Frequently Asked Questions

Viking UAV is based in North Yorkshire, but we cover the entire UK. Get in touch with your location and we'll let you know what's possible for your project.

Drone surveying uses unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to capture high-resolution imagery and sensor data from above. We process this data to create accurate 2D and 3D representations of your site — including high-resolution photographs, 3D models, point clouds, elevation data, and measurements. It gives you a detailed aerial view of your site that would have required expensive manned aircraft or ground-based surveys in the past.

That depends on what you're trying to achieve. Surveys are used for asset documentation (recording current state for records), monitoring change over time, identifying problems (structural issues, erosion, vegetation growth), measuring volumes or areas, planning projects, or gathering data for analysis and decision-making. If you need a detailed picture of your site from above, a drone survey is often the fastest and most cost-effective way to get it.

It depends on your end goal. A mapping survey for planning or volume measurement is different from an inspection survey looking for defects or damage. The level of detail, accuracy, and processing required varies significantly. Get in touch with details about what you're trying to achieve — we'll recommend the right approach and give you a clear quote.

Drone surveys are faster, more cost-effective, and often safer than traditional methods (manned aircraft, ground surveys, or climbing equipment). You can access areas that are difficult or dangerous to reach on foot. The data is captured in a single flight rather than over multiple days. And the cost is typically a fraction of manned alternatives. That said, traditional methods have their place for certain applications — we'll always recommend what's right for your project, not what suits us best.

Every job is different, so there isn't a single fixed price — cost depends on factors like site size, location, the type of survey needed, and how the data will be used. Get in touch with some basic details about your project and we'll give you a clear, no-obligation quote.

Outputs depend on the type of survey and what you need it for, but typically include high-resolution imagery, an accurate report or dataset (such as a point cloud, volume figure, orthomosaic, or 3D model), and a quality control report confirming the accuracy and reliability of the data. We'll agree exactly what you'll receive before the job starts, so there are no surprises.

Time on site depends on the size of the survey area and the level of detail required — a standard site survey for mapping or volume measurement is typically much quicker than an inspection-level survey capturing very fine detail, such as spotting individual cracks or defects. We'll agree the right level of detail for your project before the job starts, and give you a realistic time estimate based on that.

We understand that time and site access can be a real concern, especially on working sites — we'll always work with you to plan around your operations and keep any disruption to a minimum.

Flight time is usually the shorter part of the job — processing the data afterwards typically takes longer than the flight itself.

Safety comes first on every job, so flights are only carried out when conditions are right — this means checking wind speed, visibility, precipitation, and even space weather, since solar activity can affect GPS accuracy. If conditions aren't suitable on the planned day, we'll always be upfront about it and reschedule for the next suitable window as quickly as possible.

Getting the highest possible levels of precision requires collecting the best possible quality data. Achieving this not only requires a bit of skill and finesse with the UAV - it can also require an element of luck and patience. Although it's possible to collect reasonably accurate data in a wide range of environmental conditions - some clients require much higher levels of precision delivered with much higher levels of confidence. Our rigorous procedures are designed around consistently achieving these levels when they're required. Even so - the highest levels of accuracy also require local weather conditions as well as solar storm activity to be within certain limits. We'll make sure that we're completely up front about the level of precision that can be delivered and the timescale in which it can be done. We'll also keep you in the loop throughout the process.

Yes — safety is built into every stage of how we plan and fly a job. We assess each site in advance, including proximity to people, structures, and any local restrictions on airspace usage. We will only operate within the CAA rules — we have a strict operational hierarchy where safety is always our top consideration. Every job follows a written safety procedure, including a pre-flight briefing, defined emergency actions, and a ground crew briefing covering what to do if anything goes wrong.

Where a flight is not possible, we'll always try to build in further safety mitigations or adjust the plan to try to make the flight achievable — but if we're not confident it can be done safely, we won't fly it, and we'll always be upfront about why.

We primarily use enterprise-grade DJI platforms — professional drones built for commercial survey work, with redundant safety systems and consistent performance. Depending on your specific needs, we can also access more specialised platforms through our network of partners (including heavier-lift and longer-range systems for complex projects).

It depends on what level of accuracy you need and what you're willing to invest in achieving it. Standard surveys can achieve meter-level accuracy without ground control. True survey-grade accuracy (centimetre-level precision) requires additional procedures, longer processing and optimal conditions. We're upfront about what's achievable for your specific project, and we won't promise precision we can't reliably deliver. Ask us what accuracy you need for your use case — we'll tell you honestly what's possible and what it will cost.

It depends on what level of accuracy you need and what you're willing to invest in achieving it. Standard surveys can achieve meter-level accuracy without ground control. True survey-grade accuracy (centimetre-level precision) requires additional procedures, longer processing and optimal conditions. We're upfront about what's achievable for your specific project, and we won't promise precision we can't reliably deliver. Ask us what accuracy you need for your use case — we'll tell you honestly what's possible and what it will cost.

Data is delivered securely via cloud portal or USB, depending on file size and your preference. You'll receive processed outputs (3D models, orthomosaics, reports, etc.) in industry-standard formats that can be opened in standard software. We'll also provide a quality control report confirming accuracy and reliability. We can discuss specific delivery methods and formats when we scope your project.

Yes. We can help explain what the data shows, answer questions about accuracy and reliability, and discuss how it can be used for your specific purpose. We can also identify issues visible in the data (cracks, erosion, structural problems, etc.) if that's useful. If you need deeper analysis or ongoing interpretation, that's where our consultancy service comes in — we can work with you to extract real value from the data.

Yes. We can set up repeat surveys at intervals that suit your needs — monthly, quarterly, annual, or as-needed. This is useful for tracking change over time (erosion, vegetation growth, construction progress, asset condition). We can also help you build a monitoring programme tailored to your specific needs. Get in touch if this is something you're interested in.