Core Service Surveying & Mapping
Look Up Pro provides aerial photogrammetry and drone-based survey data for engineers, surveyors, mines, and rehabilitation teams. Orthomosaics, terrain models, stockpile volumetrics, point clouds, and LiDAR-aligned capture delivered to a usable project standard.
Orthomosaic
High-resolution aerial photo map stitched from drone imagery
Terrain Model
DTM / DSM elevation surface for site analysis
Stockpile Volumetrics
Accurate volume calculations for mine inventory
Point Cloud
3D point data for engineering and design workflows
LiDAR-aligned Capture
High-density point data for complex terrain and canopy work
Deliverables
Every project produces one or more of these outputs. We scope which deliverables are relevant to your project during the quote process you only pay for what you need.
Georeferenced aerial photo map
A high-resolution, geometrically corrected aerial image stitched from hundreds of drone photos. Accurate scale, georeferenced coordinates, and measurable distances. The most commonly requested deliverable for general site documentation, progress monitoring, and planning.
Engineers Project managers Site managersDTM / DSM Digital terrain and surface models
A 3D representation of the ground surface or site elevation. The DTM shows bare earth; the DSM includes surface features (vegetation, structures). Used for earthworks calculations, slope analysis, drainage planning, and rehabilitation mapping.
Surveyors Engineers Rehabilitation teamsVolume calculations from aerial surface data
Accurate volume estimates for mine stockpiles, waste dumps, and material stores calculated from aerial surface data rather than manual measurement. Faster, safer, and more accurate than ground-based methods for large or irregular piles.
Mine managers Engineers Quantity surveyorsDense 3D point data (photogrammetry or LiDAR)
A 3D dataset of millions of geo-referenced points representing the physical space of a site. Used as input for CAD, engineering design, BIM workflows, and structural measurement. Delivered in standard formats compatible with industry software.
Engineers Surveyors CAD & BIM teamsTextured mesh model from photogrammetry
A visually rendered 3D model of a site, building, or feature built from drone imagery. Used for presentations, client reports, heritage documentation, and site inspections where a visual 3D representation is needed alongside technical data.
Project managers Clients DocumentationHigh-density point cloud LiDAR integration
Where photogrammetry alone is insufficient dense vegetation, canopy penetration, or high-precision engineering requirements LiDAR-aligned data capture provides ground returns that cameras cannot. Look Up Pro integrates LiDAR capability for projects requiring this level of data density.
Mines Forestry High-precision engineeringDown to 1cm
GSD Resolution
Ground sample distance achievable with RTK-enabled drone capture
Down to 1cm
Horizontal Accuracy
Achievable with ground control points and RTK on suitable terrain
RTK
Positioning
Real-time kinematic GPS for survey-grade georeferencing without dense GCPs
GCP
Ground Control
Ground control point support for absolute accuracy on complex or large sites
Why Aerial Data Capture
Traditional ground-based survey methods are accurate but they are slow, labour-intensive, and often impractical on large, remote, or dangerous sites.
A drone can capture data across hundreds of hectares in a single day. The same coverage with ground crews takes days or weeks and costs proportionally more.
Active pit walls, steep rehabilitation slopes, unstable waste dumps, and remote sites are all safely capturable from the air. Ground teams simply cannot work safely in many of these areas.
Ground surveys miss areas, have gaps, and are affected by terrain obstruction. Aerial capture produces a complete, consistent dataset across the entire survey area in a single flight mission.
The same flight plan can be repeated on any future date, producing directly comparable datasets for rehabilitation progress, stockpile change, earthworks monitoring, or site evolution over time.
For large sites, aerial capture is significantly cheaper per hectare than equivalent ground survey effort especially when repeat surveys are required over a project lifecycle.
Comparison
| Factor | Traditional Ground Survey | Look Up Pro Aerial Drone |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage speed | Days to weeks per large site | Hundreds of ha in a single day |
| Access to hazards | Limited personnel risk on active sites | Full access - no personnel in hazard zones |
| Data consistency | Variable gaps, obstructions, crew variation | Complete, consistent aerial dataset |
| Repeat surveys | Expensive to repeat full crew mobilisation | Same flight plan, low repeat cost |
| Data outputs | Points, profiles, levels limited visual data | Orthomosaic, model, point cloud, volumetrics |
| Large area cost | High labour scales with area | Efficient - cost does not scale linearly with area |
Photogrammetry produces excellent results on open terrain and exposed surfaces. But there are project types where standard camera-based capture cannot deliver what is needed dense vegetation, canopy penetration, high-precision engineering, and complex terrain. This is where LiDAR integration becomes the correct solution.
Look Up Pro works with LiDAR-capable platforms for projects requiring this level of data density. LiDAR-aligned surveys are typically scoped through a tender or specialist engagement process contact us to discuss your project requirements.
Discuss a LiDAR ProjectCanopy penetration
LiDAR pulses return ground strikes under dense vegetation cameras cannot see through canopy. Essential for forestry, rehabilitation, and bush terrain where bare earth elevation is required.
High point density
LiDAR produces significantly higher point densities per square metre than photogrammetry important for precise engineering design, structural measurement, and complex feature extraction.
Works in low light
Unlike photogrammetry which requires good lighting, LiDAR is an active sensor it works in overcast conditions, dawn, and dusk, allowing broader scheduling flexibility on complex projects.
Mining and rehabilitation applications
Pit wall profiling, underground approach surveys, dense vegetation rehabilitation mapping, and stockpile work in challenging environments are the core LiDAR use cases in the South African mining context.
Industry Applications
Different industries need different outputs. Here is how each sector typically uses the data Look Up Pro captures.
Mining
Stockpile volumetrics for inventory control, rehabilitation mapping for compliance reporting, pit wall and dump monitoring, and pre/post blast surface capture.
Engineering & Construction
Construction progress monitoring, earthworks volume calculations, township establishment, infrastructure corridor mapping, and as-built documentation for large projects.
Surveying Firms
Aerial data capture as a contracted service for surveying practices needing faster large-area coverage, access to difficult terrain, or additional capacity on deadline-driven projects.
Rehabilitation & Environmental
Pre- and post-rehabilitation surface capture, vegetation mapping, erosion monitoring, and progress documentation for compliance and environmental reporting requirements.
Government & Infrastructure
Road and bridge condition documentation, municipal land cover mapping, water body monitoring, and infrastructure asset capture for maintenance planning.
Utilities & Energy
Powerline and pipeline corridor mapping, solar farm layout documentation, substation and infrastructure asset recording, and right-of-way condition assessment.
How It Works
You submit your site location, size, required outputs, and turnaround. We confirm the right flight plan, GCP requirements, and deliverable format.
We plan the mission, file required SACAA NOTAMs, and arrange site access. BVLOS operations are planned and approved before deployment.
Drone deployed on-site. Structured flight pattern with image overlap and GCP validation. Raw data collected and backed up on-site before departure.
Photogrammetry processing point cloud generation, mesh building, orthomosaic stitching, and terrain model derivation from the raw flight data.
Outputs delivered in the agreed format GeoTIFF, LAS, DXF, OBJ, or cloud platform access. We confirm format compatibility with your workflow before starting.
Common Questions
With RTK-enabled drone platforms and properly surveyed ground control points, aerial photogrammetry can achieve horizontal and vertical accuracies in the range of 10cm-1cm depending on site conditions, GSD, and GCP density. For most engineering and mining applications this is sufficient. For higher-precision requirements we scope the GCP density, flight altitude, and processing approach to meet your specification. We provide a full accuracy report with each survey delivery.
We deliver in the formats your team uses. Common formats include: GeoTIFF for orthomosaics, LAS / LAZ for point clouds, DXF / DWG for CAD-compatible terrain data, OBJ / FBX for 3D models, and GeoTIFF / ASC for terrain models. We can also upload to cloud platforms such as DroneDeploy, Pix4D Cloud, or provide direct file transfer. Specify your required format and coordinate reference system when requesting a quote; we confirm compatibility before starting work.
Turnaround depends on site size and required outputs. For a standard site of up to 200 ha with orthomosaic and terrain model output, typical processing and delivery is 3-5 business days after the flight date. Larger sites, LiDAR processing, or complex volumetric work may require longer. We confirm turnaround at quote stage if you have a specific project deadline, tell us and we will scope whether it is achievable. Urgent requests can often be expedited.
For most projects, a pre-flight site visit is not essential; we can plan missions from existing mapping data and client-supplied site information. For complex or large sites, active mines, or projects requiring precise GCP placement, we may recommend a site assessment to confirm access, safe take-off areas, and GCP positions. If you have an existing site map, site plan, or coordinates, share them with us during quoting and we can assess remotely. Mine and industrial sites typically require a full site induction before we can operate; we factor this into project planning.
Yes and this is one of the strongest use cases for aerial survey data. Because we fly the same mission plan each time, repeat surveys produce directly comparable datasets. This is particularly valuable for stockpile inventory management (monthly or quarterly volumetric checks), rehabilitation progress monitoring (before and after comparison), and construction progress documentation (weekly or fortnightly site capture). Repeat clients are scheduled in advance; if ongoing monitoring is part of your project requirements, discuss it during the initial quote so we can structure the right arrangement.
Request a Quote
Tell us your site location, estimated size, required outputs, and turnaround. We will confirm the right approach, platform, and deliverable format for your project.
