The Advantages of Using Aerial Surveys for Land Development
Aerial surveys are an important tool for land development projects and are growing in popularity. They are primarily used when conducting topographical surveys in locations that are hard to reach by foot or require a birds eye view, meaning that they can provide a detailed overview of the land and help land surveyors clients to make informed decisions about the best use of the space.
These types of survey, whether by UAV ( drone ) or full sized survey aircraft, can now be used for projects large or small and that are required in a short amount of time. The aerial unmanned vehicles – UAVs – allow surveyors to carry out the following:
- Measured Building Surveys, Including Elevations and Roof Survey
- Inspection Work, Including Roofs
- Topographical Surveys
- 3D Revit Models and BIM (Building Information Modelling) projects
This article will discuss what aerial surveys are, how they are used in land surveys, as well as the advantages of using them for land development. What’s more, how our team at Merrett Survey uses them to produce data that is accurate, efficient and cost-effective.
The Definition of Aerial Surveys
Aerial surveys use drones or aircraft fitted with high-resolution cameras, LiDAR or infrared sensors to capture accurate measurements, imagery and 3D data of land, buildings and structures from above. They can take the form of photographic, video, infrared or LiDAR surveys, each suited to different site conditions and project needs.
For the full range of aerial survey methods we offer, see our aerial survey services.
The Benefits Of Aerial Surveys From Merrett Survey
At Merrett Survey, we provide a wide range of aerial mapping services, with our experienced surveyors conducting these surveys for multiple sectors, including coastal and marine monitoring, thermal mapping and tree mapping.
We continue to use aerial surveys for locations that are not only difficult to reach, but also dangerous areas that would not allow human access. Consequently, the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are used during these land surveys provide us with better health and safety practices, as the risk to our surveyors and the public are minimised.
There are many advantages to aerial surveys, as they supply multiple land survey characteristics within different locations to an exceptional standard. It can often be far more economic than land survey work on the ground. Here are five benefits of aerial surveys and how they can be used to their best advantage:
1. Accuracy
Lidar technology provides enhanced accuracy when measuring heights and other features present in the landscape, especially beneath foliage. Accuracy is important for small or large scale projects as the high point density reduces uncertainty around elevation changes which may affect construction designs.
The recent advancements in technology have also enabled UAVs to be able to capture high-quality content, with up to 5.2K resolution images and video. With an increase in pixels, a higher quality of images is created, which in turn increase the accuracy of the survey. Take a look at a recent blog we created on all you need to know about drone surveys in our news section.
2. Three Dimensional Models
UAV aerial surveys provide high resolution, three-dimensional models of the terrain, allowing stakeholders to accurately identify potential issues and plan accordingly. This can help reduce unnecessary costs, by providing detailed data that can inform decisions before they are made on the ground.
3. Wide Span of Range
Utilising UAVs, or drones, in combination with aerial photography and geospatial mapping techniques, such as topographical and lidar surveys, allows for more accurate assessments of land characteristics as they are able to access any desired location, including extremely tall buildings, mountains and estuaries.
4. Cost-Efficiency
The cost-effectiveness of using aerial surveys for land development is also noteworthy. For large projects that cover vast areas, surveying from the air is often much more cost-effective than surveying from the ground, as this means that surveyors save on time and travel costs, as they aren’t required to visit every location in person. Full size aircraft being deployed for the larger sites, although we recently surveyed a 25 square kilometre site in Greenland by drone.
5. Time-Efficiency
Lastly, aerial survey data can be collected quickly which makes it ideal for time-sensitive projects where reliable information must be gathered rapidly. They provide fast and efficient results, making it a great option altogether for land surveyors to choose.
Aerial Surveys For Land Development By Merrett Surveys
In summary, aerial surveys have proven to be a beneficial tool for land development and offer many advantages for land development projects over traditional methods due to their accuracy, 3D ability and wide range of movement. Through the use of aerial surveying, detailed information can be gathered without the need for time-consuming and expensive on-site surveys, ultimately leading to better informed decisions when planning large scale construction projects and improving the development process overall.
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Peter Merrett - Owner & CEO
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