When it comes to land surveying, accuracy and efficiency aren’t just nice to have — they’re everything. Whether you’re building roads, planning a mining site, or laying railway tracks, precision in your data collection is what lays the foundation for success. Enter DGNSS (Differential Global Navigation Satellite System) and drone-based surveying — two technologies that are transforming how surveyors and civil engineers work on the ground.
In this blog, we’ll break down what DGNSS and drone surveying are, how they work together, and why industries like mining, construction, road and railway departments are shifting to these modern tools.
What is DGNSS & Why Does It Matter for Drone Surveys?
DGNSS = Differential GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System)
Unlike standard GPS (which can have 5–10m errors), DGNSS corrects satellite signals using:
A base station (on a known coordinate)
A rover (drone/RTK receiver)
This brings accuracy down to 1–2 cm — critical for engineering-grade surveys.
Unlike standard GPS (which can have 5–10m errors), DGNSS corrects satellite signals using:
A base station (on a known coordinate)
A rover (drone/RTK receiver)
This brings accuracy down to 1–2 cm — critical for engineering-grade surveys.
Two Flavors of DGNSS:
RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) — Corrections sent live to the drone (best for real-time mapping).
PPK (Post-Processed Kinematic) — Data corrected later using software (more reliable in areas with poor connectivity).
Fun Fact: Our SurveyPod DGNSS supports both RTK & PPK, so you’re covered in any terrain.
What is Drone Surveying?
Drone surveying uses UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) equipped with high-resolution cameras or LiDAR sensors to capture aerial data over large areas. Instead of spending days walking the terrain with a total station, drones can cover 60 hectares in one flight — in just minutes.
Why Drones Make Sense:
- Speed: Quick data capture means faster project planning.
- Safety: No need to send people into dangerous or inaccessible areas.
- Coverage: Large areas can be surveyed in a single flight.
- Accuracy: With GNSS correction, drone data is incredibly precise.
- Speed: Quick data capture means faster project planning.
- Safety: No need to send people into dangerous or inaccessible areas.
- Coverage: Large areas can be surveyed in a single flight.
- Accuracy: With GNSS correction, drone data is incredibly precise.
Fun Fact: Our Surveyaan V1 drone is a compact, sub-2kg UAV perfect for this.
How DGNSS and Drone Surveying Work Together
- Accurate orthomosaic/orthophotos, dsm/dtm, point clouds
- Precise 3D and 2D models
- Reliable contour and elevation data
- Use Surveyaan V1/Surveyaan V1+ to capture the entire stretch of land.
- Use Surveypod DGNSS to place accurate Ground Control Points (GCPs).
- Process everything in a cloud photogrammetry tool like Surveyaan Geoworkspace for instant outputs.
Who’s Using This Technology?
- Civil engineers & Surveyors: For land survey, topographic surveys, aerial maps and more.
- Mining departments: For volume calculations, pit mapping, and safety monitoring.
- Highway & Road departments: For route alignment, site inspection, and project monitoring.
- Railway departments: For corridor mapping and encroachment analysis.
- Infrastructure companies: For project planning, reporting, and audit documentation.
