How to Start a Drone Surveying Business: The Ultimate Guide

Summary

In this video, Michelle shares her journey from engineering to drone surveying and offers a comprehensive guide for those looking to start a drone surveying business. She covers essential topics like choosing the right drone, obtaining necessary licenses, and acquiring insurance. Michelle highlights the importance of using the right software, like DroneDeploy, and provides practical tips on pricing and client management. She emphasizes the value of accuracy and preparation, sharing her top recommendations to ensure a successful drone surveying business.

Takeaways

• 🚁 You need a drone to start drone surveying, with DJI Phantom 4 RTK being highly recommended for its accuracy and reliability.
• 🎯 Choosing an RTK drone provides superior accuracy for surveys, and it's ideal for professionals who prioritize precision.
• 💸 Entry-level drone surveying equipment can cost between £5,000 and £7,000, including essential accessories like batteries and licenses.
• 🛰️ You'll need a GPS license to operate the drone, and flexible options are available, allowing you to pay for licenses based on project duration.
• 📜 Accreditation is essential for commercial drone operations, and courses like ACC C of C or GVC are necessary in the UK.
• 🔐 Insurance is crucial for drone surveying, covering both the drone itself and public liability in case of accidents.
• 💻 Reliable software is needed for processing survey data. DroneDeploy is recommended for its cloud-based processing, though alternatives like Pix4D also exist.
• 📦 Having additional accessories such as extra batteries, cables, memory cards, and ground control points is vital to avoid disruptions during flights.
• 🛠️ For producing detailed drawings from survey data, exporting into software like LSS or AutoCAD is recommended.
• 💡 Top tips for drone surveying success include promoting your services on LinkedIn, ensuring proper pricing, and being clear on deliverables with clients.

Q & A

What motivated Michelle to switch from engineering to drone surveying?

Michelle transitioned from engineering to drone surveying around 3-4 years ago and hasn't looked back since, indicating that she found greater satisfaction and success in drone surveying compared to her previous career.

What is Michelle's preferred drone for surveying, and why?

Michelle prefers the DJI Phantom 4 RTK for surveying because it has been reliable, offers excellent accuracy, and has built-in GPS. She values accuracy as a former surveyor, making the RTK feature crucial for her work.

What is the difference between RTK and standard drones in terms of accuracy?

RTK drones, like the DJI Phantom 4 RTK, use GPS for higher accuracy, while standard drones rely on photogrammetry and ground control points (GCPs). RTK drones provide superior accuracy in surveying due to their GPS connectivity.

What are the key considerations when purchasing a drone for surveying?

Key considerations include whether the drone has RTK capabilities, payload capacity, necessary licenses, and accreditation for commercial flying. Michelle advises thorough research before investing in a drone, especially considering the payload's impact on licensing requirements.

What additional costs should be considered when starting a drone surveying business?

Beyond the cost of the drone, other expenses include GPS licenses, accreditation courses, insurance, software for processing survey data, and potentially a more powerful computer if processing is done locally.

What kind of accreditation is required to fly a drone for surveying purposes in the UK?

In the UK, mid-entry drones require an A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 C of C) and potentially the General VLOS Certificate (GVC) depending on the flight location and commercial use. Michelle emphasizes checking local aviation laws for other countries.

Why is insurance important for drone surveying, and what type of insurance does Michelle recommend?

Insurance is crucial because accidents can happen, such as a drone crashing. Michelle recommends insurance that covers both public liability and drone equipment. She uses Cover Drone, which offers flexible insurance options based on flying needs.

What software does Michelle recommend for drone surveying, and why?

Michelle recommends DroneDeploy for both planning flight paths and processing survey data. She finds it more user-friendly and efficient than other software she has tested, like SightScan and Pix4D.

What are some essential accessories for drone surveying that beginners often overlook?

Beginners often overlook spare batteries, extra cables, a takeoff pad, and cones for securing the area. Michelle also advises having extra SIM cards and cables to avoid interruptions during flights.

What advice does Michelle give for pricing drone surveying services?

Michelle stresses the importance of setting the right price to avoid underpricing, considering the investment in equipment, software, insurance, and ongoing costs like cloud hosting. She advises being clear with clients about deliverables and factoring in all costs when pricing.

Outlines

00:00

🎥 Introduction to Drone Surveying and the DJI Phantom 4 RTK

Michelle introduces herself and discusses her transition from being an engineer for 17 years to becoming a drone surveyor. She talks about the importance of drones in her business and recommends the DJI Phantom 4 RTK as her go-to drone for surveying. She highlights the importance of selecting the right drone for surveying, especially considering GPS-enabled drones (RTK) versus standalone drones using photogrammetry. Michelle explains that accuracy is crucial in surveying and recommends RTK drones for their superior precision. She concludes by emphasizing the decision-making process involved in choosing the right drone.

05:01

🚁 Choosing the Right Drone and GPS License

Michelle discusses the cost and features of entry-level drones for aspiring drone surveyors. She notes that a good starter drone can cost between £5,000 and £7,000. Additionally, she mentions the need for a GPS license, particularly for RTK drones. Michelle points out that there are various companies offering flexible GPS licenses based on usage needs, and she specifically recommends PQS Tech for purchasing these licenses. The segment also covers the need to stay updated on government regulations for commercial drone flying, which vary depending on the drone’s payload and region.

10:03

📜 Getting Accredited and Insured for Drone Surveying

In this section, Michelle explains the importance of accreditation for drone flying. She recommends taking an in-house course that covers training and testing, enabling surveyors to obtain certifications like the ACC C of C or GVC for flying drones commercially in the UK. Additionally, she stresses the importance of insurance, highlighting that even experienced drone operators like herself have had accidents. She advises getting public liability insurance and suggests Coverdrone, a flexible insurance provider for drone operators, to protect both the drone and additional equipment like GPS units.

💻 Drone Surveying Software and Tools

Michelle shares her experience with various software programs for drone surveying, including her preference for DroneDeploy due to its ease of use and cloud-based processing. She mentions alternatives like Sight Scan and Pix4D but finds them less efficient. She advises investing in the right computer specifications if using software that processes data locally. Michelle also provides practical advice for purchasing additional accessories like extra batteries, takeoff pads, cones, spare cables, and high-memory SD cards, which are essential for smooth fieldwork and data collection.

📐 Integrating Survey Data into CAD and LSS

Michelle discusses the importance of using post-processing software to transform drone data into deliverable formats for clients. She recommends using LSS and AutoCAD to produce detailed drawings from point clouds and photogrammetry. She explains that while drone surveying software helps with data capture and processing, specialized tools like LSS allow for a higher level of detail needed for accurate surveys. Michelle emphasizes the cost of the necessary software and hardware, reminding surveyors that drone surveying requires significant investment to ensure high-quality results.

📢 Tips for Growing a Drone Surveying Business

Michelle concludes with her top tips for starting and growing a drone surveying business. She advises using LinkedIn to showcase your work and educate potential clients on the advantages of drone surveying over traditional methods. She emphasizes the importance of getting all necessary information from clients, particularly regarding flight restrictions. Pricing is a key focus, and Michelle stresses that surveyors should avoid underpricing their services given the high cost of equipment and software. She also advises being clear about deliverables, including giving clients access to the software for further analysis if necessary.

Keywords

💡Drone Surveying

Drone surveying refers to the use of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), equipped with cameras and sensors to capture aerial data for mapping, inspection, and measurement purposes. In the video, Michelle discusses how she transitioned to drone surveying from traditional engineering and explains the essential tools, training, and software needed to begin a career in this field.

💡RTK (Real-Time Kinematic)

RTK is a GPS-based technology that enhances the precision of position data by using real-time corrections from a base station. In the video, Michelle emphasizes the importance of using an RTK drone, such as the DJI Phantom 4 RTK, for accurate surveying, highlighting that it offers superior accuracy compared to drones without RTK when mapping and collecting data.

💡DJI Phantom 4 RTK

The DJI Phantom 4 RTK is a model of drone that is equipped with RTK technology for high-precision GPS mapping. Michelle discusses her personal experience with this drone, explaining how it has been reliable for her drone surveying work. She recommends it due to its accuracy, especially when paired with ground control points (GCPs) for professional surveying.

💡Ground Control Points (GCPs)

GCPs are pre-surveyed reference points on the ground that help increase the accuracy of aerial data collected by drones. In the video, Michelle talks about the need to use GCPs even when flying an RTK drone, as they help ensure the drone’s data is tied accurately to real-world coordinates.

💡Drone Software

Drone software refers to programs used for planning flight paths, controlling drones, and processing aerial data collected during flights. Michelle highlights several options, such as DroneDeploy and Pix4D, explaining that while DroneDeploy is her preferred choice for ease of use and cloud-based processing, other software might work better for different users.

💡Licensing and Accreditation

Licensing and accreditation involve obtaining the necessary certifications and permits to legally operate drones for commercial purposes. Michelle explains the need for certifications like the A2 CofC or GVC in the UK, depending on the drone’s payload and where it is flown. She recommends in-person training programs that offer both practical experience and certification.

💡Insurance

Insurance for drone operations protects against accidents, damage to equipment, and public liability. Michelle stresses the importance of having proper insurance, even when flying on private sites, to cover potential incidents, recommending services like Coverdrone for flexible coverage options tailored to drone operators.

💡GPS License

A GPS license is required to use RTK or other GPS-based positioning systems in drone surveying. Michelle discusses how surveyors need to purchase licenses from providers like PQS Tech to access GPS services for precise positioning during drone operations, and notes that flexible licensing options are available based on usage needs.

💡Photogrammetry

Photogrammetry is the process of using photographs to measure and map surfaces. In the context of drone surveying, Michelle explains how photogrammetry, along with RTK and GCPs, is used to create highly accurate maps and models of surveyed areas. She discusses the importance of selecting the right drone and software for processing photogrammetric data.

💡Volumetric Surveys

Volumetric surveys measure the volume of physical spaces or objects, often for construction, mining, or earthworks. Michelle refers to using drone software like DroneDeploy to perform volumetric surveys, where the data collected from drone flights can be processed to calculate the volume of material on a site, such as stockpiles.

Highlights

Introduction to drone surveying, transitioning from traditional engineering to drone surveying.

The importance of selecting the right drone for surveying: recommendation of the DJI Phantom 4 RTK.

Key decision for surveyors: choosing between RTK drones for superior accuracy versus traditional drones with ground control points (GCPs).

Explanation of RTK technology and why it’s crucial for precision in drone surveying.

Cost breakdown: starting with a basic setup for drone surveying, including an RTK drone, ranging between £5,000 to £7,000.

Licenses: Surveyors need a GPS license and can choose flexible licensing plans (daily, weekly, monthly).

Accreditations: Discussing the importance of obtaining the correct drone flying certifications, including ACC and GVC for UK-based surveyors.

Emphasis on having insurance coverage for the drone, equipment, and public liability, with recommendations for providers like Coverdrone.

Software recommendations for planning and processing drone survey data. DroneDeploy is praised for its cloud processing capabilities.

Hardware considerations: Advising surveyors to invest in a computer capable of processing survey data or relying on cloud-based solutions.

Recommendations for additional equipment: spare batteries, cables, memory cards, and takeoff pads are essential for a smooth operation.

Mention of other software like Pix4D and LSS for deeper survey analysis and exporting data for AutoCAD.

Key business advice: promoting drone surveying services on LinkedIn and maintaining clear communication with clients on no-fly zones.

Pricing strategy: Highlighting the importance of setting a proper pricing structure for drone surveying services.

Deliverables: Importance of being clear with clients about the final survey outputs and offering access to software for viewing data.

Transcripts

welcome back to the channel folks my

name is Michelle this is a drone and I'm

going to talk to you about how you can

become a drone surveyor so I haven't

been an engineer for the last 17 years I

made the transition around about 3 or 4

years ago to move into drone surveilling

and quite honestly I haven't looked back

but in this video today I want to share

with you everything that you're going to

need to be able to start up as a drone

surveyor we're going to talk about

drones software licenses training you

name it everything you need to get your

business started I highly recommend you

stick around to the end of the video

where I share my top tips on how I made

the transition into drone surveying and

how I grew my business but for now let's

get started number one you're going to

need a drone now there are a ton of

drones out there on the market right now

my weapon of choice is this DJI Phantom

4 rtk I've been flying the phantom rtk

for just over four years now and it has

never failed me I think it's an

excellent piece of Kit I had already

been introduced to DJI equipment before

and was highly impressed with their

drones there are other drone

manufacturers out there however I can't

give you an opinion on them because I've

only ever used DJI products and like I

say they have never failed me before

however one of the key decisions for you

is going to be which drone you purchase

this took me a lot of research and a lot

of worrying before I actually spent my

hard-earned cash however drone

technology has moved on and you can now

pick up a newer model of this drone as

well as a new rtk drone in the mavic

range which is cheaper more Compact and

well it looks the bum to be fair the key

decision I had to make when choosing a

drone was whether to go with rtk which

obviously has GPS right here in the top

of the head unit or whether to do a

standalone drone with photogrametry and

then just tie everything in with gcps

now I was a little bit confused with how

accurate just purely gcps were and

decided to be honest with you to go the

rtk route from a surveying background

accuracy for me is Paramount and I just

don't think you can go wrong with the

rtk you do have to put gcps ground

control points out still with the rtk

but it is going to be connected to the

satellites and it is going to be G

giving you a GPS signal so that your

drone knows where it is and I've just

found that surveying and the surveying

outputs with an rtk drone are far

superior to anything that just a normal

drone can do plus if you're starting out

as a business and you are already a

surveyor it's worth the investment and

to be honest with you I wouldn't even

consider a drone without rtk just based

on the market right now and I am not

sponsor by DJI here's a list of kind of

the top three drones I'd be looking at

you do also need to consider when

purchasing a drone the payload so

depending on the payload will depend on

what type of license and what type of

accreditation that you will need to fly

this one here is quite a low payload

it's not the big bird therefore you

haven't got to do the GVC course now

we'll come on to courses in due course

but the government is changing the rules

all the time so it's quite hard to keep

up to date with exactly what you need to

be able to commercially fly a drone for

surveying purposes now that you've got

your drone you're probably looking at

like an entry level drone to get

yourself started you're going to be

looking to spend between £5 and

£7,000 and that's going to include your

box your batteries and everything that

you need to get up and running but the

costs won't stop there so you have an

rtk drone the next thing that you're

going to need is connection so you're

going to need a GPS license now you may

already have one I actually did because

I was already using a GPS for normal

traditional surveillance so you can

actually use both for the Drone and your

kit but if you don't fear not there are

many companies out there offering

licenses for a day a week a month 6

months and this is really good because

as a drone surveyor you're not always

going to be out with the Drone therefore

you may just want to pay for a license

as in when you need it for a job I can

recommend pqs tech for all your rtk

requirements if you head on over to

their website you can see all the

licenses that are available and pick and

choose exactly what you're going to need

to get started they are the sponsors of

this video okay you have your drone you

have your rtk license the next thing

that you're going to need is

accreditation now for these mid entry

drones you're going to be looking at the

AC C of C course and potentially the GVC

depending on where it is you're going to

need to fly commercially this is

obviously just for the UK If You're

based anywhere else in the world please

do check your Aviation laws and ensure

you have the right accreditation for

where it is that you need to fly there

are some amazing companies up and down

the UK who are offering these

accreditation in house what that means

is you go to them and you learn to fly

your drone properly and then at the end

of the training you will take the test

and hopefully walk away with the

accreditation that you need I can highly

recommend this because if you just sign

up to do the course online it means

you've got to spend the time flying and

find somewhere local that you're allowed

to fly to get your practice in and

you're going to need 2 hours and then it

comes down to actually booking the test

and going through with it I just find

that if you set time aside to do a

course and then the accreditation at the

end that's done ticked off the list and

then you're good to go flying plus you

get to answer a bunch of questions to

the training providers and get any kind

of extra help that you need so you've

now got your drone you're accredited and

you've got your GPS license you are

almost ready to go this is the one thing

that most people forget about but I

think it is so Paramount and that is you

need insurance yes this is one thing

that most people forget about but

insurance for flying a drone is really

important even if you're flying on a

site and not over the general public you

still need insurance that drone could

come down yes I have had that happen to

me your insurance not only wants to

protect your drone and your equipment

but it also wants to protect the public

yes accidents can happen and I think if

you're going to commercially do this as

a proper surveying business then you do

need insurance that protects you against

public liability I use cover drone for

my insurance I think they're perfect

they have a really flexible system in

that you can just ensure your drone for

a day flying you can ensure it for 5

days a week like the rtk license it's

super flexible and I would highly

recommend them they've been really

helpful to me you can also ensure extra

kit through cover drone so if you have a

GPS unit that you're taking out to do

ground control points they are going to

be your guys because you can cover that

under that insurance too okay now you

can get out and fly your drone and get

some business however when you get back

to the office and you've got all your

wonderful photographs from your job the

last thing that is pretty crucial is

software so I have been through my fair

share of softwares for processing the

Drone information and also using the

software to automatically plan my routes

and fly my drone originally I started

off just using the DJI app and whilst

it's good and it does everything you

kind of need I found it really clunky

and just wasn't overall impressed with

it since then I have been using drone

deploy and drone deploy is amazing not

only do you use a software to actually

plan out and do your flight but it's

also an incredible software to process

all your data once you've done your

flights other softwares that I've tested

out have been sight scaned by EZ and pix

4D it's worth exploring however I wasn't

overly impressed with either of these

softwares for various different reasons

but feel free to check them out because

they may well work for you now you've

chosen your software you need to think

about your computer spec you don't need

a super powerful computer but it depends

on the type of software that you're

going to go for that's another thing

that I love about drone deploy is that

everything is processed in the cloud so

you basically import all your photos it

gets Pro processed in the cloud and then

you can produce Point clouds volumetric

surveys dtms it really is something well

worth looking into but if you're going

to process on pix 4D and you're going to

have that on your own computer you will

need to make sure that you have a

computer that is capable of processing

because the last thing you want to do is

come back from a job and then have to

sit and wait and wait and quite frankly

be unproductive whilst your survey has

been processing just to add into the mix

some of the things that I missed when I

started flying my drone which I wish I'd

knew about and that is don't forget

extra batteries don't forget your

accessories so things like a takeoff pad

cones cones are really super useful you

need to be coning off the area in which

you're taking off and Landing you will

need to be having a phone with you

because the Pham will need to connect

Wi-Fi remotely to your drone to get it

up off the ground connected to the apps

spare cables yes if you're cable breaks

then you are screwed so please ensure

you have spare cables for everything so

for example my drone has a controller

that is connected to an iPad via an

iPhone cable I cannot tell you how many

times my iPhone cable has just stopped

working and it's so important that you

have these in your kit bag to ensure

that you are not caught short basically

and that you can't carry on with the job

SIM cards I would highly recommend a

scan dis 74 or

12425 these memory cards are going to

slip right into the side of your drone

and obviously the higher memory the

better it is because the more jobs that

you can get in there without having

having to panic you can take thousands

of photographs and not really worry

about running out of space mid drone

flight if you're not a surveyor and you

don't have a GPS unit then I would

highly recommend adding this to your kit

bag because like I said if you want

accurate surveys you cannot just go and

fly an rtk drone without gcps that is a

massive downfall to not only your

workflow but like I say the accuracy of

your surveys so if you have a GPS kit

perfect if you don't you can purchase

many different types of G GPS kits that

range from £3,000 right the way up to

£20,000 or you can purchase with your

drone through GGI or separately a base

station and you set that base station up

and it would massively increase the

accuracy for you once youve processed

everything whether that be in pix 4D or

drone deploy or sight scan as a surveyor

I think it's really important that you

are able to provide a high level of

detail for all your surveys and none of

these softwares allow you to go as deep

as you need to as a surveyor into

producing drawings so you are going to

want to export information from the

software and put it into something like

LSS or AutoCAD now LSS is a software

that I have used for years it's

fantastic with po clouds and it enables

you perfectly to extrapolate information

from photogrametry and point Cloud into

a survey which then you can pop into Cad

and I basically only use CAD to kind of

tighten up the drawing ring and put it

into a model space and then onto a

template for my client but again the

software need to be considered because

they come at a cost everyone thinks it's

super easy to get into drone surveying

and actually it's quite costly but there

you go I've given you all the options

and pretty much hopefully everything

that you need to get yourself up and

running if you have any further

questions please go ahead and write them

in the description below I'll do my best

to answer them and finally here are my

top tips for you to progress with your

drone surveying and also get started as

a drone surveyor in business number one

when you get started with your drone

surve in go on LinkedIn and tell

everyone about it show people what

you're doing show flights show clients

show workflows it's going to be super

helpful for people to understand exactly

what it is that you're providing and the

benefit of drone surveying over

traditional surveying number two make

sure you have all the information from a

client when they want a flight so for

example there are certain areas that you

are not allowed to fly in the UK and you

just want to make sure that every client

that comes to you you have got all the

information that you need to Lo at the

area that needs the flight and then

ensure that you're not in a no flying

area number three pricing make sure you

have a price structure so many drone

surveyors out there underprice drone

surveying and then realize actually what

goes into the work of getting the final

survey and end up out of pocket so make

sure you get your pricing right you've

invested a huge amount of money in the

kit the software the insurances make

sure your pricing is good deliverables

be really clear to the client on what

deliverables you're going to be giving

them you may want to give them access to

your software so that they can go on and

do volume measurements that they can see

their flights that's really important

that you offer that but it's also

important that you price it correctly

because you're going to be paying a

month-on-month feee to host their job

and their surveys so just make sure you

include that in your pricing structure

so there you go you have it my top tips

and hopefully this video has been super

helpful for you to get started and begin

in drone surveying please go ahead hit

the Subscribe and like button and I'll

be back with hopefully some more helpful

videos real soon