Getting Started With Drone Mapping: A First-Timer's Guide

If you have never commissioned a drone mapping survey before, the process can seem opaque. What do you need to provide? What will you receive? How do you know if the data is good?

This guide walks you through the process from initial inquiry to receiving your first deliverables — and gives you the information you need to get the most from your first drone mapping project.

Before contacting a drone mapping provider, be clear about what you are trying to accomplish. The more specific you can be, the better.

Ask yourself:

• What decision will this data support?
• What information do I need to make that decision?
• What format does that information need to be in?

Examples of clear objectives:

• "I need to calculate earthwork volumes for a construction bid"
• "I need weekly progress photos and a DEM for my construction project"
• "I need a topographic survey for drainage design"
• "I need aerial photography for a real estate listing"

Vague objectives ("I want to see my site from the air") lead to vague deliverables that may not serve your actual needs.

Before contacting a provider, gather the basic information they will need to quote your project:

• Location — address or GPS coordinates
• Area — approximate acreage
• Timeline — when you need the survey conducted and when you need the deliverables
• Budget — a rough sense of what you can spend (optional but helpful)

Contact two or three providers and request quotes. Provide your project information and objective, and ask specifically:

• What deliverables do you recommend for my objective?
• What accuracy can you achieve?
• What is your turnaround time?
• What file formats will you provide?
• Are your operators FAA Part 107 certified?
• Do you carry commercial liability insurance?

Compare the quotes not just on price but on the completeness and specificity of the proposed deliverables.

Before the survey is conducted, review and approve the project scope in writing. This should include:

• The project area (ideally defined by a boundary file)
• The deliverables to be provided
• The accuracy to be achieved
• The coordinate reference system
• The file formats
• The turnaround time
• The price

Having the scope in writing protects both parties and ensures that expectations are aligned.

For most drone mapping projects, minimal site preparation is needed. However:

• Notify site personnel — let anyone working on the site know that a drone survey will be conducted
• Clear temporary obstructions — if possible, move vehicles or equipment that would obscure areas you need to map
• Provide access — ensure the drone operator can access the launch area

For projects requiring ground control points, the provider will coordinate the placement and survey of GCPs before the flight.

On the day of the survey, the drone operator will:

1. Set up at the launch area
2. Conduct a pre-flight safety check
3. Obtain any required airspace authorization (LAANC)
4. Fly the planned mission
5. Download and quality-check the imagery
6. Pack up and depart

The operator should be able to confirm on-site that the survey was completed successfully. If there are any issues — weather, airspace, equipment — they should communicate these to you immediately.

After the flight, the imagery is processed to produce the deliverables. Processing typically takes one to several business days for standard projects.

You will receive:

• The specified deliverables (orthomosaic, DEM, etc.)
• A processing report confirming accuracy
• Instructions for accessing and using the files

When you receive the deliverables:

1. Open the files — confirm that the files open correctly in your software
2. Check the coverage — confirm that the deliverables cover the entire project area
3. Review the processing report — check the accuracy statistics
4. Verify the coordinate system — confirm that the data is in the correct CRS

If anything is missing or incorrect, contact the provider immediately.

To get the most value from your drone mapping data:

• Use it promptly — drone data is most valuable when it is current; use it while it reflects current conditions
• Integrate it with other data — overlay drone data with design drawings, property boundaries, and other spatial data
• Share it with your team — make the data accessible to everyone who can benefit from it
• Plan for follow-up surveys — for projects that change over time, plan regular surveys to track changes

Commissioning your first drone mapping survey is straightforward when you know what to expect. Clear objectives, a well-defined scope, and a professional provider are the keys to a successful first project.

Contact Blackridge Geospatial — we are happy to guide you through the process and answer any questions about your first drone mapping project.