Short answer: the cost depends on the area or corridor length, the accuracy you need, the ground control, the terrain, the deliverables and the location. The deliverables matter most: a map alone is a fraction of the cost of survey drawings. Send us the site and outputs and we quote for your exact scope.
The six things that decide the price
| Factor | What raises the cost | What lowers it |
|---|---|---|
| Area or length | Small, scattered sites (fixed mobilisation is spread over little area) | Large blocks and long corridors flown in one visit |
| Accuracy and GSD | Tighter accuracy needs lower flights, more photos and more processing | Planning-level accuracy at a larger GSD |
| Ground control | Many GCPs and checkpoints measured with DGPS | RTK or PPK drones, which need fewer GCPs |
| Terrain | Dense vegetation (LiDAR or ground survey needed), steep hills, water | Open, accessible ground |
| Deliverables | CAD drawings, ESPs, cross-sections, classified point clouds, reports | Orthomosaic and elevation model only |
| Location and permissions | Remote sites, yellow or red airspace zones needing permission | Green-zone sites near our teams |
Why per-acre rates mislead
A per-acre figure hides what is being delivered. One firm's rate may cover only a processed map; another's includes DGPS control, an accuracy report and CAD drawings. Corridors also behave differently from blocks: a 20 km highway is priced by length and width, not by acres. Compare quotes on the same GSD, the same number of control points and checkpoints, and the same list of files.
Drone survey or ground survey?
For medium and large sites, a drone survey is usually faster and cheaper than a full ground survey, and it captures everything, not just the points a surveyor chose to measure. Ground survey still wins on very small plots and under dense tree cover, and the two are often combined. See drone survey vs DGPS and total station.
Get an accurate quote in one reply
Send us these and we can quote without a site visit in most cases:
- A KML, KMZ or map of the site or corridor (or start and end chainages)
- The accuracy you need, or what the survey is for (planning, DPR, design, progress)
- The coordinate system and height datum, if fixed
- The deliverables: map, terrain model, contours, CAD drawings, ESP, report
- The deadline, and whether it is a one-off or a monthly survey
- Any access, security or airspace constraints you know of
Not sure what accuracy you need? Use our GSD calculator, or read how accurate a drone survey is.