About Droneacres
A specialist drone surveying business for construction, earthworks and building projects.
Droneacres Ltd is based in Northumberland, working across North East England and the UK. We turn drone imagery into measured maps, volumes, terrain models and 3D records that project teams can use, not just aerial photographs.
Why Work With Droneacres?
We provide drone mapping and measurement services for housebuilders, civil engineering contractors, site engineers, quantity surveyors, developers and property owners.
Direct contact
You deal with the person who plans the survey, flies the site and processes the data, from the first enquiry to delivery.
Consistent method
Repeat surveys use the same flight plan, control and processing methods, to support reliable comparisons from one visit to the next.
Flexible scheduling
Surveys are planned around your programme and site activity, from a single visit to regular monitoring.
Plain answers
If a drone survey is not the right fit for what you need, or the data has limits on your site, we will tell you.
How Survey Data Is Controlled and Checked
- RTK positioningThe mapping aircraft records precise camera positions using RTK corrections, tying the survey to real-world coordinates from the start.
- GNSS ground controlGround control points measured with an Emlid Reach RS3 GNSS receiver fix the survey to your coordinate system and height datum.
- Independent checkpointsExtra ground points kept out of processing are compared with the finished data, so you can see how closely it matches the ground.
Accuracy depends on site conditions, the survey method, ground control and verification, so it is checked on each project rather than promised in advance. Where measurements matter, checkpoint results are reported with the outputs, so you can judge whether the data suits its purpose.
Data can be delivered on British National Grid, a local site grid or whichever coordinate system your project uses. Orthomosaic resolution is typically 1 to 5 cm per pixel, depending on the site and what the map is for.
Limits we state plainly
- Photogrammetry measures what the camera can see
- Ground hidden by dense vegetation or structures cannot be measured from the air
- Results depend on weather, light and site conditions on the day
- Model measurements are preliminary unless the capture is controlled and checked
Equipment and Software
Equipment is chosen for what the data needs to show. These are the tools behind the surveys described on this site.
- Mapping and 3D captureSurvey aircraftA DJI Matrice 350 RTK with a full-frame Zenmuse P1 camera, for detailed, RTK-positioned mapping and modelling.
- Inspection and thermalInspection payloadA DJI Zenmuse H20T zoom and radiometric thermal camera, for close inspection from a safe distance and thermal surveys.
- Compact captureSecond aircraftA DJI Matrice 4E, for mapping and modelling where a smaller aircraft suits the site.
- Ground controlSurvey controlAn Emlid Reach RS3 GNSS receiver and ground control targets, for control points and independent checkpoints.
- Processing and sharingProcessingImagery is processed into orthomosaics, point clouds and 3D models, and detailed models can be shared through an online viewer that works in a web browser.
- CAD drawingsBy arrangementFully drafted CAD survey drawings are available by arrangement through a trusted specialist surveying contact.
Authorised, Qualified and Insured
- CAA Operational Authorisation (PDRA01)
- General VLOS Certificate (GVC)
- A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC)
- CSCS card for construction site access
- £5 million public liability insurance
- RAMS and an airspace assessment for every visit
- Droneacres Ltd, registered in England and Wales, Company No. 17341971. VAT registered.
Every flight is planned within the rules for the airspace and the site, with permissions arranged where they are needed. The Operational Authorisation allows a wider range of commercial operations, and each visit is still assessed and planned individually.
Who Our Services Are For
Housebuilders and construction
Progress records, stockpile volumes, cut and fill and CAD overlays.
Civil engineering and earthworks
Levels, surfaces and measured volumes for design and valuations.
Quantity surveyors and site engineers
Dated, measured data to support valuations and setting-out checks.
Developers and architects
Mapping, terrain data and 3D context models for planning and design.
Building owners and heritage bodies
Roof inspections and detailed records of historic buildings.