Photogrammetry has transformed drone surveying over the past decade, and right now it’s perhaps the single most important technology driving innovation in mapping, earthworks, site progress, and as-built modelling. As photogrammetric software and hardware get smarter, easier to use, and more accessible, the way that site engineers, planners, and surveyors work is changing rapidly.
Experts in the field—including Lichfield Survey Supplies and Surveyed By Drone—have observed that photogrammetry is no longer “nice to have” but often essential. Weekly drone flights, orthomosaic creation, and point cloud models are increasingly expected deliverables, not optional extras. This article looks into two of the most significant trends emerging now (2024–2025) in photogrammetric drone surveying, why they matter, and how they will likely shape what clients and contractors demand in the near future.
Specifically, we’ll explore:
- How AI, automation, and real-time photogrammetry are reducing manual work and increasing speed.
- The integration of sensors, multi-modal data (such as combining RGB images, LiDAR, multispectral, thermal) and workflows for higher accuracy, richer data, and broader applications.
Key Points from This Article
- Photogrammetry is the core technology driving modern drone surveying, creating orthomosaics, DEMs, and point clouds.
- AI and automation are streamlining workflows, reducing processing time and enabling near real-time quality assurance.
- Sensor fusion (RGB + LiDAR + multispectral + thermal) is creating richer, more accurate datasets for construction, infrastructure, and environmental monitoring.
- Case studies like Chatterley Valley show the power of weekly orthomosaics and point clouds for earthwork tracking and site management.
- Challenges remain — vegetation, storage, weather, regulation, and client education still limit adoption.
- Trends are changing now due to cheaper hardware, cloud processing, environmental pressures, and BIM/GIS integration.
- Prediction for 2026: Near real-time cloud-based photogrammetry will become the industry standard, with stakeholders expecting “drone-to-dashboard” results in hours.
- Providers like Lichfield Survey Supplies and Surveyed By Drone are already preparing workflows to meet these demands.
What is Photogrammetry, and Why It’s Central to Drone Surveying
Photogrammetry is the process of using overlapping aerial images to measure and model the real world in both 2D and 3D, usually producing outputs such as orthomosaics, digital elevation models (DEMs), and point clouds. Aerial photogrammetry uses structure-from-motion (SfM) and multi-view stereopsis to reconstruct terrain surfaces and features with high accuracy.
Because photogrammetry is driven by image capture rather than expensive laser scanning, it is more accessible to many users. GPS/RTK-enabled drones, improved camera sensors, and better software tools mean that accuracy once reserved for specialist survey teams is becoming available more broadly. Orthomosaics made with photogrammetric methods are now standard in many construction and infrastructure site data reviews, not just premium projects.
Trend #1: AI, Automation & Real-Time Photogrammetric Processing
AI & Deep Learning in Photogrammetry
One of the strongest trends is the use of AI and deep learning in every stage of photogrammetry. Tasks that once required manual work—feature extraction, image segmentation, classification of land cover, identifying objects or changes between survey cycles—are increasingly handled automatically. For example, recent academic work shows how AI can improve classification (such as distinguishing buildings vs vegetation vs roads) and camera orientation in photogrammetric pipelines. AIP Publishing+1
Lichfield Survey Supplies often demonstrates orthomosaics to clients and has seen growing demand for “change detection” between weekly or monthly flights, not just static maps. AI helps here by comparing successive orthomosaics or point clouds and highlighting where earthworks, erosion, or site progress have altered the landscape.
Automation & Streamlined Workflows
Another aspect is workflow automation. Flight planning tools are becoming more intelligent, once-manual post-processing steps are increasingly automatic, and cloud-based processing is quicker and more accessible. Surveys no longer have to wait days for stitching, DEM generation, or orthomosaic creation—it’s heading toward hours or even near real time in some cases.
Reduced reliance on Ground Control Points (GCPs) is a parallel development. With RTK/PPK (Real-Time Kinematic / Post-Processed Kinematic) drone GPS, fewer GCPs are required or the GCP workflow becomes simpler. This saves setup time on site and measurement time in the office. Drone Survey Hub+2Dronedesk blog+2
Real-Time Quality Assurance
Clients increasingly expect quality assurance built into the field process. This means inspecting image sharpness, lighting, overlap, and coverage delivered during flight so that missed areas can be re-flown immediately rather than discovering problems in post-processing. Live previews or in-flight image checks are becoming more standard.
Trend #2: Sensor Fusion & Multi-Modal Data Capture
Combining RGB + LiDAR + Multispectral + Thermal
Photogrammetry alone (RGB imagery) is powerful, but many projects now demand richer datasets: visible spectrum images coupled with LiDAR (for penetrating vegetation or capturing under-canopy ground), multispectral sensors for vegetation, or thermal sensors for detecting moisture leaks, heat loss, or other anomalies. Together, they provide more complete information than single sensor systems. Dronedesk blog+2ScienceDirect+2
In practice, this means a drone flight might capture RGB orthomosaic (for visual mapping), point clouds, plus thermal imagery or NDVI/multispectral mapping if needed. Surveyed By Drone has seen such combinations being requested for environmental monitoring, flood plain mapping, and site condition assessments where materials, moisture, or vegetation affect the project outcomes.
Higher Accuracy & Data Quality
Because of the additional sensors and better positioning (RTK/PPK), photogrammetric models are becoming more accurate in both horizontal and vertical planes. The error budgets (how much position error, height error, and model noise) are improving. Results such as Digital Terrain Models with smoother surfaces and less noise, point clouds with fewer outliers, and DEMs that match control points within small tolerances are becoming more common.
For example, a recent study combining UAV photogrammetry with LiDAR and GIS integration across building planning and topography found that these fused datasets substantially improved final terrain models and feature accuracy. ScienceDirect+1
More Complex Applications
With richer sensors and photogrammetric outputs, customers are asking for more. Not just maps and models, but analytics: material volume changes, erosion/bank stability, flood risk modeling, thermal leaks, habitat / vegetation health, and utility mapping are increasingly in demand. These require not just photogrammetric effort but domain-specific processing (e.g. multispectral calibration, thermal correction).
Why These Trends Are Changing Already
It’s worth asking why photogrammetry is evolving so quickly right now. Ten years ago, drones were a novelty in surveying. Today, orthomosaics and aerial photography are becoming the standard way to visualise and measure sites. The drivers of this shift come from several directions:
- Hardware Costs Are Falling
High-precision drones with RTK/PPK GNSS used to cost tens of thousands of pounds. Now, drones like the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise with RTK modules are accessible at a fraction of that. Better sensors, longer battery life, and more robust airframes are also now standard in affordable packages. This lower barrier to entry means more contractors, surveyors, and even smaller engineering firms are able to integrate photogrammetry into their workflows. - Processing Power Has Exploded
Photogrammetry is computationally heavy. Stitching thousands of images into an orthomosaic or generating dense point clouds used to take days. With cloud platforms and GPU acceleration, processing can now be completed in hours, sometimes minutes. This is why real-time quality assurance during flights is becoming practical. Companies can check orthomosaic previews on-site before packing up. - Client Expectations Have Shifted
Once clients have seen a weekly orthomosaic update, it’s hard to go back to paper drawings or occasional as-built surveys. Contractors are being asked to provide progress imagery, volume calculations, and aerial photography as part of regular reporting. This demand is pushing providers to innovate and deliver faster, more automated results. - Environmental & Safety Pressure
Sustainability and site safety are now central to how projects are judged. Drone photogrammetry reduces the need for vehicles, reduces surveyor time spent walking large or dangerous sites, and cuts emissions. These external pressures mean drones are not just useful, they’re becoming a compliance tool. - Data Integration & Standards
Modern projects are built around BIM and GIS platforms. Photogrammetric outputs can be imported directly, aligning aerial imagery with CAD, 3D models, and GIS layers. The expectation now is not just a map, but data that flows seamlessly into the project’s digital environment. This is forcing photogrammetry providers to produce outputs in standardised, interoperable formats.
Case Examples & Implications
A practical example of these trends in action is the Chatterley Valley regeneration project, where Lichfield Survey Supplies Ltd, carried out 26 drone surveys between June and December 2024.
- Scale of the Work: The site was approximately 446,000m², stretching 1.44 km by 0.4 km. Each weekly survey produced over 2,000 images, totalling 25.76 GB of data.
- Accuracy: More than 20 ground control points (GCPs) were installed across the site. With RTK corrections, the ground sampling distance (GSD) achieved was 1.48 cm/pixel, producing sub-centimetre accuracy across the dataset.
- Outputs: Each survey produced an orthomosaic, a point cloud, and a digital elevation model (DEM). These were analysed to calculate cut and fill volumes and track earthwork progress.
Implications of This Case:
- Demand for Frequency
Weekly surveys created a dataset that allowed John F Hunt Regeneration Ltd to spot issues early, manage subcontractors effectively, and avoid costly rework. This kind of frequency would be impossible using traditional surveying methods without enormous cost. - Data Volume Management
Over six months, more than 67,000 images were processed. This highlights the trend towards big data in construction. Without automated processing pipelines and robust data storage, managing this scale of imagery would not be practical. - Changing Role of Surveyors
Instead of spending days in the field with GNSS rovers or total stations, surveyors spent their time analysing drone data and producing actionable insights. This demonstrates the wider trend: drones don’t replace surveyors, they shift the focus from data capture to data interpretation. - Rising Client Expectations
Once contractors and developers see the benefits of weekly orthomosaics, point clouds, and volume calculations, they begin to expect them as standard. This is a trend echoed in other industries — agriculture (weekly NDVI maps), mining (stockpile monitoring), and infrastructure (progress reports).
Challenges & What Needs to Be Solved
While photogrammetry is advancing quickly, several challenges remain that need to be addressed if the technology is to reach its full potential.
- Vegetation & Occlusion
One of photogrammetry’s inherent weaknesses is its reliance on visible imagery. Dense tree cover, overhangs, or structures that obscure line of sight mean the underlying ground cannot be reconstructed. LiDAR solves this by penetrating vegetation, but LiDAR sensors are still expensive and not always suitable for smaller drones. Expect this to change as lightweight LiDAR modules become more mainstream. - Data Storage & Processing Time
A single survey can generate tens of gigabytes of imagery. Multiply that by weekly flights over six months and the storage requirements escalate quickly. Cloud solutions help, but data costs and bandwidth can become a bottleneck. Better compression, streaming models, and selective capture strategies are likely to evolve as solutions. - Accuracy vs Cost Trade-Offs
Achieving sub-centimetre accuracy requires good flight planning, RTK corrections, and multiple GCPs. But deploying GCPs adds time and cost. Some clients push for “absolute accuracy” without understanding the trade-offs. Providers need to educate clients that there’s a balance between cost, time, and achievable precision. - Weather & Lighting Constraints
Strong winds, rain, and poor lighting can all compromise data capture. This is especially relevant in the UK, where weather can be unpredictable. AI-driven flight planning may help by optimising capture windows, but weather will remain a limitation. - Regulation
Drone operations are still restricted by aviation authorities, with limits on BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) and maximum flight heights. These constraints can slow adoption in large infrastructure projects. Evolving regulations will determine how far photogrammetry can scale. - Client Understanding
Perhaps the most overlooked challenge is education. Many clients don’t fully understand what orthomosaics or point clouds are, or how to use them. Providers like Lichfield Survey Supplies and Surveyed By Drone spend considerable time helping clients interpret data. Future trends may see user-friendly dashboards and visualisation platforms becoming part of standard deliverables.
What Providers like Lichfield Survey Supplies / Surveyed By Drone Are Doing
- Ensuring robust GCP deployment even when RTK/PPK is used, because verified ground control improves confidence in vertical accuracy.
- Using overlap ratios aligned with best practices (75–80% forward overlap, ~70% side overlap) to avoid gaps or misalignments in orthomosaics.
- Field quality checks during flight: reviewing image sharpness, GPS metadata, lighting, overlap, to catch issues early.
- Offering deliverables that go beyond maps: orthomosaics, DEMs, point clouds, volumetric change reports, comparative data over time.
- Integrating photogrammetric data into client workflows—sharing orthomosaics and aerial photography that clients can use directly in planning, decision making and visual reporting.
What to Expect in the Next 2-3 Years
- Greater use of cloud-native photogrammetry platforms offering near real-time processing, live dashboards, and remote access to survey data from mobile/desktop.
- Increased AI-assisted change detection and anomaly alerting: e.g. “This slope moved 50mm since last survey,” or “this area’s vegetation changed.”
- More hybrids of photogrammetry + LiDAR + multispectral/thermal sensors in site surveys, especially in infrastructure, environment, and eco-monitoring sectors.
- Better user experiences (UX) in photogrammetry tools: simplified mobile apps, automatic flight path corrections, faster learning curve for new operators.
- Stronger standards for transparency: metadata, error reporting, documented calibration, standardised deliverables across projects.
How to Choose a Photogrammetry Provider or System
If you’re considering commissioning drone aerial photography, orthomosaics, or complete site mapping via photogrammetry, here are key questions to ask (whether using Lichfield Survey Supplies, Surveyed By Drone, or any other firm):
- Do they use RTK or PPK GPS?
- How many Ground Control Points are deployed, and where?
- What image overlap and flight altitude do they plan to use? (GSD targets)
- What software and workflows are used for processing? Is there AI / QC built in?
- Can they provide past samples (orthomosaics, DEMs, point clouds)?
- How fast are turnaround times, especially for repeat surveys?
- What level of error or accuracy guarantee do they give?
Summary & Looking Ahead
Photogrammetry is not slowing down; it’s accelerating. AI, automation, and sensor fusion are pushing deliverables from static maps into dynamic, decision-ready datasets. Orthomosaics and aerial photography are no longer specialist outputs — they are becoming baseline expectations across construction, infrastructure, and land management.
By the end of 2026, the biggest change we expect to see is the mainstream adoption of near real-time photogrammetry through cloud platforms. Instead of waiting hours or days for orthomosaics or point clouds to process, surveyors and contractors will be able to upload images in the field and generate usable, quality-checked results before leaving site. This shift will not only speed up decision-making but will also change client expectations: regular “drone-to-dashboard” reporting will become the norm, with stakeholders logging in to view live orthomosaics, volumetric updates, and annotated aerial photography within hours of capture.
For providers like Lichfield Survey Supplies and Surveyed By Drone, this is already on the horizon — with workflows being tested now on real-world projects. By next year, we expect this to be more than a trend: it will be the new standard for professional drone surveying.
Related Articles
The Evolution of Surveying: How Drones Are Changing the Game
Top 5 Industries Benefiting from Drone Surveying in 2025
Accuracy Matters: Comparing Drone Surveying to Traditional Methods
10 Reasons to Switch to Drone Surveying for your next Project
Drone Surveying Myths Debunked
How to Choose the Right Drone or Partner for Your Drone Surveying Needs