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A leading full-service engineering firm renowned for our trusted, high quality, and innovative approach to solving complex challenges.
High-Resolution Aerial Imagery

Drone Surveys + Aerial Mapping

Drone Surveys + Aerial Mapping
Headshot of Sam Zook, Geomatics Regional Practice Leader at McLaren Engineering Group

Geomatics Regional Practice Leader

Professional Land Surveyor + FAA UAS Remote Pilot

Drone surveys, also known as unmanned aerial system (UAS) surveys, provide highly accurate, efficient, and cost-effective data collection solutions. Capable of reaching areas that may be challenging for ground-based inspectors or surveyors, our drones are equipped with high-resolution cameras to capture detailed aerial imagery and deliver a holistic view of existing site conditions and constraints.

Drone surveys, also referred to as aerial surveys, enable clients and project teams to make more informed decisions throughout the design, planning, and construction phases. At KCI, formerly McLaren Engineering Group, this approach helps projects remain on schedule and within budget while reducing risk and minimizing rework.

Drone Photogrammetry +
3D Modeling

Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry is a technique that utilizes overlapping two-dimensional (2D) imagery to reconstruct a three-dimensional geographic area or structure. Using top-of-the-line photogrammetry software, the aerial drone imagery is transformed into highly accurate 2D orthomosaics and 3D models, including point clouds and meshes. Point clouds are dense sets of data points each representing a specific location in space and can be georeferenced to a real-world coordinate system and vertical datum. This lends itself to repeatability, and allows the user to identify changes over time, both qualitatively and quantitatively.

From the point clouds, digital surface models (DSM) or digital terrain models (DTM) can be created, representing the surface features including vegetation, structures, and terrain. Topographic maps can also be generated where elevation contours and spot elevations are displayed throughout the survey area.

Processing drone survey data into interactive 3D digital twin models can improve design decisions, site analysis, and stakeholder communication by identifying potential issues or conflicts before they arise.

Drone Survey Experts

Why Choose Us
for Drone Surveys + Aerial Mapping?

Professional Survey Leadership

Led by experienced survey professionals who understand how aerial data supports real project decisions.

Licensed + FAA-Certified Expertise

Integrated Survey Technology

Combines drone-based data capture with professional surveying, mapping, scanning, engineering, and reality capture expertise.

Versatile Project Support

Supports active construction sites, infrastructure assets, waterfront properties, coastal sites, commercial properties, and industrial facilities.

Actionable Aerial Data

Delivers accurate aerial survey data for planning, design, permitting, inspections, construction documentation, and asset management.

Integrated Support

Drone Surveys
Who We Work With

Developers + Owners

Supporting site planning, design decisions, permitting, and asset management with accurate aerial survey data.

Contractors

Helping document existing conditions, track construction progress, verify quantities, and improve field coordination.

Municipalities + Infrastructure Teams

Providing reliable aerial mapping data for inspections, infrastructure planning, maintenance, and public works projects.

Design + Engineering Teams

Delivering aerial imagery, mapping data, point clouds, and site documentation to support design, analysis, coordination, and project decision-making.

Delivering What You Need

Drone Survey
Deliverables

Drone survey deliverables can include:

  • High-resolution aerial imagery
  • Orthomosaic maps
  • Aerial LiDAR data
  • 3D point clouds
  • Digital terrain models
  • Digital surface models
  • Elevation contours
  • Topographic maps
  • Stockpile volume calculations
  • Inspection imagery
  • Digital twins
  • CAD/GIS-ready files
Featured
Drone Surveys + Aerial Mapping
News + Projects

From coastal surveys and marine environments to building inspections and adaptive reuse projects, we use drone surveys, aerial mapping, hydrographic survey, and reality capture to deliver accurate visual and spatial data for complex project sites.

View More

Contact Us

Talk to a PLS About Your Site

1

Tell us where your site is located and what aerial survey data you need.

2

Our team, led by Sam Zook, Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) and FAA UAS Remote Pilot, will define the right approach, deliverables, and schedule.

3

Get accurate aerial data to support planning, design, inspections, construction documentation, and asset management.

We’re excited to share that McLaren Engineering Group is now part of KCI Technologies Inc., a 100% employee-owned firm offering engineering and consulting across all markets, and construction for communications and environmental projects.

Our commitment to excellence continues with the added strength of KCI’s full range of engineering and consulting services.

Visit KCI’s website to learn more.