Drone Mapping and Site Survey Service

Contractors, developers, farmers, landowners, aggregate and landscaping businesses, and municipalities.

Price per site or per flight, plus fees for processed maps and reports. Repeat monitoring contracts, such as monthly site progress maps, bring steadier income.

• Safe drone piloting
• Photogrammetry and GIS software
• Planning flights around weather
• Clear client communication

• Transport Canada pilot certification and drone registration, plus rules on controlled airspace and flying near people, so check current requirements
• Aviation liability insurance, which is different from standard general liability, so confirm cover for commercial drone use
• Winter cold, snow cover, wind and rain limit flying days and affect results
• Check provincial and municipal rules on privacy and on flying over parks or public property
• Drone survey accuracy is not the same as legal survey work, so check what your provincial regulator allows you to offer

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your drone, processing software, insurance and training. Higher-end equipment and software will push costs toward the upper end of that range.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your clients, job sizes and how often weather lets you fly. Plan on at least about 10 hours a week. Winter conditions can limit flying days.

Things to check: Transport Canada pilot certification and drone registration, controlled airspace rules, and flying near people. Also check aviation liability insurance, provincial and municipal privacy rules, and what your provincial regulator allows you to offer as survey work.