Mapping Deliverables Explained

Clear. Accurate. Ready to Use.

When we deliver mapping data, it’s not just “pretty pictures.” Every file is engineered to be measurable, interoperable, and decision-ready, whether you’re working in CAD, GIS, estimating software, or a web viewer.

Below is a breakdown of the most common deliverables we provide and how our clients actually use them.

Orthomosaic Imagery (Geo-Referenced Aerial Maps)

What it is
A high-resolution aerial map stitched from hundreds or thousands of images and corrected for scale, distortion, and terrain.

What makes it powerful

  • True-to-scale (every pixel has real-world coordinates)

  • Can be measured just like a CAD drawing

  • Seamlessly overlays into design files

Common uses

  • Site planning & layout

  • Progress documentation

  • Quantity takeoffs

  • Base mapping for design

Delivered as

  • GeoTIFF (CAD/GIS-ready)

  • Web-optimized tiles (for online viewers)

  • Optional compressed formats for easy sharing

Digital Surface Model (DSM)

What it is
A 3D elevation model that includes everything visible from above—ground, buildings, stockpiles, equipment, vegetation.

Why it matters

  • Captures real-world conditions exactly as they exist

  • Ideal for volume and height analysis

  • Preserves site complexity

Common uses

  • Stockpile volume calculations

  • Flood modeling

  • Visual line-of-sight analysis

Delivered as

  • GeoTIFF elevation raster

  • Point-based surface exports

  • CAD-compatible formats

Digital Terrain Model (DTM – Bare Earth)

What it is
A cleaned elevation model showing ground only, with vegetation and structures removed (often derived from LiDAR).

Why engineers love it

  • Represents true topography

  • Ideal for grading, drainage, and design

  • Survey-grade workflows when paired with control

Common uses

  • Topographic mapping

  • Drainage design

  • Earthwork planning

Delivered as

  • Bare-earth GeoTIFF

  • Classified point cloud

  • CAD-ready surfaces (TINs)

Contours

What they are
Lines connecting equal elevations—generated directly from the terrain model.

Why they matter

  • Instantly communicate slope and relief

  • Easy to interpret for planners and contractors

  • Critical for grading and drainage decisions

Common intervals

  • 1 ft for detailed design

  • 2 ft / 5 ft for planning-level maps

Delivered as

  • CAD (DWG/DXF)

  • GIS (SHP)

  • PDF map layouts

Point Clouds (Photogrammetry or LiDAR)

What it is
Millions (or billions) of 3D points representing the site in space.

Photogrammetry point clouds

  • Dense, colorized

  • Ideal for surfaces, structures, and visuals

LiDAR point clouds

  • Penetrate vegetation

  • Highly accurate ground returns

  • Industry standard for survey & engineering

Delivered as

  • LAS / LAZ

  • Classified (ground, vegetation, structures)

  • EPSG-defined coordinate systems

CAD-Ready Files

What you get
Files that drop directly into software like AutoCAD Civil 3D, AutoCAD, or MicroStation.

Includes

  • Ortho backgrounds

  • Surfaces (TINs)

  • Contours

  • Breaklines (when applicable)

No extra cleanup required
Everything is aligned, scaled, and coordinate-aware.

GIS-Ready Data

Perfect for

  • Asset management

  • Environmental tracking

  • Long-term site monitoring

Delivered as

  • Shapefiles

  • GeoPackages

  • GeoTIFF rasters

Compatible with QGIS, ArcGIS, and other GIS platforms.

Volume Calculations & Reports

What’s included

  • Cut/fill volumes

  • Stockpile quantities

  • Comparison vs. previous surveys

Formats

  • Spreadsheet summaries

  • PDF reports

  • Annotated maps

Typical accuracy

  • Photogrammetry: planning & production tracking

  • LiDAR: high-confidence inventory & reconciliation

Online & Interactive Viewers

What it is
A browser-based way to explore your site—no software installs required.

Features

  • Measure distances and areas

  • Toggle layers on/off

  • Share links with stakeholders

Perfect for

  • Owners

  • Executives

  • Field teams

  • Remote collaboration

Accuracy, Control & Coordinate Systems (Why Our Data Works)

Every project includes

  • Ground control or RTK/PPK workflows

  • Defined coordinate reference systems

  • Vertical datum clarity

  • Metadata documentation

This ensures your data lines up with surveys, designs, and future flights—not just today, but years from now.

Not Sure What You Need?

You don’t have to spec the deliverables—that’s our job.

We start by asking:

  • What decisions are you making with the data?

  • Who needs to use it?

  • What software does it need to work in?

From there, we design the deliverables around your workflow, not the other way around.