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A land surveyor flying a drone during a drone survey mission

Drone Surveys

We capture high-quality aerial images of your land. Our UAV surveys can be used for 2D and 3D land mapping, topographical surveys, and more.

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Drone surveys give greater clarity in less time at a lower cost.

Whether you're inspecting an existing asset or surveying land to build a new one, drones can give you accurate, actionable and cost-effective data in minimal time. Dangerous or hard-to-reach structures and terrain pose no problems at all. And, even on the busiest working sites, there is little or no downtime. Best of all, every aspect of your survey will be conducted by an experienced, qualified engineer who speaks your language.

What are you looking for?

An image of land being surveyed by a drone

1. Surveying land & terrain

Use a drone to measure, model, map or digitise spaces and objects in 3D or 2D.

A drone inspecting a high value asset like an electrical pylon

2. Inspecting an asset

Use a drone to assess the safety and performance of buildings, structures and other assets.

What is a drone survey, exactly?

A drone survey delivers similar (albeit more accurate) results to a traditional land or property survey. The main difference is that the process is conducted from above using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or 'drone'. Photographing and measuring the terrain from multiple angles, our drones take thousands of highly accurate measurements before tagging the resulting images with coordinates. Using this data, we use specialist software to produce high-resolution maps, geo-referenced orthomosaics or 3D models.

What can a drone survey do for me?

Digitally remove vegetation

Want to know the topography of your project area without trees and vegetation? We can do that for you using LiDAR.

Easily calculate volume

Want to know the volume of a stockpile, landfill or spoil tip? Our drones can calculate it quickly and accurately. No more guesswork, no more expensive under-estimates and miscalculations.

Map underground infrastructure

Using ground penetrating radar (GPR), we can detect and map subsurface infrastructures such as utilities and power lines. This data can be used to keep large-scale construction projects timely, safe and financially predictable.

Plan future urban development

Overlay drone images with drawings of planned buildings and infrastructure. Then use the resulting aerial map to show how existing urban spaces will be affected or enhanced by the proposed development.

Monitor crop & forestry health

Use multispectral imaging to detect tiny variations in plant health even before visible symptoms appear. Multispectral images can reveal small reductions in a plant's chlorophyll content well before the leaves start to turn yellow.

Produce your own private "Google Earth"

Imagine your own private "Google Earth" but with much better quality and in a much higher definition. That's what a drone can give you in the form of orthosmosaic imagery: ultra-detailed, ultra-accurate images of large project areas. Orthosmosaic images are geo-referenced like a map but have the real-world appearance of a hi-res photograph.

Monitor slopes & unstable surfaces

Use a drone to calculate and monitor the slope of unstable surfaces for the mitigation and prevention of slippages and landslides.

What are the benefits of a drone survey?

Reduce time in the field

Surveys conducted by drones are much faster than traditional, land-based methods and require less manpower.

No risk to your assets

Our equipment won't touch or even go close to your assets. Our high-resolution cameras use optical zoom to give extreme close-up views while staying a safe distance away.

Quick turnaround

We understand that you need answers fast. We can deliver a plain-English report with clear-cut conclusions in days. Then, you can take the steps you need to and get back to doing what you do best.

Safety

The safety of your personnel and our own is paramount, and we place it at the forefront of our company culture. Ask us about our HSSE systems and practices.

LIDAR image of a land survey showing the elevations

LIDAR Surveys

3D LIDAR

Digitise any landscape. Get an ultra-accurate 3D Map of even the most challenging and hard-to-reach terrain. Reveal the true contours of your landscape, stripping away vegetation and unearthing obscured features such as power lines. LiDAR gives you crystal-clear results, even in difficult lighting and weather conditions.

LIDAR Surveys
A drone with an RTK station heading of on a photogrammetry mission

Photogrammetry

Create a 3D model

Digitise any asset or landscape. With photogrammetry, turn just about anything into an ultra-detailed 3D model or 'twin'. A large, hard-to-reach or even hazardous object in the field becomes instantly accessible from any angle to everyone in the team.

Photogrammetry
A wind turbine in high resolution seen from above

4K Images & Video

Drone Photography

In addition to quadrupling the resolution of an HD camera, 4K also gives you quicker frame rates, incredible contrast variations, and expanded colours. VR video takes the level of immersion and clarity to the next level.

Images & Video

Who else is using drone surveys?

Drone surveys are changing the way the game is played in countless industries. Here are just a few of the industries, landscapes and assets where our UAV surveying has become most popular.

An image of a construction site taken by a drone performing drones services for construction.

Construction Services

Instant, actionable data with no downtime

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A photo of an agricultural field taken with a drone

Forestry and Agricultural

Faster, cheaper and more accurate analysis of land

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A drone performing a wind turbine inspection

Energy Inspections

Inspect and maintain energy assets without risk or downtime

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An old round martello tower building taken with a drone

Historical Buildings

Analyse historical buildings without risk to people or property

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A view of the landscape taken by a drone on a survey

Landscape Inspections

Endless perspectives, without manned aircrafts or structures

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A photo of a quarry taken with a drone

Mines, Quarry and Landfill

Monitor status and progress without downtime

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A house next to a river taken by a drone performing drone real estate services

Real Estate Drone Services

Add "Wow Factor" to residential and commercial property listings

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A photo of a river taken with a drone during an inspection

Rivers and Waterways

Safer, more precise data collection at a fraction of the cost

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Solar panels being inspected by a drone

Solar Farms

Get actionable data on quality and operational health

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How does it work?

Reach out and tell us your idea

We take emails, phone calls, messages, everything! If you are unsure of what's possible we are happy to advise, the most important thing is to get in touch. We would be delighted to answer any questions you may have.

Start at the end

With drones, it's best to begin where you want to end up. What sort of deliverable would you like when it's all finished? If you are not sure then we can advise. We can look at what you would like and work backwards from there.

Scope of work and set a price

Once we have agreed on what is to be done, the scope of work is set and a price is agreed upon. We feel it is vital that everyone knows what they are getting and what they are paying for it. There should be no confusion.

Permits and other paperwork

Once we have confirmation you are happy to proceed, we start the ball rolling. We organise things like RAMS, site permits, Air Traffic Control clearance and much more. Basically, we generate everything needed to turn up on-site with all our ducks in a row.

Field Operations

Next, we do the work on site. We have the gear, we have the know-how, so now it's time to get the job done. This can sometimes be affected by the weather, but for the most part, we get the job done on the date specified.

Post Processing

This is where we take what we generated in the field and turn it into a final deliverable for you. This can be anything from the raw data itself, to fully processed Orthophotos, condition reports, CAD line work or thermal imagery.

Handover

The final step is the handover of the deliverables. We tend to use a cloud-based service, so you can access your data anywhere. We can also tie into your existing systems if that is more convenient.

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Our Services Not just photos from the sky

Spoiler alert: we're not drone pilots. We're professional engineers who have learned to fly drones really well. If you're looking for a photo of your garden or a swooshing shot of your wedding reception, we're probably not the right people for you. But if you need an engineer's eyes and brain, combined with next-generation UAV technology and ready-to-roll deliverables, then you've come to the right place.

3D LIDAR Surveys

Record incredibly detailed elevation data to aid in ultra-precise measurements and calculations.

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Drone Photography

Capture images and video footage of your terrain in 4K resolution from any angle.

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Photogrammetry

Capture a high-resolution, photorealistic 3D model of your terrain, accurate to the finest details.

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Volume Calculations

Take accurate stockpile measurements faster and with little to no downtime, at a fraction of the cost.

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Cut and Fill

Receive instant and actionable cut-and-fill data, without downtime or the risk of human error.

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What technology do we use for drone surveys?

We purchase the latest drones as they come on the market to ensure you are getting the highest quality service from us at all times. Here is a quick look at what we would be most likely to use for typical drone surveys.

Our equipment
DJI MatriceM300 RTK M300 RTK by DJI

Our flagship drone: The M300 RTK by DJI is the premier enterprise-level inspection drone on the market. With a flight time of up to 55 minutes, lots of built-in redundancy, and a host of payloads to choose from, this is our go-to UAV for inspection work. When coupled with the Zenmuse H20T camera, it is capable of safely inspecting high-value assets at a stand-off range.

  • Drone
  • Camera
  • Thermal Imaging
  • Ultra HD
  • Long range
More info
Our equipment
DJIPhantom 4 Pro Phantom 4 Pro by DJI

The workhorse of the drone industry. Widely considered to be one of the best drones ever made, the P4P comes alive when coupled with a 20mp camera. If high-quality photos and videos are what you need, this is the drone for you.

  • Drone
  • Camera
  • 4K Video
  • High-resolution
More info
Our equipment
DJIZenmuse P1 Zenmuse P1 by DJI

Combined with our flagship drone platform DJI M300 RTK, the DJI Zenmuse P1 camera enables photogrammetry and 3D modelling of the highest standard. There are also interchangeable fixed-focus lenses, on a 3-axis stabilized gimbal, that provide robust versatility to help create stunning 2D, 3D detailed models.

  • Camera
  • Mechanical Shutter
  • 4K video
  • Stabilisation gimbal
  • High-resolution
More info
Our equipment
DJIZenmuse L1 Zenmuse L1 by DJI

LiDAR for everyone. The DJI Zenmuse L1 LiDAR payload features an integrated Livox LiDAR module and a 20mp camera. This combination makes for an excellent all-round package. Covering up to 2km² in a single flight, the L1 carries a highly efficient payload.

  • Survey mapping
  • Camera
  • 3D models
  • High-resolution
More info
Our equipment
DJID-RTK 2 Base 2 D-RTK 2 Base 2 by DJI

The DJI D-RTK 2 mobile base station helps make accuracy easy. This GNSS receiver supports GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, and GALILEO signals, allowing for centimetre-level positioning. The integrated IMUs monitor movements and calibrate tilt sensors to minimize risks.

  • Tri-pod
  • Mobile station
  • Centimeter-accurate position
  • survey
More info

Are you IAA Certified?

Engineers With Drones is the first company in Ireland to hold the new EASA Specific Category authorisation. We are authorised by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for commercial Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations in both urban and rural environments. Total transparency: our Specific Category Authorisation Number is IRL.UAS.AUTH1002.

What about insurance?

All of our operations are insured in the EU and globally. We hold €6.5m public and product liability, €13m employer's liability and €1.3m professional indemnity (base level, coverage raised as required).

Why use engineers?

We are more than just drone pilots. If you're looking for overhead footage of your wedding reception, we're probably not right for you. Our backgrounds and our primary qualifications are in engineering, and it's here that we think we add the most value. We know what we're looking for, and we know how to find it. If you have a technical engineering problem that a drone can solve, we can understand you. Tell us what you need to see or find out, and our engineers will use their drone piloting skills to make it happen.

Are you based in Ireland?

Yes. We're a local Irish company, and that's how we can respond so quickly to the needs of our Irish clients. We can be with you in next to no time, with the right equipment and certifications to operate them, whatever your location.