🗺️ SURVEYING & PHOTOGRAMMETRY · LA ROCHELLE (17) · €800–3,000 PER DAY
Drone surveying & photogrammetry in La Rochelle
Drone photogrammetry turns a few hundred aerial photos into precision survey products: georeferenced orthophotography at 1–3 cm/pixel, digital surface and terrain models, 3D point clouds, contour lines, stockpile and earthworks volume calculations. With an RTK/PPK drone and ground control points measured by centimetre-grade GNSS, accuracy reaches 2 to 5 cm both horizontally and vertically — sufficient for most development studies, at a fraction of the cost of an exhaustive ground survey.
We cover from 1 to several hundred hectares per day depending on the required resolution, including hard-to-access sites: working quarries, landfills, riverbanks, industrial wasteland. Deliverables come in your coordinate system (Lambert 93 / RGF93, conic conformal projections) and standard formats (GeoTIFF, LAS/LAZ, DXF, GIS formats). Chartered surveyors, civil engineering offices, quarry operators and local authorities are regular clients.
Free quote — surveying & photogrammetry in La Rochelle
Rates
€800–3,000 per day — the range observed on the 2026 French market, including regulatory preparation, flight and delivery. The exact quote depends on the site, the deliverable and the airspace context in La Rochelle.
Common use cases
- Topographic survey of land ahead of a development or subdivision project
- Stockpile volume measurement in quarries or recycling platforms
- Centimetre-grade orthophoto of a municipality for its GIS
- Digital terrain model for hydraulic or flood-risk studies
- Erosion monitoring of riverbanks, dunes or coastal cliffs
- 3D modelling of a building or monument for a digital twin
The local context in La Rochelle
La Rochelle offers exceptional aerial subjects: the three medieval towers of the Old Harbour, Les Minimes marina (the largest on the Atlantic coast with nearly 5,000 berths), the aquarium and the nearby Île de Ré bridge. Beware though: La Rochelle - Île de Ré aerodrome (LFBH), north-west of the city, requires coordination for any flight in its vicinity, and flying over the busy Old Harbour in high season calls for an operating scenario suited to crowds.
Economically, the city lives from yachting (shipyards, chandlery, the Grand Pavois boat show), tourism, the commercial port of La Pallice and an active university hub. Drone pilots work extensively here on coastal real estate, port construction monitoring, inspection of maritime structures (sea walls, bridges) and communication for sailing events.
Applicable regulations
Survey flights mostly take place outside built-up areas, in open category A2 or A3 (photogrammetry drones weigh 900 g to 6 kg) flying automated grid patterns below the regulatory 120 m. Long corridors or populated sites fall under the specific category (STS-01/STS-02, or an operational authorisation for BVLOS on long corridors). The operator is registered on AlphaTango and checks regulated zones on Géoportail: quarries and industrial estates are often near airfields or under military low-altitude training routes (RTBA), requiring protocols or time slots. Legally binding georeferencing (enforceable boundary plans) remains the exclusive remit of chartered surveyors, with whom we work as subcontractors.
Frequently asked questions
What accuracy can a drone survey guarantee?
With an RTK drone and ground control points, we guarantee 2 to 5 cm XYZ accuracy, verified against independent checkpoints whose residuals are documented in the processing report.
Does a drone survey replace a chartered surveyor?
No for legally binding documents (boundary demarcation, land division): that is the chartered surveyor's legal monopoly. Yes for technical studies: our deliverables feed directly into civil works design, volume calculations and environmental studies.
Does vegetation interfere with photogrammetric surveys?
Yes: photogrammetry measures the visible surface, so the canopy rather than the ground beneath. For wooded areas, we offer drone LiDAR, which penetrates vegetation and reconstructs the bare terrain.
Can this service be flown anywhere in La Rochelle?
Almost: Abords de l'aérodrome de La Rochelle - Île de Ré (LFBH); Zone portuaire de La Pallice (installations sensibles); Forte affluence du Vieux-Port en saison (survol de tiers). Depending on the exact location, the pilot picks the right framework (open or specific category) and files the required declarations — included in the quote.
Other drone services in La Rochelle
- Aerial photography in La Rochelle from €300
- Aerial video in La Rochelle from €500
- Real estate drone services in La Rochelle from €250
- Weddings & events in La Rochelle from €400
- Roof inspection in La Rochelle from €200
- Facade inspection in La Rochelle from €300
- Aerial thermal imaging in La Rochelle from €500
- Construction site monitoring in La Rochelle from €250
- Precision agriculture in La Rochelle from €8
- Security & surveillance in La Rochelle from €600
- Immersive FPV video in La Rochelle from €700
- High-access cleaning in La Rochelle from €500
- Drone pilot training in La Rochelle from €350
- All services in La Rochelle
Surveying & photogrammetry near La Rochelle
- Surveying & photogrammetry in Bordeaux Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Surveying & photogrammetry in Limoges Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Surveying & photogrammetry in Poitiers Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Surveying & photogrammetry in Pau Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Surveying & photogrammetry in Niort Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Surveying & photogrammetry in Bayonne Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Surveying & photogrammetry: every city →