Aerial survey services
We offer a range of photogrammetric and multispectral survey services to map landscapes to create high-resolution imagery, digital elevation models (DEMs) or landcover and vegetation maps. We can survey with a high degree of geospatial accuracy (cm-precision) with and without the use of ground control reference points by using RTK and PPK workflows alongside the use of dGPS systems. This accuracy allows us to measure changes over time via repeat survey. Smaller or more constrained areas can be surveyed using our DJI Phantom multi-rotor drone, and we can rapidly survey larger sites using our Wingtra fixed wing drone. Up to 100Ha can be surveyed in one flight at 1.5cm/pixel resolution using the Wingtra, and larger areas can be covered with multiple flights. Our drones are transportable and can be used in remote areas.
In addition to standard images, we can collect calibrated 5-band multispectral images (red, green, blue, red-edge and near-infrared) which allow the generation of a wide range of vegetation cover metrics (e.g., NDVI) and can be used to map vegetation cover.
We have a processing workflow which uses Pix4D to stitch together photographs to generate accurate orthomosaics, digital elevation models (DEMs) and 3D imagery. We can then generate a wide range of metrics from these datasets (e.g., NDVI and many others) using GIS and other statistical software. We can generate land-cover maps using machine learning approaches, for examples to differentiate between different land or vegetation cover types across a site.
Examples of recent applications:
- Mapped a restored saltmarsh
- Investigating montane woodland regeneration
- Mapping vegetation cover and construction of a DEM in a tundra environment
