Drone Property Survey – 1100ha site in Central NSW

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Drone survey area of the 1100ha site. The property was large with large elevation differences including cliffs with dense vegetation.

Overview:

High Exposure, a specialist provider of professional drone surveying services throughout New South Wales and across Australia, successfully delivered a high-precision aerial survey of an 1100-hectare rural property in central NSW. This project was commissioned to satisfy regulatory requirements for establishing the site’s eligibility to generate biodiversity credits under the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme. The resulting high-resolution geospatial data supported the preparation of a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement (BSA) by providing accurate baseline mapping of vegetation communities, ecological features, and terrain characteristics essential for credit assessment and ongoing management.

Scope of Work:

  • Aerial Data Capture: The survey encompassed the full 1100-hectare property, delivering a Ground Sample Distance (GSD) of 3 cm
  • Data Accuracy: Absolute positional accuracy of 100mm or better. All deliverables were processed in the Australian Geocentric Datum 2020 (GDA2020) and Australian Height Datum (AHD) reference systems
  • Deliverable: Provide an orthomosaic, Digital Surface model and 3D Mesh model of the site

Survey Methodology:

  • Thirty Ground Control Points (GCPs) and independent checkpoints were established using a high-accuracy GNSS RTK receiver.
  • Black-and-white chevron targets were applied using a custom stencil for optimal visibility in aerial imagery.
  • Data capture was performed with a DJI Matrice 350 RTK equipped with the Zenmuse P1 45-megapixel full-frame sensor.
  • In areas lacking mobile network coverage, Starlink satellite connectivity ensured uninterrupted RTK corrections for both the drone and the GNSS receiver.

Project Background:

Under the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme, biodiversity credits are generated through voluntary Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements, in which landowners commit to the permanent protection and active management of high-value native vegetation and threatened species habitats. These actions—such as habitat restoration, invasive species control, and sustainable land management—yield ecosystem credits or species credits based on scientifically assessed biodiversity gains. The credits serve as a market-based mechanism to offset unavoidable impacts from development activities, ensuring that any loss of biodiversity elsewhere in the state is compensated by equivalent gains, thereby achieving no net loss (and ideally a net gain) of biodiversity across NSW.

Challenges

The project encountered several demanding conditions typical of remote Australian landscapes:

      • Steep and rugged terrain requiring 4WD access
      • Limited or absent mobile network coverage.
      • High ambient temperatures affecting equipment performance and battery management.
      • Difficult-to-reach GCP locations, requiring extended bushwalking and necessitating coordination with neighbouring landowners.
      • An elevation range of nearly 200 m, requiring on-site adjustments to flight plans to maintain transmission signal reliability and safety.
      • Occasional close interest from wedge-tailed eagles causing concern they would treat the drone as a threat.
      • Battery charging constraints in a remote location and hot conditions, managed through a vehicle mounted electric power station, vehicle air-conditioning, and auxiliary cooling fans.
      • Full equipment redundancy to mitigate any potential delays in this remote setting.
A capable 4WD vehicle equipped with Starlink allowed physical access and internet connectivity across the property

Aerial Map and survey plan overlay to determine accurate drone positioning using set back measurements 

Data Processing

A total of 12,000 high-resolution images were processed into a seamless orthomosaic and Digital Surface Model (DSM). The dataset was rigorously calibrated using the GCPs and checkpoints, with final processing completed on a high-performance workstation in under 48 hours.

Accurate RTK recording of highly visible GCP targets to acheive accuracy tolerances

Results

The survey exceeded the specified requirements, achieving an average GSD of 2.5 cm and a mean absolute positional accuracy of 2.7 cm RMS relative to the GCP network. The entire field campaign, including GCP placement, was completed in five days, with data processing and delivery finished within two additional days—delivered ahead of the client’s deadline.

In addition to the orthomosaic and DSM, a fully georeferenced 3D mesh model was generated and uploaded to a secure online viewing platform. This interactive model enables the client, ecologists, engineers, and other stakeholders to visualise and analyse the site for planning, compliance reporting, and future management activities. Overall, 13.4 km² of land was mapped with exceptional detail and reliability.

Conclusion

High Exposure’s expertise in challenging environments and commitment to technical excellence ensured a timely, accurate, and cost-effective outcome that directly supports the client’s biodiversity stewardship objectives.

Contact our team for your next drone property survey project.

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