Questions we are asked regularly.

We are based in Columbus, OH, and mobilise on a project-by-project basis. Travel and accommodation are scoped into the project where relevant.

A useful first message includes the asset type, the site location, the deliverables you have in mind, and the access conditions. If a site contact and any safety or induction requirements are known, that helps us scope more accurately.

Mobilisation timing depends on access arrangements, airspace approvals, and the asset owner's safety and induction requirements. For straightforward projects we can typically schedule within one to two weeks; for projects with significant access or approval coordination, lead time is longer.

Yes. Most of our work is with infrastructure asset owners, utilities, EPC contractors, civil contractors, and council infrastructure teams. We work within the asset owner's safety and operational requirements.

Yes. Scoping starts with the access and operational constraints, not in spite of them. We work to the site's procedures, inductions, and time-of-day or seasonal restrictions.

Yes. Many of our most useful engagements are repeat monitoring programs at a defined cadence — quarterly, monthly, pre- and post-shutdown, or post-event. The baseline flight is set up to be repeated cleanly.

An orthomosaic is a single geo-referenced aerial image of a site or corridor, built by stitching overlapping aerial photographs together and correcting for tilt and terrain. It is measurable, GIS-compatible, and typically used for planning, inspection records, and change comparison.

No. Drone mapping produces a structured visual record from a safe offset. It complements, rather than replaces, ground inspection by qualified personnel and specialist engineering assessment. The most effective programs use drone work alongside existing inspection activities, not instead of them.

Survey-grade accuracy is a scoped outcome. For most maintenance, planning, and inspection work, standard orthomosaics provide more than enough accuracy. For applications requiring survey-grade accuracy — design overlays, cadastral integration, or legally defensible measurement — ground control points, qualified surveyor involvement, and appropriate equipment are scoped in from the start.

Yes. Pipeline and utility corridor work is a core service. Typical deliverables include a corridor orthomosaic, geo-tagged inspection imagery, an annotated issue location summary, and change documentation against any prior baseline.

Yes, subject to coordination with the asset owner's safety system, agreed offsets from energised equipment, and the appropriate approvals. Substation work is always planned collaboratively with the site contact and safety officer.

Yes, where appropriate equipment and operating conditions allow it. Thermal drone inspection produces screening output for review by qualified personnel — it identifies locations that warrant follow-up, it does not diagnose faults.

Deliverables are scoped to your needs. Typical outputs include orthomosaics, geo-referenced imagery, inspection reports, 3D models, digital surface models, change summaries, and GIS-ready files. See the deliverables page for a full overview.

Yes. We deliver in your preferred coordinate reference system and format. Common GIS outputs include GeoTIFF orthomosaics, shapefiles, and KML overlays. CAD outputs are scoped against the downstream software in use.

Yes. Drone operations are conducted under FAA Part 107 by certified Remote Pilots, with commercial drone liability insurance in place. Certification and insurance documentation can be provided to clients on request.

Airspace is checked as part of flight planning. Where controlled airspace, notifications, or approvals are required, those are obtained or coordinated before the flight is scheduled. Exclusion zones and restricted areas are confirmed with the asset owner.

Weather-dependent projects are scoped with a primary and secondary flight day where possible. If conditions are not safe or suitable on the day, the flight is rescheduled. We do not fly in conditions that compromise safety or data quality.

Site safety is managed collaboratively. We work to the asset owner's safety management system, complete required inductions, document the flight plan and site risk assessment, and coordinate with the named site and safety contacts before and during the flight.

Captured data is owned by the client as agreed in the project scope. Retention, sharing, and confidentiality requirements are documented up front. Where data is sensitive, handling expectations are explicit and respected.

Yes. We routinely work under client safety management systems, including contractor inductions, permit-to-work processes, and site-specific procedures. Tell us what your system requires and we will work to it.