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THE provider OF CHOICE for the house build sector
01922 214910
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How it Works

Drone surveys have become increasingly popular in a wide range of industries, including construction, agriculture and mining. The use of drones for surveying has revolutionised the house building industry, providing more accurate and detailed data in comparison to more traditional surveying methods. Here’s how it works, from start to finish, along with details on who the data benefits.

Portfolio Item How it Works

FROM PLANNING TO PERFECTION

Drone surveys have become increasingly popular in a wide range of industries, including construction, agriculture and mining. The use of drones for surveying has revolutionised the house building industry, providing more accurate and detailed data in comparison to more traditional surveying methods. Here’s how it works, from start to finish, along with details on who the data benefits.

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STAGE 1: PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING

Every survey flight begins with meticulous planning

PERMISSIONS TO FLY
Where required, we seek permission to fly from relevant organisations (for example, flights that will take place near airports, prisons or other restricted airspace)

QUALIFICATIONS
All of our Drone Operators undergo in-depth training and stringent safety checks in line with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requirements

RISK ASSESSED METHOD STATEMENTS (RAMS)
Each survey is fully risk assessed, with our operating procedures clearly outlined which are shared with relevant teams along with proof of permissions and insurances.

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STAGE 2: FLIGHT / DATA CAPTURE

Our operators will visit your site, signing in according to your procedures and having undertaken any required site-specific inductions

GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TOM
A small number of markers (ground control points) are laid across site, with their locations measured with highly accurate GNSS devices

DATA CAPTURE
During the survey, our advanced aerial systems capture a series of high-resolution 'birds-eye-view' images. These are then processed into a point cloud that contains 100+ million points of data which forms the basis of your 3D model / virtual topographic survey. This dataset is uploaded to our online portal and processed within 24 hours.

 

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STAGE 3: LAUNCHPAD - CLIENT PORTAL

Once the dataset is processed (within 24 hours), your highly accurate 3D model is ready to view and utilise.

Your client portal (Propeller) can be securely accessed by any of your team members without the need for any additional 3rd party software.  All stakeholders are granted access to the survey data, with a huge range of roles benefitting from the various outputs. A 'super-user' within your company will be identified, with ongoing training and support for all users as required.

POWERFUL TOOLS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
A whole range of engineering measurements can be carried out within a few clicks. As standard, we measure all stockpiles on site, which can be exported as a PDF report or CAD to fit into your workflow.  Your site design files can be integrated alongside our data allowing you to carry out as-built checks and measurements against the design.

We can support your engineering team in calculating cut and fill by converting your engineers’ drawings to a full 3D earthworks model including drainage and all arisings.  Cut and fill comparisons are easily made either against the current levels or the topographical survey taken down to the topsoil strip level. All calculations can be exported as reports, putting you in control of your site.

DRONE VIDEO
Alongside the survey, a progress video of your site is captured which is edited to match your corporate identity using your logo and text as required.  This can be shared with third parties and your marketing team.

WHO BENEFITS FROM THE DRONE SURVEY DATA AND HOW?

TECHNICAL TEAM

  • Produce accurate engineering measurements
  • Overlay designs, CAD surfaces and PDFs
  • Export volumetric reports as PDFs or Excel
  • Export CAD files of all measurements
  • Export 3D surfaces
  • Make as-built checks against design
  • Solve customer care queries
  • Compare previous to current surveys
  • Check as-built gradients
  • Check for efficient water runoff
  • Identify catchment zones using flow routes
  • Detailed formation surface against current levels
  • Checking levels against the finished floor level
  • Produce live snagging reports from the mobile app

COMMERCIAL TEAM

  • Calculate cut and fill
  • Monitor the progress of work
  • Quantify earth movements on site
  • Check invoices against completed works
  • Checking material quantities
  • PDF map exports
  • Checking fence lines against design
  • Measuring excavation volumes
  • Measurements of SUDS drainage features

SALES/MARKETING

  • Progress videos can be used in show homes
  • Use aerial photography in marketing material
  • Produce online 3D models of show homes

PLANNING

  • Validate the topographical survey
  • Make legal boundary checks
  • Overlay draft site layout designs
  • Produce consultation videos and images
  • Validating tree survey
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STAGE 4: EAT, SLEEP, DRONE, REPEAT

The real benefits of Drone Surveys arise from regular surveys of the entire build process - this enables you to compare datasets to monitor changes in stockpiles, cut and fill, movement of assets around site, monitor construction progress and of course, identify issues before they become a major problem leading to guaranteed cost-savings and efficiencies.

Depending on the scale of your build, for the best results, we recommend monthly surveys.

YOUR PARTNER IN PRECISION 

Call 01922 214910 
Email info@dronesurveying.co.uk 

WE CARRY OUT SURVEYS FOR HOUSE BUILDERS and contractors THROUGHOUT THE UK

David Storm
Bellway Homes
- Technical Director

I have worked with DRONE SURVEYING for some years now, from checking a boundary of new land to auditing earthworks. The use of drones on our sites is now standard; we monitor progress and calculate cut and fill via the online software as our sites progress.

Ian McIntyre
Miller Homes
- Build Engineer Manager

The use of regular mass data collection and the latest drone technology and practises will without doubt save us time and money on our sites. 

Iain Hamilton
Taylor Wimpey
- Technical Director

We use DRONE SURVEYING on all of our sites to support our cut and fill strategy, with regular surveys and their cutting-edge software, we are able to manage our sites much more effectively. 

Adam Bills
VISTRY
- Associate Development Director

Having now worked with DRONE SURVEYING engineering solutions for a number of years, their services have proven to be invaluable conducting our volumetric surveys, progress videos and cut and fill support.  The drone data platform has allowed us to get the best from the data with full support and training provided from the DS team

Luke Hopkins
Redrow
- Engineering Manager

The drone data helps us to make quicker and smarter key decisions to ensure we have budget and time control on our projects.  Having monthly surveys on our sites ensures we keep full control of all earth movements.

Greg Richards
Taylor Wimpey
- Senior Engineer

Using aerial imagery from drone surveys helps us anticipate errors or mistakes in the next stage of development instead of waiting for work to start on the ground.  This proactive approach has saved us hundreds of thousands of pounds; a reactive approach can be costly