Survey & Inspection |
Junior Aerial utilises the latest in UAS technology to unify unrivalled accuracy and comprehensive data gathering.
This reduces the need for riskier, more time-consuming manual inspections.
While you're manually mapping the site, your competitors could already be surveying their next project, delivering results faster and competing for the next contract.
Using drones equipped with radiometric thermal cameras, Junior Aerial is able to capture issues that may not be visible to the naked eye. These cameras are set to find a specific heat range during flight. Each individual pixel of a thermal photo taken aboard our aircraft contains temperature data. For our clients, this means no data is lost from the survey, reducing the need for secondary inspections. Aerial surveys take a fraction of the time that manual surveys do, while also removing personnel from high, hard-to-reach, and otherwise risky areas. Temperature anomalies on roofing, electrical components, and other assets are all symptoms of potentially bigger problems down the line. Water ingress caused by missing flashings and components can cause roofing insulation to release heat differently compared to other areas. Thermal-equipped aircraft can identify these issues and more, helping to spot faults quickly and prioritising work where it is needed most. This results in less time spent manually inspecting riskier, hard-to-access areas of roofing. Our clients have also found that documenting their assets with thermal imaging has proven useful when comparing past data to future surveys and repair work to better identify priority areas for further inspection and remedying. Using photogrammetry technology, we can combine thermal photos with a measurable, accurate 3D model of an object that blends high-resolution imagery with thermal data.
Thermal Imaging |
Photogrammetry |
The term "Photogrammetry" derives from the greek words for: "Light" (Photo) "That which is drawn" (Gramma) "To Measure" (Metron) Photogrammetry therefore means in the literal sense "to take measurements from photographs". It is the art and science of obtaining reliable information about tangible objects and the environment through the process of recording, measuring, and interpreting images. These images are then stitched together using advanced software to create a 3-dimensional, measurable model. Using this alongside Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) positioning, we can produce georeferenced 3D models that can be measured and placed accurately within their surrounding environment up to within 20mm of accuracy. Depending on the requirements of the project, this can provide a detailed and measurable digital representation of a site, structure or asset. Beyond construction Photogrammetry isn't limited to construction and traditional surveying. An example of uses outside of construction: A detailed 3D representation of an environment can also provide valuable applications for estate security and investigative work. CCTV cameras can be spatially mapped within a 3D model, with camera locations, identifiers and approximate fields of view recorded at relevant points. Over time, this can create a visual reference of the site's CCTV infrastructure and help establish which cameras may have covered a particular location. This can be particularly valuable when investigating incidents across large or complex sites. Rather than beginning each enquiry by manually establishing the location and potential coverage of individual cameras. Our understanding of this application is informed by previous investigative experience within the Police. Identifying the right camera and obtaining the relevant footage can be a significant part of an investigation, and footage recorded before or after an incident can sometimes provide important context, continuity and corroboration. Monitoring change over time Photogrammetry can also be used to create a repeatable digital record of buildings, structures and terrain. By surveying the same environment at different points in time, models can be compared to identify changes in the site. This can be particularly useful for construction monitoring, difficult-to-access areas, earthworks and environments where conventional access may be challenging or hazardous. Rather than requiring personnel to repeatedly enter difficult areas simply to document their condition, aerial photogrammetry can provide a detailed record while keeping much of the data collection process away from the immediate hazard.
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) |
LiDAR is the process of firing high precision lasers at an object and measuring precisely how long it takes for them to return to the aircraft sensor. By doing this with the DJI Zenmuse L3, Junior Aerial are able to produce a remarkably clear, measurable 3D model of an object. LiDAR sounds quite similar to photogrammetry in making a 3D model, so where do they differ, and why would we use this? LiDAR is useful in situations where there is thick vegetation or terrain under soft cover, something that photogrammetry can't penetrate. LiDAR excels in mapping terrain for highways, railways, or uncovering hidden structures beneath thick overgrowth, eliminating the need for manual brush clearing of a site. LiDAR strips this away, revealing the true topography beneath. Due to the fact that LiDAR produces its own light source (infra-red lasers), it can work in low level to pitch black working environments ensuring that the subject of the survey can remain operational 24/7. This is useful when photogrammetry relies on adequate lighting to produce a clear picture. Photogrammetry also relies on matching landmarks around the subject that are then used as reference points for stitching photos together. This is particularly challenging on terrain that has no landmarks, thus the software has no way of referencing where it should stitch photos together. LiDAR does not require any landmarks or visual reference points, and can produce a 3D model of terrain with complete independence. This is particularly useful when surveying large-scale terrain. Photogrammetry requires more time to render high resolution photographs together through cloud points, whereas LiDAR technology produces a near-instant result. This is particularly useful in mapping terrain for highways, power lines, railways, or uncovering hidden structures beneath thick overgrowth.
Orthomosaics |
"Ortho" — A term used to describe something "straight" or "correct". "Mosaic" — The process of making a big picture out of smaller pieces. The two terms together create an orthomosaic survey. Here, we take hundreds to thousands of smaller, two-dimensional, high-resolution pictures to create an extremely detailed, measurable 2D map of a subject. You might look at 3D photogrammetry models and ask: why don't we just use a 3D model alongside a simple, 90-degree top-down photo of the subject? The answer lies in efficiency and compatibility. Orthomosaics are significantly smaller file sizes than 3D photogrammetry models. They can be directly imported into software like AutoCAD, ArcGIS, or QGIS. Combined with RTK positioning, this allows you to trace directly over the 2D orthomosaic to create site plans, verify asset locations, and measure boundaries down to the centimetre. Orthomosaics are particularly valuable for property and construction site managers, who can view an entire 100-acre site on a single screen with total clarity, rather than wasting time navigating a clunky 3D environment or clicking through 500 individual drone photos. Furthermore, orthomosaic maps can be viewed on almost any standard computer with an internet connection, as opposed to heavy 3D models that require specialized hardware or dedicated software licenses like DJI Terra, DroneDeploy, or Pix4D.
Environmental Monitoring |
Environmental mapping requires accurate, repeatable data. At Junior Aerial, we deliver exactly that. Pictured left is an ongoing survey we launched in April 2026 at Escot Estate, of whom are working alongside Devon Wildlife Trust. Through this task, we were able to map a local lake to study the environmental impacts of a resident beaver colony. Our aerial surveys provide a bird's-eye view of how these animals naturally mitigate floods and boost biodiversity. Traditional ground surveys are time-consuming and can disturb habitats. Junior Aerial’s drone mapping services offer a faster, safer, and more detailed way to track ecosystem changes, manage land assets, and back your conservation goals with hard visual evidence. Using drones to survey activity like this are crucial in understanding and tracking how incredible animals like Beavers impact our environment and continuing conservation efforts. Environmental Monitoring also invaluable in tracking natural disasters and damages that may have been caused from them. Environmental mapping isn't always a walk in the park! While completing our April 2026 survey at Escot Estate, our pilot accidentally stumbled into a wasp nest and took a few stings for the team. Despite the unexpected aerial dogfight, we kept our focus, safely landed the aircraft, and secured the vital ecosystem data the Devon Wildlife Trust needed. It turns out that tracking nature's engineers sometimes means dealing with nature's more defensive residents—but a few wasp stings won't stop Junior Aerial from delivering top-tier data.