🏗️ CONSTRUCTION SITE MONITORING · €250–800 LE PASSAGE · 120 CITIES
Drone construction site monitoring: 2026 rates, anywhere in France
Drone construction monitoring documents progress with a regularity and completeness impossible to achieve from the ground: identical camera angles reproduced at every visit, top-down views of the entire footprint, orthophotos comparable month over month. Project owners, developers and main contractors use it for management (progress records, trade coordination), communication (a spectacular construction timelapse) and pre-litigation purposes (existing conditions, records of neighbouring structures).
The classic formula is a monthly or fortnightly visit for the duration of the project: 20 to 40 photos from the same angles, a flyover video, and optionally a georeferenced orthophoto for overlay on the drawings. At the end of the project, all visits are assembled into a construction timelapse — a communication asset developers value highly for marketing and opening ceremonies.
Free quote — construction site monitoring
Rates
€250–800 le passage — the 2026 French market range. The quote depends on the site, the expected deliverable and the local airspace context.
Common use cases
- Monthly progress records for project owners and site meetings
- Construction timelapse of a building or public facility
- Pre-works condition survey of neighbouring structures
- Monthly orthophoto that overlays onto execution drawings
- Earthworks monitoring with cut-and-fill volume calculation
- Marketing communication for a property development
Applicable regulations
A construction site is a controlled area: people present (workers, supervisors) can be considered involved persons if briefed about the flight, which simplifies operations. In clear areas, open category A2 or A3 is sufficient; in built-up areas, recurring visits are flown under the STS-01 scenario with prefectural declaration — the advantage being that one declaration can cover recurring flights at the same location for several months. Height under 120 m, coordination with tower cranes (protocol with the crane operator, no flying through load paths), AlphaTango registration and checking nearby aviation zones on Géoportail, as sites near airports are common.
Frequently asked questions
How often should the drone fly over a site?
Monthly is most common: it matches progress-payment cycles. Fast phases (earthworks, lifting, structural work) justify fortnightly or even weekly visits for a dense timelapse.
Can the drone fly while the crane is operating?
Yes, with a protocol agreed with the crane operator: flight zones and slots defined in advance, radio contact during the flight, and never crossing the load path.
Can site photos be used in a dispute?
Yes: dated, geolocated images reproduced from the same angles are excellent factual evidence of progress or condition. For maximum evidentiary weight, they can be appended to a bailiff's official report.