Establishing UplinkOperations
Technical Capability
COMMERCIAL DRONE FLEET &
SPECIALIST CAPTURE CAPABILITY
Altitude Hire specifies drone platforms, sensors and capture workflows around the required output — from roof inspection imagery and thermal evidence to mapping, photogrammetry, LiDAR-supported surveys, aerial media and immersive 3D visualisation.
InspectionSurveyingThermalMediaMapping3D Capture
01 · Mission Planning
THE RIGHT PLATFORM FOR THE
REQUIRED OUTPUT
"Altitude Hire selects the equipment and workflow around the deliverable, site constraints, risk profile and intended use of the output."
Different drone projects require different capture workflows. A roof inspection, solar thermal survey, construction progress flight, stockpile volume survey, FPV flythrough and Gaussian Splat capture do not need the same platform or sensor setup.
Operational Setup
Available through our operational fleet and specialist delivery partners, Altitude Hire works with an operational drone fleet and specialist delivery partners to specify the right platform and payload for each project.
Specialist platforms and payloads can be specified according to project requirements.
02 · Platform Tiers
OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES
Inspection Platforms
For roof inspections, building envelope surveys, infrastructure inspections, asset condition capture, insurance evidence and high-level visual records.
Relevant Platforms:
- DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise
- DJI Matrice 30 / 30T
- DJI Matrice 300 / 350 RTK
- Equivalent enterprise inspection platforms
Inspection platforms are selected for image quality, stability, zoom capability, safe standoff distance, obstacle awareness and suitability for commercial environments.
Outputs Supported:
- High-resolution inspection imagery
- Annotated defect images
- Roof and facade evidence
- Asset condition records
- Insurance support imagery
- Contractor briefing packs
Thermal Imaging Platforms
For solar inspections, building heat loss investigations, roof anomaly checks, electrical asset review and thermal evidence capture.
Relevant Platforms:
- DJI Mavic 3 Thermal
- DJI Matrice 30T
- Zenmuse H20T
- Equivalent radiometric thermal payloads
Thermal platforms are selected where temperature anomaly evidence is required. Thermal outputs should be interpreted in context and, where required, verified through further investigation.
Outputs Supported:
- Thermal image sets
- Solar panel hotspot evidence
- Building heat loss indicators
- Roof anomaly imagery
- Thermal inspection summaries
- Asset condition evidence
Surveying & Mapping Platforms
For orthomosaics, point clouds, photogrammetry, stockpile volumes, construction mapping, agricultural mapping and site measurement outputs.
Relevant Platforms:
- RTK-enabled drone platforms
- DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise RTK
- DJI Matrice 300 / 350 RTK
- Equivalent survey-mapping platforms
Mapping workflows can be planned with RTK, ground control and processing methods where high-accuracy or survey-supported outputs are required. Accuracy depends on the project methodology, control, site conditions and deliverable requirements.
Outputs Supported:
- Orthomosaic maps
- Point clouds
- 3D models
- DSM / DTM
- Contours
- Stockpile volumes
- Cut and fill analysis
- CAD / GIS exports where scoped
LiDAR & Specialist Survey Payloads
For complex survey environments, terrain capture, vegetation, infrastructure, corridors and point-cloud-focused deliverables.
Relevant Platforms:
- Zenmuse L1
- Zenmuse L2
- Equivalent drone LiDAR payloads
- Ground control / survey control equipment where relevant
LiDAR and specialist survey payloads can be specified through specialist delivery partners where required by the project scope.
Outputs Supported:
- LAS / LAZ point clouds
- E57 point clouds
- Classified point clouds
- Terrain data
- Corridor data
- Vegetation-aware survey outputs
- BIM / CAD / GIS-compatible data where scoped
Aerial Media Platforms
For commercial photography, cinematic drone video, property marketing, venue content, construction showcase films and social media assets.
Relevant Platforms:
- DJI Mavic 3 Pro / Cine
- DJI Inspire series
- DJI Air series where appropriate
- Equivalent cinematic drone platforms
Aerial media platforms are selected for image quality, motion, lens flexibility, colour performance and the required production style.
Outputs Supported:
- High-resolution aerial image packs
- Edited drone video
- Website hero footage
- Social media clips
- Property marketing assets
- Venue showcase films
- Construction update films
FPV Capture Platforms
For dynamic flythroughs, indoor/outdoor visual sequences, venue showcases, factory walkthroughs, property tours and social-first content.
Relevant Platforms:
- Custom-built FPV cinewhoops
- DJI Avata series
- High-performance FPV platforms
FPV flights require careful planning around people, property, indoor constraints, risk controls, flight path and the intended visual sequence.
Outputs Supported:
- FPV flythrough video
- Venue walkthrough
- Factory/process flythrough
- Property showcase
- Event content
- Social-first video
Related Services:
3D & Immersive Capture Workflows
For Gaussian Splats, photogrammetry, digital twin-style visual records, 360 aerial panoramas and immersive site visualisation.
Relevant Platforms:
- High-overlap mapping drones
- 360-degree capture payloads
- Gaussian Splat-optimized capture workflows
Immersive outputs depend on the capture pattern, image overlap, site coverage, lighting, processing workflow and intended viewer experience. Drone capture can be combined with ground-level imagery where required.
Outputs Supported:
- Gaussian Splats
- Photogrammetry models
- 3D meshes
- Point clouds
- 360 aerial panoramas
- Flythrough videos
- Digital twin-style visual records
03 · Methodology
HOW WE SELECT THE
RIGHT DRONE FOR THE JOB
01
Required Output
Define whether the client needs inspection evidence, survey data, thermal imagery, video, mapping or immersive 3D capture.
02
Site Constraints
Review the site, airspace, access, hazards, people, buildings, weather and operating environment.
03
Sensor Requirements
Determine whether the project needs RGB imagery, zoom, thermal, RTK, LiDAR, FPV or high-overlap image capture.
04
Accuracy & Reporting
Identify whether RTK, ground control, accuracy checks or specialist processing are required for survey outputs.
05
Delivery Format
Select the capture workflow based on the final deliverable — report, image pack, map, model, video or point cloud.
04 · Principle
OUTPUT-FIRST
DRONE OPERATIONS
Altitude Hire does not specify equipment simply because it looks impressive on a fleet page. The correct drone is the one that safely captures the required data and produces the deliverable the client can actually use.
05 · Technology
DRONE SENSORS AND
PAYLOADS EXPLAINED
RGB Camera
Standard high-resolution visual imaging for inspection, photography, video, mapping and documentation.
Zoom Camera
Useful for detailed inspection from safer standoff distances where close visual capture is needed.
Thermal Camera
Captures temperature differences that may indicate heat loss, solar panel anomalies, moisture concerns or asset condition issues.
RTK Positioning
Supports higher-accuracy mapping workflows by improving positioning data during capture.
LiDAR
Uses laser scanning to create point clouds, often useful for terrain, vegetation, corridors and geometry-focused survey work.
FPV Camera
Used for dynamic close-range flythrough filming and immersive motion-based video content.
360 Capture
Creates panoramic views for fixed-point interactive viewing and site context.
High-Overlap Imagery
Used for photogrammetry, Gaussian Splats, 3D reconstruction and mapping workflows.
NOT SURE WHICH DRONE
OR SENSOR YOUR
PROJECT NEEDS?
Tell us the site, the output and the decision you need to make. Altitude Hire will recommend the right capture workflow, platform and deliverable route.
Operational Integrity
Altitude Hire works with an operational drone fleet and specialist delivery partners to specify the right platform and payload for each project. Some advanced sensors, LiDAR systems or specialist platforms may be deployed through approved partners depending on the project requirement.