Site survey for an earthworks quote
An earthworks quote stands or falls on the earthmoving. Get your estimate wrong and it eats straight into your margin. With a terrain model from a drone flight you calculate the earthworks from your desk, based on real heights.
Why this matters
Earthmoving is often the biggest unknown in a quote. Estimating a site "by eye" or with a few manual measurements works until it goes wrong: too little excavation costed in, a slope underestimated, and the profit disappears. Whoever starts from measurable heights quotes tighter and safer.
How it works: from flight to cut & fill
The drone flies the site and delivers an elevation model and an orthophoto. In it you calculate height differences and cut & fill — how much soil has to go, how much has to come in — right on screen. No prism across the field, no second visit for a forgotten dimension. The figures arrive in a form you drop straight into your take-off. Why those figures are reliable, read How accurate is a volume measurement?
Case: a contractor near Antwerp
An earthworks contractor from the Antwerp region had a site flown before preparing his quote. Instead of half a day measuring and estimating, by the evening he had an elevation model on which he could calculate the earthmoving exactly. The result: a substantiated price he could defend, and no surprise during execution because the quantities were fixed up front.
Common mistakes
- Estimating earthworks by eye. On uneven ground you are quickly tens of cubic metres off.
- Forgetting the ground surface. Without a known base surface, no reliable cut & fill.
- Only measuring at execution. Measure before the quote, so you calculate on figures instead of hope.
Why with a drone (and why Droneview)?
A drone flight gives you a full terrain model in half an hour that you can work with for days at the desk. After 30 years in earthworks Guy knows what a contractor needs to make a quote hold up. Droneview operates EASA-certified and RTK-controlled; how we survey sites for the works, you can read on site efficiency & digital surveys.
Frequently asked questions
How do I estimate earthworks for a quote?
With a terrain model from a drone flight you calculate height differences and cut & fill on screen. Your quote then rests on measurable figures rather than an estimate on site.
Does this save time on take-off?
Yes. After the flight you measure everything from the desk, without a second site visit. That speeds up the quoting phase and reduces the risk of errors in the earthworks.
How accurate is that for a price calculation?
With RTK and control points you reach centimetre accuracy and up to 99% on volumes, more than enough to calculate earthworks reliably.
Have a site surveyed before you quote?
Send us the location — you will get an elevation model on which to calculate the earthworks exactly.
Request a quote