When John F Hunt Regeneration Ltd needed fast, safe, and highly accurate site data for the Chatterley Valley development, they turned to Lichfield Survey Supplies Ltd’s drone surveying expertise. Our work set a new benchmark for efficiency and reliability in large-scale earthworks monitoring.
Key Points from This Article
- Weekly drone surveys at Chatterley Valley improved earthworks monitoring and project management.
- Utilised a DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise RTK and 20+ GCPs for high accuracy.
- Captured 2,114 images per survey across a 44.6 ha site, processed into detailed orthomosaics and 3D models.
- Reduced survey time from 45 hours (traditional) to just 1.5 hours with drones.
- Enabled frequent, safe, and non-disruptive progress tracking—even on challenging ground.
- Volume calculations and as-built reports supported precise billing and resource allocation.
- Lowered environmental impact and delivered significant cost savings.
- For more on our drone surveying solutions,
Project Summary
- Location: Chatterley Valley (44.6 ha; 1,440m x 400m)
- Timeline: June–December 2024
- Number of Surveys: 26 (weekly)
- Drone: DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise RTK
- Ground Control: 20+ GCPs
- Total Images: 2,114 (25.76 GB)
- Flight Distance: 25.1 km per survey
- Flight Time: 1.5 hrs (3 batteries)
- GSD: 1.48 cm/pixel
Why Drones? The Advantage Over Traditional Surveying
- Speed: Each survey took just 1.5 hours, vs. 45+ hours by foot.
- Frequency: Weekly surveys gave project teams up-to-date data to monitor progress and manage materials.
- Safety: No need for surveyors to walk hazardous ground or disrupt ongoing site work.
- Accuracy: Over 20 GCPs and advanced processing delivered sub-centimetre precision for volumes and elevations.
Deliverables & Data Processing
- Orthomosaics: Used for planning, documentation, and site meetings.
- Digital Elevation Models & Point Clouds: Created using DJI Terra, Pix4D Matic, WebODM, and analysed in Topcon Office.
- Earthwork Volumes: Weekly comparisons of 50m x 50m site segments for material movement and billing.
- As-Built Reports: Visual and data-rich evidence for stakeholders.
Environmental & Financial Benefits
Drone surveying greatly reduced on-site time, travel, and CO₂ output. The client benefited from lower labour costs, faster progress updates, and more informed decision-making.
Partner Services
We work closely with our specialist drone surveying division at Surveyed By Drone, ensuring the highest technical standards on every project.
Want to know more? See our drone surveying services or visit Surveyed By Drone for further case studies and service options.