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A behind-the-scenes look at how aerial scans and site analysis fuel your design.
The Problem
The Challenges in Traditional Landscape Site Measurements
Fragmented Data Collection: Often, multiple devices are used to capture data, leading to fragmented and inconsistent datasets that need to be merged, complicating the analysis process and raising questions about data reliability.
Time-Consuming: Extensive hours are spent on-site measuring and collecting data without the guarantee of securing the project, resulting in wasted resources and time.
Repeated Site Visits: If initial measurements are missed or if the project scope changes, it often requires multiple trips back to the site, increasing both travel time and costs.
Measuring Large or Challenging Sites are Tough: Expansive, sloped, or overgrown properties are physically demanding and time-consuming to measure by hand. It's easy to get overwhelmed or miss critical details, especially on multi-acre sites.
Tape Measure
Zip-Level
Measuring Wheel
Hand-written Measurements
The Solution
Streamlined Data with Precision
Cedrus offers advanced drone technology for landscape site analysis and mapping, providing a single, reliable data source that saves time and resources, enhances accuracy, and delivers cost-effective solutions to streamline the workflow for landscape companies and landscape architects.
What is an Orthomosaic Map - And Why it Matters:
An orthomosaic map is a high-resolution, georeferenced aerial image composed of hundreds (or thousands) of drone-captured photographs. Each photo is corrected for distortion (from camera angle and terrain variation) and stitched together using specialized photogrammetry software. The result is a seamless, scaled, and dimensionally accurate top-down view of the entire site.
Aerial Scan - 599 Photos taken to merge into Orthomosaic, Photogrammetry Model, and Point Cloud.
Google-Maps
Single Drone Photo
Orthomosaic
Orthomosaic Key Advantages in Landscape Design:
Inch-accurate maps: trace directly over up to 30 acres
Geo-referenced: North arrow is always 100% accurate with orthomosaic rotation.
Measure tree canopy widths
See small details like manholes, septic lids, and utilities
Trace organic shapes like garden beds, roads, and patios
Trace rooflines and overhangs
Base map layered overtop of orthomosaic.
Moving into 3D: Elevation Data (z) for Landscape Design
In addition to flat, 2D orthomosaic maps (X/Y data), drone mapping also produces detailed 3D elevation data (Z-axis) through two key outputs: a photogrammetry model and a point cloud. These tools provide depth, contour, and surface information; essential for grading, slope analysis, drainage planning, and building level transitions; all without physically surveying the site.
3D Key Advantages in Landscape Design
Measure building outline and elevation changes
Pinpoint tree trunk / utility pole locations
Reveal what’s under tree canopies
Get tree and other object heights (like fences, poles, etc.)
Share 3D model links with other contractors/designers
Generate contour lines and spot elevations
Understand slope and drainage patterns
Create section cuts through terrain/features
Virtually explore the site from your screen.
Photogrammetry model
Point Cloud model
Photogrammetry model
Point Cloud model
Point Cloud model - Elevations
House Measurements
By slicing the point cloud just below the roofline, a clean outline of the structure is revealed for accurate building edge measurements. Linear measurements are also taken from the photogrammetry model to verify dimensions and locate key features such as doors and windows.
Virtually ‘chopping’ off the roof of a house and revealing measurements
The deck is measured from the photogrammetry model for quality checks
Windows and doors are measured via the photogrammetry model
Locating Tree Trunks
The scan’s point cloud data captures vertical structures in high detail, making it easy to identify and mark the precise locations of tree trunks. To highlight this, the point cloud is rendered in greyscale, while vertical elements — such as trunks — are marked in red. This visual contrast makes tall, upright features stand out clearly, ensuring accurate tree placement in the design process.
Removing the tree canopies reveals the tree trunk locations. There were over 50 trees on this site.
Top view (left) and perspective view (right) of tree trunk locations
Topography
The scan also captures changes in elevation across the site. This topographic data is for identifying slopes, drainage patterns, and level areas in landscape design. The point cloud reveals ground contours even beneath tree canopy, giving us a clear and accurate base to work from when planning grading, retaining walls, or water management features.
Contour lines are generated by clipping the point cloud with section cuts. The terrain profile is traced manually from each slice.
The terrain model is built from over 2,000 stake points.
Contour Lines
Contour lines give a clear visual snapshot of hose the land rises, falls, or flattens out. With just a glance, we can understand the site's slope patterns, high and low points, and how water might flow with a drainge pattern layered on top.
Contour lines result using door sill as 0' benchmark.
Spot Elevations
From the photogrammetry model, we extract spot elevations (precise height data at specific points across the site). This allows us to plan detailed design elements, like the number of stair risers or transitions between levels, without needing repeated site visits.
Using door sill as bench mark. Measuring vertical distance to garage sill (to determine amount of steps needed for design).
Spot Elevations on base map with result from measuring door sill to garage sill.
Section Cut
Section cuts are extracted directly from the 3D point cloud, providing a vertical slice through the site. These cuts include terrain elevation, building heights, and tree heights.
Raw section cut from point cloud model
Section cut traced showing terrain, house elevation, and tree heights.
TL;DR
Tree trunks and vertical features are precisely located using 3D point cloud data.
Contour lines show how the land slopes and flows, helping guide layout and grading.
Spot elevations let us plan details like stair heights without returning to the site.
High-resolution orthomosaic maps provide a true-to-scale base for tracing features.
All of this data helps us design more accurately and efficiently right from the start.
Conclusion
This amazing technology is changing the way landscapes are designed. By using aerial scans, we can create more efficient, more effective, and far more accurate site plans. Many other Nova Scotian landscape designers now rely on Cedrus to generate their base maps and allowing them to fast-track the technical groundwork and spend more time where it counts, designing.
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