McElhanney
UNCLAIMED
Capability verified
Service area based on publicly available information and/or Land Intelligence research.
Intelligence & Connectivity › Property Intelligence & Mapping
Drone Surveys & Orthomosaic Mapping in Alberta
Limited — below target · 2 providers
Aerial drone survey producing high-resolution orthomosaic imagery and 3D models.
When to use: Detailed visual baseline, drainage analysis, and site planning.
- Duration
- 1–3 days
- Typical size
- 1–640 acres
- Permits
- Transport Canada RPAS certification required for commercial drone operations
Scope of work
- Drone flight planning
- Aerial imagery capture
- Orthomosaic processing
- 3D model generation
How this works in Alberta
A current aerial is drainage, trees, and tracks you cannot see from the lane. It is the cheapest way to look at the whole parcel at once.
A drone survey stitches hundreds of overlapping photos into an orthomosaic: a measurable, georeferenced aerial map that is far sharper and more current than free satellite imagery. The same flight can produce a surface model, contours and volumes for stockpiles or dugouts.
Commercial drone work in Canada requires a Transport Canada pilot certificate, and an advanced certificate for many flights near people or in controlled airspace. Ask whether the provider uses ground control points or RTK correction, what horizontal and vertical accuracy they will commit to, and which file formats you will receive.
If you mainly need bare-earth elevation under trees, LiDAR is the better tool; photogrammetry maps the surface it can see. Our land report already uses public 1 m LiDAR where it exists, which is worth checking before you pay for a flight.
Alberta providers
2 providers identified. Limited — below target.
PCI Surveys
UNCLAIMED
Identified
Service area based on publicly available information and/or Land Intelligence research.
Common questions
How accurate is a drone survey?
With ground control or RTK, centimetre-level horizontal accuracy is common on open ground. Vertical accuracy is lower and degrades under crops and trees.
Do drone pilots need a licence in Alberta?
Yes. Commercial drone flights in Canada require a Transport Canada pilot certificate, and an advanced certificate for many operations.