Service 03
Area and quantity measurement
Quantities that get argued about should be visible. Every measured area is delivered against a scaled orthomosaic so anyone at the table can check the number against what is physically there.
What you get
- Per patch and per segment areas in square metres, numbered to match the site
- Multi tab Excel workbook comparing measured against tendered or estimated quantities
- PDF scan report with each measured polygon shown over the orthomosaic
- Full resolution orthomosaic for your records
- KMZ boundaries on approval
Why crews use it
- One flight replaces a day of wheel and tape work in live traffic
- Quantities are visual, so questions get settled by looking at the overlay
- Corridors are captured in one continuous pass
- Night and shoulder season windows are workable when traffic control allows
Related case study
Capture reference
- Sensor
- RGB, RTK tagged
- Largest program
- ~250,000 m²
- Outputs
- XLSX, PDF, GeoTIFF
- Airspace
- NAV CANADA and CFB coordination
- Client access
- Live DroneDeploy map link
- Delivery
- 3 to 5 business days
A four corridor pavement program across Edmonton and Calgary covered approximately 250,000 m² under issued purchase orders, delivered as a branded Excel comparison workbook and a PDF scan report with orthomosaic overlays, with the quantities agreed between the road authority and the paving contractor.
How it works
See how we do the restHow drone photos become a 3D model and a map
Read the steps
- Overlapping photosThe drone flies a grid and takes photos with heavy front and side overlap, so every point on the ground is seen from several angles.
- Tie pointsSoftware finds the same features in neighbouring photos and works out exactly where each camera was. These shared features are tie points.
- Dense point cloudWith the cameras solved, every matched pixel is placed in 3D, building a dense, coloured point cloud of the site.
- 3D meshThe points are joined into a textured 3D mesh and a surface model you can measure from.
- OrthomosaicThe model is flattened into an orthomosaic: a true-to-scale map where every pixel is seen from straight above. Tied to ground control, it lines up with your CAD and GIS.
Used for
6 applicationsAsphalt patch and paving takeoffs
Per patch areas numbered to the site, reconciled against tendered quantities. A recent four corridor program covered approximately 250,000 m².
Road and corridor segments
Continuous capture along a live corridor rather than measurement in traffic.
Parking lots and hard surfaces
Sealcoating, line painting and resurfacing quantities across a portfolio of sites.
Roof area takeoffs
Membrane and material quantities without anyone going up on the roof.
Seeding, spraying and landscape areas
Treated area figures for billing and for application records.
Right of way and clearing
Area cleared or to be cleared, measured and shown on the imagery.
Recognise your project in that list? Send the site and the deliverable and a scoped quote comes back, usually within one business day, with the positioning method and delivery window stated and your licence to use the imagery included.
Get a quote for area and quantity measurementCommon questions
Answered plainlyHow do you measure asphalt quantities from the air?
The site is flown with RTK positioning to build a scaled orthomosaic. Each patch or segment is then measured on that image and reconciled in a workbook against tendered or estimated quantities. Every measured polygon is shown over the imagery in the PDF report so anyone can check the number against what is physically there.
How large an area can be measured in one visit?
A recent four corridor program covered approximately 250,000 m² of pavement. Corridor length rather than area is usually the limiting factor, and long corridors are flown in continuous passes across one or more windows.
Can you fly over live traffic?
Yes, with the appropriate authorization and a flight plan built around the traffic control in place. Corridor work near controlled or military airspace requires authorization arranged before the window opens, which is handled as part of the job.
What do paving contractors actually receive?
A multi tab Excel workbook with per patch areas, a PDF scan report with each polygon shown over the orthomosaic, the full resolution orthomosaic, and KMZ boundaries on approval.
Other services
See all eleven
Mapping and terrain models
Orthomosaics, terrain and surface models, contours and point clouds captured with RTK positioning to a stated accuracy.
Volumetric measurement
Material volumes and cut and fill figures reported against a stated reference surface, on a repeatable cycle.
Thermal imaging
Radiometric thermal capture for hot spots, moisture, electrical and mechanical faults, and heat signature search support.
Asset and structure inspection
Close visual inspection of structures and assets that are difficult, expensive or hazardous to reach on foot.