A drone survey and a land surveyor’s survey do not meet the same needs. The drone is very effective at documenting a roof, a plot of land or a construction site quickly: orthophotos, scaled plans, point clouds. But as soon as an official act is involved (boundary marking, parcel boundaries, official cadastral survey), the work is entrusted to a licensed land surveyor. Here is how to choose.
What a drone survey provides
An RGB measured survey uses photogrammetry to assign coordinates to every pixel. You get data that can be measured directly in your CAD and GIS software:
- georeferenced orthophoto (GeoTIFF);
- RGB point cloud (LAS/LAZ);
- digital terrain and surface models (DTM / DSM);
- DWG/DXF vector plan;
- accuracy report.
Accuracy reaches ±3 cm depending on the package, with a ground resolution of 1 to 5 cm. Data capture on site takes 1 to 3 hours.
What a land surveyor does
The surveyor measures on the ground with a total station, GNSS or a laser scanner. They carry out the official cadastral survey (cadastre, property boundaries), boundary marking and setting-out. For these acts, their measurements carry official value that a drone survey does not.
Comparison
| Criterion | Drone survey (RGB) | Land surveyor (total station) |
|---|---|---|
| Area covered | Roof + whole plot | Ground access only |
| Time on site | 1–3 h | 1–2 days |
| Indicative cost | CHF 500–1,000 | CHF 1,500–4,000 |
| Delivery | 3–4 days | 3–7 days |
| Official acts (boundary marking, cadastral survey) | No | Yes (licensed land surveyor) |
When to choose a drone
- documenting the condition of a roof or façade before renovation;
- surveying large areas or hard-to-reach land: quarry, industrial zone, construction site;
- calculating areas and volumes (cut and fill);
- tracking site progress with repeat flights;
- getting a base map or orthophoto for a preliminary study.
When to call a land surveyor
- boundary marking and defining property boundaries;
- transfers and updates to the land register;
- setting out a building on the plot;
- any act that requires official value.
The best of both: drone and surveyor
For projects that need certified accuracy, the RGB Project package relies on ground control points (GCPs). We work with partner surveyors for projects requiring official certification: the drone brings coverage and speed, the surveyor the official reference.
Drone measured survey prices
| Package | Price | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|
| RGB Essential | CHF 500 | Documentation, site overview (up to 2,000 m²) |
| RGB Pro | CHF 1,000 | Technical plans, topographic studies |
| RGB Project | On quote | Large areas, certified accuracy with control points |
Frequently asked questions
Does a drone survey replace a land surveyor?
Not for official acts: the official cadastral survey (parcel boundaries, boundary marking, land register) is entrusted to licensed land surveyors (ingénieurs géomètres brevetés). To document a roof, a plot of land or a construction site, calculate areas and volumes or prepare a study, a drone survey is often enough, faster and cheaper.
How accurate is a drone survey?
Up to ±3 cm for the Essential and Pro packages, with a ground resolution of 1 to 5 cm. The Project package adds ground control points (GCPs) for certified centimetre-level accuracy.
How much does a drone measured survey cost?
RGB Essential CHF 500 (area up to 2,000 m², delivery within 3 days); RGB Pro CHF 1,000 (delivery within 4 days); RGB Project on quote for large areas and certified-accuracy needs.
See also our article on RGB drone surveys, our 3D scans or request a free quote: we reply within 24h anywhere in French-speaking Switzerland.