You are not paying for a drone flight. You are paying for the information that comes out of it. Before you compare quotes, it helps to know what a good deliverable looks like for each type of job.
Inspections: the annotated report
For a roof, building or asset inspection, the main deliverable is a report that shows:
- Where each defect is, marked on an overview image or plan;
- What it looks like, with a close-up photo;
- How serious it is, with a priority so you know what to fix first;
- What to do next, such as “repair” or “investigate further”.
You should also receive the original image files, so you have a complete, dated record.
Surveys: maps, models and measurements
For mapping and survey work, the drone takes hundreds of overlapping, geotagged photos, which are processed into:
- An orthomosaic: a single, scaled aerial image of the whole site that you can measure from;
- A surface model or point cloud: the shape of the ground and buildings in 3D;
- Measurements: areas, lengths, heights and volumes.
Ask which file formats you will receive. Your design team may need GeoTIFF, DWG, LAS or OBJ files rather than PDFs.
Accuracy
Accuracy depends on the method. Standard GPS positioning is fine for visual records and context plans. Where survey-grade accuracy matters, the survey should be tied to measured ground control points. A good quote states the accuracy you will get.
Thermal surveys
Every thermal image should be paired with a normal photo of the same view, so you can see exactly where an anomaly is. The report should explain what each anomaly probably means, and when it needs checking on site.
Comparing quotes
When you compare quotes, check that each one lists:
- the deliverables and file formats;
- the stated accuracy;
- what happens if the weather stops the flight.
If it is not written down, you may not get it. Ask us for a quote and we will list all three.