Documentation & data
3D models and photogrammetry
A site or structure you can turn, orbit and measure from your desk - built from structured aerial imagery, for visualization, planning and reference measurement.
In short
AerialIQ captures structured aerial imagery and processes it into photogrammetric 3D models, point clouds and elevation products for visualization, planning and reference measurement. They are visual models, not licensed survey or engineering deliverables.
Capture and delivery
What AerialIQ captures, and what you receive
Captured on site
- Structured image sets flown in overlapping grids and orbits
- Oblique passes around buildings, structures and stockpiles
- Complete coverage of facades and vertical surfaces where the model needs them
- Ground reference points where the scope calls for them
What you receive
- Textured 3D model
- A photo-realistic model of the site or structure, in standard formats.
- Point cloud (optional)
- The underlying 3D points, for teams whose software works with them.
- Elevation products (optional)
- Surface and terrain models that show height across the site.
- Reference measurements
- Approximate distances, heights, areas and volumes, labelled for reference.
- Viewing link or files
- Model files for your own software, or a shareable way to view them where agreed.
Who it is for
Common project situations
Typically developers and architects, contractors, property and facility managers, aggregate and material operations and marketing teams for large properties.
Design and planning
Architects and developers working from the site as it actually is today.
Structures and facades
A complete view of a building or structure from every side, including places no one can easily reach.
Stockpiles and earthwork
Approximate volumes from a model rather than a guess.
Presenting a large property
A model a buyer, board or stakeholder can explore instead of a stack of photos.
Outputs
What a photogrammetry project can produce
Not every project needs every output. The quote names the ones yours does, and the formats they arrive in.
| Attribute | What it is | Typically used for |
|---|---|---|
| Textured 3D model | A photo-realistic model you can orbit and inspect | Presentations, planning and stakeholder reviews |
| Point cloud | The raw 3D points behind the model | Teams whose CAD or GIS software works with points |
| Surface and terrain models | Height across the site as a continuous surface | Drainage, grading and earthwork conversations |
| Reference measurements | Approximate distances, heights, areas and volumes | Planning and documentation - not survey or design |
Textured 3D model
- What it is
- A photo-realistic model you can orbit and inspect
- Typically used for
- Presentations, planning and stakeholder reviews
Point cloud
- What it is
- The raw 3D points behind the model
- Typically used for
- Teams whose CAD or GIS software works with points
Surface and terrain models
- What it is
- Height across the site as a continuous surface
- Typically used for
- Drainage, grading and earthwork conversations
Reference measurements
- What it is
- Approximate distances, heights, areas and volumes
- Typically used for
- Planning and documentation - not survey or design
Pricing guidance
How much does a drone 3D model cost?
Pricing
Quoted per project
Starting figures are guidance, not a quote. The final price is confirmed in writing once the scope, location and deliverables are known.
What moves the final quote
- Project scope and the size of the site
- Location and travel from northern Colorado
- Complexity - access, airspace, obstructions, timing windows
- The deliverables required, and how much editing they involve
- Flight requirements such as number of viewpoints or passes
- Recurring work, priced per visit below the one-off rate, with a lower rate again for prepaid terms
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is photogrammetry?
Building 3D geometry from many overlapping photographs taken from known positions. Specialist processing software matches features across the images and reconstructs the surfaces they show.
Can I take measurements from the model?
Yes, as reference measurements. They are approximate, and their accuracy depends on the capture and the method, which the quote describes. They are not survey or engineering measurements.
What software opens the files?
Models and point clouds are delivered in standard formats that open in common 3D, CAD and GIS tools. The formats are agreed in the quote to match what your team uses.
Can a model be updated over time?
Yes. The same capture can be repeated on a schedule, so models from different dates show how a site or structure has changed.
How much does a drone 3D model cost?
Each project is quoted individually. The size and complexity of the site or structure, the products required, the level of detail and travel affect the final figure, which is confirmed in writing in the quote.
Can AerialIQ travel to my site?
Yes. Projects throughout Colorado, from a base in northern Colorado. Travel is estimated from the project location and itemised in the quote, so the price reflects where the site actually is.
Next step
Ready to talk about a project?
Send the location, what you need captured and roughly when. That is enough to come back with a scope and a price.