Skip to content
Pacific

Aerial Mapping in California

High-resolution orthomosaic maps, NDVI vegetation indexes, and prescription maps.

πŸ—ΊοΈ

How aerial mapping works

Aerial mapping produces high-resolution orthomosaic images stitched from hundreds of overlapping aerial photos. Operators generate NDVI vegetation index maps showing crop vigor variation, multispectral analysis for nutrient and chlorophyll content, elevation models revealing drainage patterns, and prescription maps that feed variable-rate application equipment. Mapping flights deliver data products in GeoTIFF, KML, and shapefile formats for integration with precision ag platforms.

Typical rate: $10–$35/acre

Aerial Mapping drone operators in California

Napa, CA
Featured

California vineyards & orchards specialist

SkyFarm Solutions is California's premier agricultural drone service provider, specializing in vineyard fungicide applications, orchard treatments, and specialty crop mapping. We serve Napa, Sonoma, San Joaquin Valley, and Central Valley growers with precision drone applications where tractors struggle on hillside terrain. 4 drones, year-round operations.

Drone SprayingAerial MappingCrop Scouting+1 more
$18–$30/acre
22K ac 4FAA
Daytona Beach, FL

FL Β· first FAA-certified UAS spray company, 10,000+ flights completed

Daytona Beach, FL manufacturer and operator formerly known as LEAT (Leading Edge Aerial Technologies). First company to receive FAA certification for UAS spray applications of agricultural products. Founded 2012; acquired by Central Garden and Pet in November 2024. Completed over 10,000 UAS flights. Makes PrecisionVision PV35X, PV40X, and PV100 platforms plus MapVision software.

Drone SprayingEquipment SalesAerial Mapping
Price on request
FAA

FAQ: aerial mapping in California

A standard mapping flight produces an orthomosaic (georeferenced aerial image), NDVI vegetation index map, elevation model, and field boundary files. Advanced flights add multispectral analysis and prescription maps for variable-rate application equipment.

Drones equipped with RTK/PPK GPS achieve 1 to 3 cm horizontal accuracy and 2 to 5 cm vertical accuracy, sufficient for precision ag applications and field documentation. Standard mapping without RTK achieves 3 to 10 cm accuracy.

There are 2 operators offering aerial mapping drone services in California: SkyFarm Solutions Inc., Central UAS Technologies.