What drone survey data includes
| Output | What it is | Common formats |
|---|---|---|
| Raw images | The original photos from each flight, with GPS and capture metadata | JPEG, DNG |
| Orthomosaic | A stitched, map-accurate image of the whole site | GeoTIFF |
| Elevation model | Surface heights across the site | GeoTIFF |
| Point cloud | 3D points describing the site's surfaces | LAS, XYZ, RCP |
| 3D model | A textured mesh of the site or structure | OBJ and similar |
A series of surveys over the life of a project is worth much more than a single flight, because it shows how the site changed week by week.
Exporting from DroneDeploy
DroneDeploy's help centre describes exports from each map's Export menu:
- orthomosaics as GeoTIFF;
- point clouds as LAS or XYZ (Individual and Enterprise plans), and RCP on Enterprise plans;
- large exports are prepared and sent as a download link by email.
It also notes that the map owner controls the data when maps are shared, so exporting maps someone else shared with you may be restricted. Keep the original flight images if you have them: they're often stored outside DroneDeploy, on the pilot's or survey firm's systems.
Who owns the survey?
- You flew it with your own team. The imagery is generally your company's, subject to your client contracts.
- A survey firm flew it for you. Check their terms. Some keep rights in raw data and deliver only processed outputs, while others hand over everything.
- You're the survey firm. Check what your client terms say about the data you capture and keep. See the inspectors and surveyors guide.
Privacy and sensitivity
Aerial imagery picks up more than the site: people on the ground, vehicles and number plates, and neighbouring homes and gardens. Under UK GDPR, identifiable people and private property need to be dealt with (for example by blurring) before imagery is shared. Surveys of security-sensitive sites, such as utilities, transport hubs, defence and prisons, are best left out altogether.
Checklist
- List projects with drone surveys, with the number of flights and the date range for each.
- Note who flew them and where the raw images are stored.
- Check survey contracts and client terms for data rights.
- Flag any sensitive sites to exclude.
Is drone imagery from other platforms useful too?
Yes. The same applies to surveys processed in other software or kept as raw images. DroneDeploy is just a common place for construction surveys to live.
Do the surveys need to be survey-grade accurate?
No. Regular progress flights are useful even if they weren't flown to survey-grade accuracy.
Sources: DroneDeploy Help Center, Exporting your data and 3D point clouds. DroneDeploy is a trademark of DroneDeploy, Inc. This site is not affiliated with DroneDeploy.