Drone Industrial Survey Services

What Is a Drone Industrial Survey?

A drone industrial survey uses UAV technology to capture comprehensive aerial data of industrial facilities, manufacturing plants, warehouses, and production sites. Our drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors can map entire facilities, inspect rooftops and infrastructure, and create detailed records of your industrial assets.

At Drone Survey Services, we specialise in surveys of active industrial sites across the UK. Our approach minimises operational disruption while delivering the accurate spatial data you need for facility management, maintenance planning, insurance documentation, and regulatory compliance.

James Leslie

Owner, Engineer & Drone Pilot

"Got questions? Call me directly - I'm happy to talk through your project."

Call Now

Industrial Survey Data,Minimal Downtime

What You'll Receive

• High-resolution site orthomosaic
• Detailed asset mapping
• Building & roof surveys
• CAD-ready drawings & 3D models

Delivered in 5-7 working days

Why Choose Us

• CAA approved & fully insured
• Active site experience
• Latest DJI enterprise drones
• UK-wide coverage

Trusted by facility managers, engineers & industrial operators across the UK.

Available now — typically respond within 10 mins

020 4634 0456Get Expert Advice

Trusted by leading organisations

How Much Does a Drone Industrial Survey Cost?

Pricing depends on your facility size and requirements. Here's a guide to help you budget:

*Guide prices include standard deliverables. Final quote based on site complexity, access, and specific requirements.

What affects your quote?

• Site size & complexity
• Required deliverables
• Active operations
• Access & safety requirements

Our drone-based approach typically saves 40–60% compared to traditional ground surveys and scaffolding-based inspections. Contact us with your project details and we'll provide a tailored quote within 24 hours.

What Is the Difference Between Drone Industrial Survey and Traditional Methods?

Traditional industrial surveys typically require ground teams, scaffolding, cherry pickers, or rope access to inspect and measure facilities. This approach is time-consuming, expensive, and often requires shutting down operations for safety.

Drone industrial surveys capture the same data—and often more—from the air in a fraction of the time. Our UAVs can survey rooftops, facades, pipework, and storage tanks without scaffolding, reach areas inaccessible to ground teams, and capture data while your facility continues normal operations.

What Accuracy Can a Drone Industrial Survey Achieve?

Our drone industrial surveys routinely achieve positional accuracy of ±2-3cm when using ground control points and RTK-enabled drones. This level of precision is suitable for asset management, facilities planning, insurance documentation, and most engineering applications.

For projects requiring higher accuracy, we can increase GCP density and employ specialist processing workflows. Our orthomosaics typically achieve ground sample distances (GSD) of 1-2cm per pixel, capturing detail down to individual bolts, joints, and surface defects visible from above.

What Are the Applications of Drone Industrial Survey?

Drone industrial surveys serve a wide range of industries and purposes. Here are the key applications where our clients see the greatest value:

Can Drones Survey Active Industrial Sites?

Yes—this is one of the key advantages of drone surveys. Our pilots are trained in industrial safety protocols and hold relevant certifications for working on operational sites. We conduct thorough risk assessments before every flight and coordinate closely with your site management team.

We can operate around:

• Active production lines and manufacturing processes
• Vehicle and forklift movements
• Loading and unloading operations
• Ongoing maintenance activities
• Shift changes and personnel movements

For sites with specific hazards (chemical plants, refineries, etc.), we hold ATEX-rated equipment and can obtain additional permits as required. We work with your HSE team to ensure full compliance with site-specific safety requirements.

What Deliverables Do You Get From a Drone Industrial Survey?

We tailor deliverables to your specific requirements, but our standard industrial survey outputs include:

• Site Orthomosaic

  High-resolution, georeferenced aerial map of your entire facility. Perfect for GIS integration and as-built documentation.

• Asset Mapping

  Detailed inventory of visible assets including buildings, tanks, pipework, and infrastructure with precise locations.

• Building Surveys

  Roof condition reports, elevation imagery, and facade documentation for maintenance and insurance purposes.

• Infrastructure Plans

  Traced drawings of visible infrastructure including road layouts, drainage, and utility runs.

• CAD Files & 3D Models

  DWG/DXF files compatible with AutoCAD, plus 3D mesh models for visualisation and BIM integration.

How Long Does a Drone Industrial Survey Take?

On-site data capture is remarkably fast. We can survey most industrial facilities in half a day to a full day depending on size and complexity. A typical 10-hectare site takes 3-4 hours of flight time, plus setup, safety briefings, and ground control establishment.

Processing and delivery depends on your required outputs. Standard deliverables are typically ready within 5-7 working days. For urgent projects, we offer expedited processing with 48-72 hour turnaround available at additional cost.

How Do I Choose a Drone Industrial Survey Provider?

Not all drone operators have the experience and credentials needed for industrial sites. When evaluating providers, we recommend checking these key factors:

• CAA authorisation – Ensure they hold valid GVC or legacy PfCO permissions for commercial operations
• Industrial site experience – Ask about previous work on operational facilities similar to yours
• Appropriate insurance – Public liability (£5M+) and professional indemnity cover
• Safety credentials – CSCS cards, site safety training, risk assessment capability
• Processing capability – In-house data processing and CAD production

At Drone Survey Services, we tick every box. We're CAA approved, carry £10M public liability insurance, and have delivered industrial surveys across manufacturing, logistics, energy, and chemical sectors throughout the UK.

Is Drone Industrial Survey Cheaper Than Traditional Methods?

In most cases, significantly cheaper. Traditional roof surveys requiring scaffolding can cost £10,000+ just for access. Cherry pickers and MEWPs add hire costs, operator fees, and extended site time. Ground-based surveys of large facilities require multiple days of surveyor time.

Our drone surveys capture equivalent or better data in a fraction of the time and cost. A complete facility survey that might take a ground team a week can be flown in hours. The cost savings typically range from 40-70% compared to traditional methods, with the added benefit of minimal operational disruption.