The construction and infrastructure industries are constantly expanding in Western Canada, with new residential, commercial, and industrial projects being developed every day. With this rapid pace, project planners and developers are on the lookout for the most effective survey methods to elevate their project timelines and success rate— and one obvious front-runner is drone surveying. Let’s explore how UAV surveys compare to traditional methods and why Meridian Surveys should be your first choice for construction and infrastructure surveys in Canada.
Comparing UAV Surveying Against Traditional Methods
More commonly referred to as ‘drone surveying,’ UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) surveying has become a more accessible and approachable method of conducting land surveys as technology develops and evolves. For surveying purposes, UAVs offer an unparalleled 360° view of a site thanks to their cameras, sensors, and ability to capture high-resolution aerial images and data. This data can then be used to create accurate maps, 3D models, and topographic information.
On the other hand, traditional surveying is typically conducted on the ground, using a mix of high-tech and hand-operated methods to achieve results. This includes tools like total stations, GPS receivers, and levels operated by trained surveyors on-site. While this approach has been trusted for centuries, construction surveyors in Western Canada, like Meridian, are embracing new technologies such as UAV devices to navigate our challenging, dynamic terrain better.
1. Accuracy
Traditional Surveying: Offers highly accurate results, especially for small sites or when measuring structures with specific dimensions. Surveyors are able to manually confirm measurements on the ground and adapt on the fly based on the measurements they collect.
UAV Surveying: The current generation of UAVs has advanced GPS and photogrammetry software to offer unparalleled accuracy—often within a few centimeters. For large sites or areas with varying topographic levels, UAVs can provide more consistent data across dimensions.
Verdict: Both methods are highly accurate, especially with an experienced construction project surveyor like Meridian, but UAV surveys provide better consistency on large or uneven terrain.
2. Speed
Traditional Surveying: Depending on the size and complexity of the site, conventional survey methods may take several days or even weeks, as traditional land surveyors must walk the area and manually set up their equipment. This can be prohibitive in rural, remote, or rugged terrain.
UAV Surveying: Even the most lightweight and basic drone is capable of capturing thousands of data points in a matter of hours. Processing and map generation also speed up data collation with the help of specialized software— no manual surveyor calculations or plotting required!
Verdict: UAV surveying is significantly faster, especially for large-scale or remote projects. Even though Meridian contracts the most talented local surveyors, our team is still only human.
3. Safety
Traditional Surveying: Surveyors are often tasked with working on busy construction sites, near heavy equipment, or on steep and uneven ground— introducing safety risks to their site assessment surveys. Safety is paramount at Meridian Surveys, so this methodology is slower.
UAV Surveying: An aerial drone survey can capture vast quantities of data from a significant distance without interacting with machinery or site staff. This reduces the need for construction survey specialists to enter potentially hazardous areas.
Verdict: UAVs are a much safer survey option, especially in difficult or dangerous environments.
4. Cost-Effectiveness
Traditional Surveying: Conventional methods of land surveying for construction projects can be especially labour-intensive and time-consuming, which increases project costs—particularly for large or complicated sites. The more surveyors working on your site, the more it will cost.
UAV Surveying: While Meridian still employs the best surveyors and utilizes the most reliable technology, our UAV construction surveying services help reduce labour costs and minimize time spend on-site. With less manpower and quicker results, overall costs are often lower.
Verdict: UAVs are typically more cost-effective for large-scale or frequently surveyed areas.
5. Site Accessibility
Traditional Surveying: It can be difficult for conventional surveying teams to access certain sites and coordinate with project staff, leading to delays. Reaching hard-to-access areas like dense forest, rocky terrain, or hectare land plots can even be ineffective and dangerous.
UAV Surveying: There’s truly no limit to where your UAV survey can happen as long as you’ve filed the proper flight path paperwork. Drones are capable of flying over obstacles, avoiding wildlife, and gathering data from sites that would be challenging or unsafe to reach on foot.
Verdict: UAVs have no limitations when it comes to surveying hard-to-reach locations safely.
6. Data Collation and Sharing
Traditional Surveying: With traditional land surveying tools and technology, data is often stored in handwritten field notes or basic CAD files. Sharing information with clients or teams can take time and require formatting, as well as manual calculation and data entry from the surveyor.
UAV Surveying: UAVs can generate highly visual, digital datasets—such as 3D models and orthomosaic maps—that are easy to share and read. This aids communication between project teams, engineers, and clients and facilitates your project’s progress.
Verdict: UAV survey data is easier to access, share, and interpret, making collaboration simpler.
From Theodolites to Drones, Meridian Surveys Offers the Best Tools of the Trade for Construction Surveying
While both UAV and traditional surveying methods have their strengths, it’s vital for planners and developers to understand the unique demands of their site before choosing a construction land surveying method. Traditional surveying remains a reliable choice for small-scale projects or where detailed ground-level data is needed. However, for large, complex, remote, or even dangerous sites, UAV surveying offers clear speed, safety, and efficiency advantages.
Whether you choose to use cutting-edge UAV services for construction projects or traditional surveying methods, Meridian Surveys is your top choice for construction surveying of all types in Western Canada. Our expert teams combine innovation with experience to deliver reliable results on every project. Visit our website or contact us today to explore which surveying method is best suited for your next construction development project.