Cut/fill, stockpile volume, and site progress mapping
A drone flight captures the whole site in one pass and turns it into a measurable surface. Compare flights over time and you know where material went.
Existing ground, measured
Before design starts, we deliver a measured surface of the whole site, bare earth under the trees included. Your engineer runs balance studies and grade comparisons from real ground instead of old contours, and every bidder prices off the same surface.
Earthwork volumes & grade verification
Compare one flight to the next, or the current ground to a design surface, and see cut/fill volumes with a color map of where the dirt moved and where grade still needs work.
Stockpile volumes
Stockpile volumes for gravel, chert, topsoil, sand, and other material without anyone climbing a pile.
Site progress & draw verification
Weekly, monthly, or milestone flights with dated site imagery and an updated orthomosaic, so owners and lenders can verify progress before releasing a construction draw.
Pre-construction topo & as-builts
Topographic mapping before the first dozer arrives, and as-built documentation when the work is done, in CAD-ready formats for your engineer.
Drone earthwork mapping for contractors, developers, and lenders
- Site and grading contractors tracking earthwork volumes, checking grade against the design surface, and documenting as-builts
- Quarries, material yards, and plants that need regular stockpile volumes for inventory
- Developers and owners who want dated site imagery and a clear record of what was done and when
- Banks and lenders verifying construction progress before releasing a draw
- Engineers and surveyors who need a fresh pre-construction topo surface or an interim surface between their own site visits
How drone volume and progress mapping works
- PlanWe agree on the site limits, the flight schedule, the coordinate system, and what each flight is compared against: a previous flight, an original ground surface, or your design surface (CAD or LandXML).
- FlyA photogrammetry flight with RTK/PPK positioning, with ground control points and check points where the project calls for them. We plan around active work and people on site under FAA rules.
- ProcessWe build the orthomosaic and surface model, then compute cut/fill and stockpile volumes against the agreed base surface.
- DeliverYou get the report, the files, and an updated view in your client portal, where the whole project history stays in one place.
Turnaround depends on site size, weather, and the deliverables. For recurring progress flights we settle on a regular schedule and delivery rhythm up front, so reports land when your meetings and draw requests need them.
A progress report people actually read
Each progress report pairs the numbers with a picture: net cut and fill for the period, the area monitored, and a depth-change map draped over the latest orthomosaic, followed by a plain-language summary of what changed and where. It is built for the owner or project manager who needs the answer in two minutes, with the detail there for anyone who wants it.
- Net cut, fill, and total volume change between flights
- Depth-change heat map over current aerial imagery
- Truckload equivalents on request, using your load assumptions
- Orthomosaic and elevation files for your engineer or superintendent
Bid it off a measured surface
A dirt quote priced without a surface either guesses the quantities or pads the bid to cover what nobody can see. A measured surface gives the owner a number of their own and gives every bidder the same ground to price.
- Cut/fill against each design option your engineer provides
- Volumes with truck-load equivalents
- Updated after clearing and grubbing, so the numbers firm up as the site does
Deliverables
- Cut/fill and volume report (PDF) with a depth-change map
- Orthomosaic and DSM/DTM surfaces (GeoTIFF), plus KMZ for quick viewing
- Point cloud (LAS/LAZ) and CAD-ready contours or surfaces (DXF/DWG)
- Files in the units and coordinate system your engineer or surveyor asks for
For banks and lenders
Dated, to-scale site imagery makes collateral documentation simple: verify construction progress before a draw, document timber and farmland tracts, and support appraisals with a current aerial view. With portal access, your loan officer can check the latest flight without a site visit.
Volume and progress data are mapping-grade, for tracking, planning, and reporting. Drone mapping complements, but does not replace, your licensed surveyor: where contract quantities, grades, boundaries, or staking require stamped work, we coordinate with yours.
Drone volumes vs. rover shots and eyeballing it
A GPS rover measures the points a person walks to. A drone captures the whole surface of a pile or a pad in one flight, with nobody climbing stockpiles or dodging equipment, and the dated imagery doubles as a record. Where a contract calls for stamped pay quantities or staking, a licensed surveyor is still the right tool, and drone data makes a good cross-check between their visits. For wooded sites that have not been cleared yet, a drone LiDAR topographic map of the bare earth gives your engineer the ground under the trees.
Where we work
Based in the Shoals, serving North Alabama and Southern Tennessee. Commercial and residential sites and developments across the region.
Drone earthwork and stockpile volume FAQ
How much does drone stockpile or earthwork mapping cost?
It depends on site size, how often we fly, and the deliverables. Recurring progress flights are quoted as a schedule. Call or text for a proposal.
How accurate are drone volumes?
Every mapping project ships with an accuracy report. We check the surface against independent ground points held out of processing, so your engineer or surveyor can see exactly how it was tested before relying on it.
Can you compare the site to our design surface?
Yes. Send the design surface (CAD or LandXML) in your project coordinate system and we will show cut/fill against design, which is handy for grade verification as work progresses.
How often should we fly progress flights?
Whatever matches how the project is managed and paid: weekly on busy grading jobs, monthly or at milestones for most builds, or tied to each construction draw for lenders.
Can our lender see the progress imagery?
Yes. Each flight is dated and stored in your client portal, and we can give the bank or owner access so they can review progress without a site visit.
Do you need to shut the site down to fly?
No. We coordinate with the superintendent, plan around active equipment, and follow FAA rules for flying near people.
Is drone mapping a substitute for a surveyor?
No. It is mapping-grade data for tracking, planning, and reporting. It complements, but does not replace, a licensed surveyor for boundaries, staking, or stamped work.
Do you work with surveyors and engineers?
Yes. We can deliver in the coordinate system and file formats your engineer or surveyor already uses, so our data fits right into their work.
Set up progress flights
Tell us about the site, the schedule, and who needs the reports. Call or text (662) 213-6441 for a proposal.