Line Work From Drone Data
Accurate CAD Drawings to Your Desktop
Get Survey-Grade Line Work from Drone Data—Fast, Accurate, and Reliable
At Recon Aerial, we specialize in delivering high-quality line work from drone data, helping surveyors, engineers, and planners accelerate their workflows and increase project throughput. We work with your ground control and aerial photogrammetry data to create accurate, surveyor-ready AutoCAD line work that supports everything from site inventories to complex civil, commercial, and industrial builds.
We understand the pressure to meet tight deadlines, stay within budget, and deliver precise results. That’s why our drone data processing pipeline is built for speed, accuracy, and value. Our experienced team transforms your aerial data into CAD line work quickly—without compromising quality.
Pain Points We Solve:
Manual drafting takes too long and delays project timelines
Processing drone data in-house requires expensive software and training
Inconsistent outputs from freelancers reduce confidence in results
Our Solutions:
Streamlined pipeline for fast turnaround—most projects delivered in 48–72 hours
Cost-effective CAD line work that meets industry standards
Scalable service that grows with your project load
Clear, layered drawings for better planning and client presentations
Benefits of Our Service:
Save 40–60% on time vs. manual drafting
Improve drawing consistency and quality
Free up your team to focus on high-value tasks
Increase project throughput and client satisfaction
When it comes to line work from drone data, we deliver speed, accuracy, and exceptional value. Let’s get your data working for you.
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+ Line work from drone data delivers fast, accurate, and cost-effective drafting. It streamlines workflows, enhances project planning, reduces manual effort, and improves the overall efficiency of civil and site development.
CAD Linework from Drone Data for Residential Contruction Example
Recon Aerial conducted a drone mapping and surveying mission to assist an architectural firm in placing a home on a 10 acre, waterfront lot. Recon flew 3 flight missions at 170, 220, and 250 feet over 2.0 hrs taking approximately 800 images at various GSDs.
Traditionally, the architect/planner may need to visit the building site several times to ensure the proper placement of the dwelling in relation to setbacks, the elevation profile, property lines, sight-lines, access to the waterfront, and various other sites features, not so in this case.
Recon Aerial flew the property and provided our standard photogrammetric data package. The linework from drone data was used to create plan views and even section profiles to assist site development and planning.
The drone data was pivotal. It allowed the architect to fully understand the site details, place the home correctly in relation to the natural site features and meet their clients’ constraints in relation to the build and to the covenants held with the condominium purchase agreement. In fact, additional planning in relation to a road was required given the substantial elevation changes discovered via the aerial drone survey.
Line work from drone data delivers fast, accurate, and cost-effective drafting. It streamlines workflows, enhances project planning, reduces manual effort, and improves the overall efficiency of civil and site development.
Getting Results - Why Use Drones to Conduct Flare Stack Inspections?
Line work from drone data delivers fast, accurate, and cost-effective drafting. It streamlines workflows, enhances project planning, reduces manual effort, and improves the overall efficiency of civil and site development.
CAD Linework from Drone Data for Engineering and Civil Projects
Recon Aerial was tasked with conducting a drone flight operation to create a layered as-built drawing for an urban site.
The drawing was included a standard set of site features including, spot elevations, curbs, sidewalks, roads, paths, curbs, buildings, building heights, sewer grates, utility manholes, and more.
The mission was planned in autonomous software to fly 10 acres at 400 feet to capture the site. The team undertook the flight operation in approximately 30 minutes producing 155 images. While onsite the team took both base station data and ground control points to be used in data processing to correct the geo-referenced orthomosaic. The total time on site was approximately 1.5 hrs.
Following site activities, the data was processed producing a highly accurate layered AutoCAD .dwg file, assets, and a .pdf file for delivery to the client. The project from beginning to end was undertaken in about 7 days. If you would like to download a sample PDF please select HERE.
If you would like more info on pricing or to get in touch we would be pleased to answer your questions.
WHY USE DRONES TO CREATE FEATURE SETS
AND DRAWINGS IN AUTOCAD??
AND DRAWINGS IN AUTOCAD??
Why use drones to create feature sets and drawings in AutoCAD? Because linework from drone data is faster, more detailed, and more cost-effective than traditional methods.
Drones enable rapid data capture—even for large sites. A 10-acre mapping flight takes just minutes, and the full operation, including ground control and survey points, is typically done in 3–4 hours. This efficient process drastically reduces field time and labour costs.
Linework from drone data also produces detailed, feature-rich as-built CAD drawings that outperform conventional cadastral or topographic surveys. These outputs are invaluable for accurate planning and development. For instance, an industrial site near a water body can use drone-to-AutoCAD services to map out drainage infrastructure. That drawing can then support an environmental release management plan with real, actionable insights.
Our drone data consistently delivers high accuracy. On a recent project, the average XYZ error was just 14 mm. This means that key features—like manholes, building corners, or drainage outlets—are shown within 14 mm of their true position in the exported CAD file.
When precise measurements and efficient site planning matter, linework from drone data is the smarter, faster choice.
Line work from drone data delivers fast, accurate, and cost-effective drafting. It streamlines workflows, enhances project planning, reduces manual effort, and improves the overall efficiency of civil and site development.
Drone-based Photogrammetric Exports
Drone-based Photogrammetric Exports Deliverables
As part of our linework deliverable, we provide the following file exports for each drone flight operation. These exports can be easily incorporated into engineering, architectural workflows:
1. Orthomosaic
2. 3D Mesh
3. .las point cloud
4. DTM Classified LAS
5. DSM
6. Contours from Classified LAS
7. Clean Top Tin
This photogrammetric drone-based data can be used for planning, measurements, 3D modeling, and much more in software programs such as Leica Geosystems TruView, QGIS, Agisoft, 3DF Zephr, Autodesk Recap, Revit and Navisworks, Bently Context Capture, Correlator3D, Trimble Inpho, Reality Capture, and Pix4D
Drone-based Planimetric/AutoCAD Exports
Drone-based Photogrammetric/AutoCAD Exports
In addition to photogrammetry exports, we provide a set of planimetric exports (CAD drawings) as part of the deliverable. These drawings are typically created for clients who need as-built drawings or a master plan for their site. We also produce CAD drawings from drone aerial imaging for engineers, land developers and similar clients who need a base map layer of their site for planning purposes. Whether we are creating as-builts or development drawings the client chooses the feature set that is required.
Generally, our CAD drawings feature set includes roads, curbs, paint striping, building outlines, building elevations at height, spot elevations, pathways, fences, manholes, storm drains, transformers, light standards, utility infrastructure, lagoons, ponds, hydrants, sidewalks, building labels, GCPs, trees, contour intervals, breaklines and more.
A standard deliverable has three Autocad .dwg drawings:
– planimetric features,
– breaklines, and
– planimetric DTM.
We can also provide a section drawing to highlight site elevation changes if required.
Who Uses Drone-based Planimetric AutoCAD Data?
Who Uses Planimetric AutoCAD Exports?
Recon Aerial typically provides planimetric AutoCAD exports to engineering firms, architects, city planners, GIS professionals, property developers, permaculture professionals, large industrial clients, and more.
The power of integrating drone surveys and topographic base mapping data directly into a planning workflow is incredible. It provides a new perspective and truly speeds up the planning process.
Most recently we have transformed aerial drone survey to CAD line work for a permaculture study, industrial as-built for a 50-acre facility, water study for a quarry and related works, subdivision development for an engineering company, commercial site development for an engineering company, private home development, and an as-built for a multi-use development. We have also been approached by mining companies, telecoms and others who truly see the benefit in what we have created.
Drone Mapping and Surveying Services
We pride ourselves on our ability to capture just about any drone shot. We have a lot of experience working with exceptional clients like you. Checkout some of the more common service details for work we shoot regularly.
Principal Drone Services
- Up to 5.1 K drone video footage
- No Limit to Media (Photos or Video)
- Reshoot Free, if needed (but this is never needed)
- High resolution sensors
- Infrared inspection capability
- AI backed reporting
- Mapping specific sensors
- GNSS survey receivers
- Aerial to AutoCAD deliverables
- Site progress shots
- Live streaming 24/7 timelapse
- Mapping, earthworks and site logistics
We Get Around!
Years Strong
Happy Clients
Missions Flown