyors nationwide to deliver survey‑grade data that stands up to professional QC and real‑world use.
What does it take to make a proper drone survey?
A defensible drone survey follows a structured, documented workflow:
Scoping & Specifications – Define accuracy targets, deliverables, coordinate systems, vertical datum/geoid, and acceptance criteria.
Pre‑flight Planning – Airspace checks (e.g., LAANC/authorizations), site hazards, sun angle, weather, and flight parameters (GSD, overlap, altitude, speed).
Control Strategy – Establish ground control points (GCPs) and checkpoints with a calibrated GNSS/total station workflow. Decide on RTK/PPK/PPP strategy and base/CORS references.
Acquisition – Fly the mission to collect imagery and/or lidar with proper exposure, overlap, and consistent flight geometry.
Processing – Perform PPK/PPP GNSS processing; run photogrammetry or lidar boresight and strip‑alignment; generate point clouds, DSM/DTM, and orthomosaics.
Classification & Drafting – Classify ground/buildings/vegetation/utilities as needed; create breaklines, contours, TINs, and CAD linework to spec.
Quality Control & Reporting – Validate with independent checkpoints (horizontal/vertical RMSE), review residuals and metadata, and compile a QA/QC report with accuracy statements and processing details.
Sign/Seal (as applicable) – A licensed professional reviews and signs/seals deliverables in accordance with state rules and client requirements.
Can any drone be used to create a drone survey?
Not all drones are suitable. For survey‑quality results, you typically need:
A drone with RTK/PPK‑capable GNSS. Basic single-band GPS can be used in limited circumstances, but all modern survey capable drones should be using high quality dual-band GNSS sensors.
A high quality camera (for photogrammetry). Cameras on entry level drones are not high enough quality to achieve survey-grade accuracy. Cheaper cameras with linear rolling shutters also introduce significant error into the final map.
Optional but powerful: lidar for vegetated or complex sites. Lidar drones are bigger, heavier, and more expensive, but can provide critical data for many sites that imagery alone cannot.
Typical budgets : ~$6,000+ for capable photogrammetry platforms and ~$35,000+ for lidar equipped systems, with high‑end configurations exceeding $100,000. The right tool depends on terrain, vegetation, accuracy, and deliverable requirements.
What is the difference between a drone survey and a drone map?
A drone survey is produced under the responsible charge of a licensed professional, meeting defined accuracy standards, documentation, and legal responsibilities. A drone map is a visual product generated from aerial images. They are useful for context and basic measurements, but are not a legal survey.
If a map does not clearly identify the licensed professional responsible, and does not include accuracy statements and QC documentation, treat it as a map, not a survey.
What is “survey‑grade” accuracy?
There is no single universal number. Survey‑grade means the accuracy is quantified, validated, and documented.
Typical survey-grade projects target an accuracy around 1 inch, or 0.1 feet (~3 cm) when designed and processed with good procedures and proper control. This is a common level of accuracy as this is roughly the best accuracy achievable with GPS alone. More advanced surveys involving laser scanners can achieve accuracy down to a millimeter or less, but those are less common and require very specialized equipment and procedures. Some surveys covering extremely large areas may only target accuracy of around 1 foot (~0.3 m).
What matters most is a transparent accuracy statement (e.g. RMSE) supported by independent checkpoints and a clear QA/QC report.
Is it legal for a surveyor to fly a drone over my property?
Yes. In the United States, airspace is regulated by the FAA, not individual property owners. FAA Part 107 and Part 108 allow commercial operations subject to safety rules (e.g., visual line of sight, altitude limits, operations over people, and airspace authorization where required).
That said, state and local laws govern privacy, trespass, and nuisance. Reputable survey firms coordinate with property owners, avoid collecting personally identifiable imagery, and follow best practices to be both legal and respectful.
How can I tell if a drone survey was done properly?
Look for:
Licensed professional clearly identified (land surveyor and/or professional engineer)
A formal QA/QC report with methods, checkpoints, and accuracy results
Clear coordinate reference (datum, projection) and vertical datum/geoid
Deliverables that match the scope (e.g., CAD linework, contours, LAS/LAZ point clouds, orthomosaics)
Transparent chain‑of‑custody and version control for files
Organizations such as ASPRS publish best practices for accuracy testing and reporting. Ask vendors how they comply.
What does Aerotas do?
Aerotas is the leading provider of data‑processing services for land surveyors and civil engineers across the United States. Since 2014, we’ve delivered:
Advanced GNSS processing (RTK/PPK/PPP)
Photogrammetry and lidar processing
Point‑cloud classification and 3D modeling
Linework drafting, contouring, breaklines, and CAD drafting
Project‑specific QA/QC packages and accuracy reporting
Our clients use Aerotas deliverables for a broad range of applications, including civil design, transportation, utilities and energy infrastructure, commercial development, and construction, and more.
Why should I work with Aerotas?
We help survey and engineering teams save time, reduce rework, and scale capacity. Aerotas combines deep domain expertise with repeatable workflows to deliver survey‑ready data, on schedule and to spec.
If you want consistent, accurate, and reliable results from your drone program, we’d love to talk.