Monthly aerial capture gives you a dated, measurable record of your site: earthwork quantities you can check against a pay application, a visual timeline the owner can actually read, and documentation that settles disputes before they turn into claims.
Every flight is RTK-corrected against an on-site GNSS base station, so the surfaces from January and the surfaces from June line up in the same coordinate system and can be compared directly.
Progress documentation
The same flight plan is flown on a fixed interval — typically monthly, sometimes biweekly during heavy earthwork. Because the parameters do not change between visits, each capture registers against the last one, and progress becomes something you can measure rather than something you argue about.
- Dated, georeferenced orthomosaic of the full site each cycle
- Side-by-side comparison against any previous capture
- Oblique imagery of structures and problem areas
- Owner-ready PDF exhibits for monthly reporting
Cut and fill verification
Surface-to-surface comparison against design grade or against the previous month’s surface gives you independent earthwork quantities. When a grading contractor’s claimed volumes and your own numbers disagree, an aerial surface is a fast, cheap way to find out which is right — usually the same week rather than the next billing cycle.
- Cut and fill volumes by area or by the full site
- Comparison against design surface where a model is provided
- Heat-mapped cut/fill exhibit showing where material moved
- Stockpile volumes for on-site borrow and spoil piles
Deliverable formats
Data arrives in the formats your engineer already works in — no conversion work on your end:
- GeoTIFF — orthomosaic and digital surface model
- LAS / LAZ — classified point cloud
- DXF — contours at your specified interval, ready for Civil 3D
- CSV — point data and volume tables
- PDF — plotted exhibits for meetings and reporting
Deliverables are provided in the state plane coordinate system and vertical datum your project is already using. All mapping and 3D model processing is done in house rather than farmed out, and finished deliverables are returned within 72 hours of the flight.
Pre-construction site documentation
Capture existing conditions before mobilization. An hour of flight time before anything moves gives you a complete record of the site as you found it — drainage, existing structures, neighboring property condition, access routes. It costs very little and it is the documentation you will wish you had if anyone later claims damage.
Where aerial mapping fits
Drone Logistic Services provides aerial data collection and photogrammetric products. We are not a licensed land surveying firm and do not provide boundary determinations, legal descriptions, certified survey maps, or sealed survey documents.
In practice, aerial mapping complements a survey crew rather than replacing one. Your surveyor sets and verifies control and handles anything requiring a seal; aerial capture covers the broad-area topographic and volumetric work faster and at lower cost than walking it. We deliver the data in the formats your surveyor and engineer already use, so it drops straight into their workflow. If your project needs a sealed survey product, that work has to be performed by a licensed Professional Land Surveyor you engage directly.
Frequently asked questions
Can drone mapping replace a ground survey crew?
No, and anyone telling you otherwise is overselling. Aerial mapping is excellent for open, visible ground — stockpiles, mass grading, broad topographic surfaces. It cannot see under tree canopy, cannot locate underground utilities, and cannot produce a sealed boundary survey. The realistic model is aerial capture for volume and surface work, with your surveyor handling control and anything requiring certification.
What file formats do you deliver for Civil 3D?
DXF contours at your specified interval, LAS or LAZ point clouds, and GeoTIFF surfaces — all in your project’s state plane coordinate system and vertical datum. Tell us the datum and contour interval up front and the data will import without any reprojection work.
How often should a site be flown for progress tracking?
Monthly suits most projects and lines up with pay application cycles. During active mass grading, biweekly gives you tighter control over earthwork quantities. Vertical construction after the slab is poured usually needs nothing more than monthly.
How soon do I get the data after a flight?
Within 72 hours. Mapping and 3D model generation are done in house rather than sent to a third-party processor, which means the turnaround is predictable and the data is not sitting in someone else’s queue.
How large a site can you cover in one day?
Coverage depends on the resolution the deliverable requires. High-detail mapping with dense ground control covers less ground per day than broad-area topographic capture. For large-acreage work at standard mapping resolution, coverage well into the high hundreds of acres per day is achievable. Send your site boundary and required accuracy and you will get a realistic answer, not an optimistic one.
Do you carry drone liability insurance?
Yes — $1,000,000 in liability coverage. Certificates of insurance are provided on request, and additional insured endorsements can be issued for your project before mobilization.
Can you fly in controlled airspace near an airport?
Yes. LAANC authorization is obtained before the flight for sites in controlled airspace, which covers much of the Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Appleton, and Chicago metro areas. Sites requiring further coordination take longer, so give as much lead time as you can.
Get a quote for your project
Send your site location, approximate acreage, required deliverable formats, and your capture interval. You will have a scope and price within 24 hours. Serving construction projects throughout Wisconsin — including Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, and Madison — and the greater Chicago area.
Drone Logistic Services 