ACTIONABLE
AERIAL
INTELLIGENCE

Pricing depends on property size, location, airspace requirements, deliverables, processing complexity, and whether the engagement is one-time or recurring. SION Solutions provides written scope-based pricing after a complimentary project consultation — no guesswork, no surprise invoices. Schedule your free consultation through our website.

Flight time for a standard commercial property or construction site typically ranges from 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on acreage and the deliverables required. Data processing — including orthomosaic generation, 3D model creation, and report preparation — is typically completed within one business day of the flight on standard engagements. You receive your deliverables the next business day.

No. For most commercial roof inspections, parking lot assessments, and construction monitoring flights, your presence is not required. We coordinate access with your site manager or facilities team in advance. You receive a full digital report, orthomosaic, and 3D model you can review from anywhere. For government or secure facilities, access protocols will be discussed during the project scoping call.

A regular aerial photo is a single image taken from one angle — useful for marketing, but not for measurement or documentation. An orthomosaic is a geometrically corrected, stitched composite of hundreds of overlapping images that produces a true-to-scale, measurable map of your property. Every pixel has a real-world coordinate. You can measure distances, calculate areas, and track changes over time. It is the difference between a standard photograph and a georeferenced mapping deliverable.

SION's RTK-enabled workflows are designed to support centimeter-level relative accuracy under suitable conditions. RTK positioning reduces dependence on ground control points, though independent checkpoints may still be used to validate accuracy on projects where it is contractually important. Actual accuracy depends on correction quality, flight design, processing, and site characteristics. Licensed boundary or land surveys require an appropriately licensed surveying professional.

Commercial drone operations require visual line of sight and are subject to FAA Part 107 operating limitations. SION evaluates wind, precipitation, visibility, cloud clearance, and site conditions before every flight — company operating limits may be more conservative than FAA minimums to protect safety and data quality. Part 107 pilots may conduct routine night operations when current training requirements are satisfied and the aircraft uses compliant anti-collision lighting visible for at least three statute miles; flights in controlled airspace still require the appropriate FAA authorization. Same-day scheduling is subject to weather, airspace, and site access conditions.

Many properties in the Memphis metropolitan area are located within or near controlled airspace due to the proximity of Memphis International Airport (KMEM). When a site is located in controlled airspace, SION obtains the required authorization through LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) or FAA DroneZone. Flights in uncontrolled airspace are still reviewed for temporary flight restrictions and other applicable limitations. We handle all airspace coordination — you do not need to manage this. Properties near military installations or other restricted zones may require additional lead time.

Standard deliverables include a high-resolution orthomosaic map, a 3D interactive model (shareable via secure cloud link), a written condition or progress report, and 50+ georeferenced images. Roof inspection engagements also include an annotated condition report. Construction monitoring packages include a written progress summary. All deliverables are delivered digitally within one business day of the flight on standard engagements.

You receive a complete intelligence package delivered via secure cloud link (Google Drive or Dropbox). Standard deliverables include: a georeferenced orthomosaic map, a written condition or progress report, an annotated image library (50+ images minimum), and a 3D interactive model where applicable. Engineering and construction clients can also receive raw data exports — GeoTIFF, LAS/LAZ point cloud, OBJ/PLY mesh, and more — depending on the scope agreed at project start. Everything is organized in a shared folder you can access, download, and share with your team immediately.

Yes. SION delivers engineering-grade data formats including GeoTIFF orthomosaics, LAS/LAZ point clouds, OBJ and PLY mesh files, and georeferenced imagery. These formats are compatible with AutoCAD, Revit, ArcGIS, QGIS, Civil 3D, and most BIM platforms. If your engineer or architect uses a specific platform, let us know during scoping and we will confirm compatibility and export format before the flight.

In most cases, yes. GeoTIFF files open in ArcGIS, QGIS, Global Mapper, and most GIS platforms. Point clouds (LAS/LAZ) open in CloudCompare, AutoCAD, Revit, and similar tools. OBJ and PLY mesh files are compatible with Blender, SketchUp, and most 3D modeling environments. If you have a specific software requirement, tell us during the project consultation and we will confirm the right export format for your workflow.

Yes. Every roof inspection and property assessment engagement includes a written condition report in PDF format. The report includes annotated aerial imagery, zone-by-zone observations, and a summary of conditions noted. Your contractor, adjuster, or property manager can review it from any device without specialized software. Reports are delivered via secure cloud link along with the full image library.

Yes — this is one of the most valuable applications of recurring aerial documentation. SION can establish a baseline assessment of your property and return on a scheduled basis (monthly, quarterly, or annually) to document changes. Each engagement produces a dated, georeferenced deliverable that can be compared directly against prior flights. Over time, you build a documented condition history that supports maintenance planning, capital budgeting, and insurance documentation.

Yes. 3D mesh deliverables are exported in OBJ and PLY formats, which are compatible with Blender, SketchUp, Revit, and most architectural visualization platforms. Point cloud data is available in LAS/LAZ format for use in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and Bentley MicroStation. If your architect has a specific import requirement, confirm it during project scoping and we will export accordingly.

Orthomosaics produced with RTK positioning are designed for centimeter-level relative accuracy under suitable conditions, making them suitable for area calculations, distance measurements, and change detection. For projects where measurement accuracy is contractually important, independent checkpoints can be used to validate the data. Note that drone-derived mapping data is not a substitute for a licensed boundary or land survey — those require an appropriately licensed surveying professional.

SION's RTK-enabled workflows produce high-accuracy mapping data, but "survey-grade" is a legal term tied to licensed land surveying professionals and their professional standards. SION is not a licensed surveying firm. Our data is appropriate for construction documentation, property condition assessment, GIS workflows, and engineering reference — not for legal boundary determination or recorded plats. If you need a licensed boundary survey, we can refer you to an appropriate professional.

Depending on your engagement type: property owners use condition reports to prioritize maintenance spending and negotiate repair credits. Construction managers use progress documentation to verify contractor milestones and resolve disputes. Insurance adjusters use aerial imagery to document storm damage and support claims. Engineers use point clouds and orthomosaics for design reference and site analysis. The common thread is replacing guesswork with documented, measurable data before you commit budget.

You will receive a secure cloud link (Google Drive or Dropbox) containing your complete deliverable package. The folder includes: your written report in PDF format, the georeferenced orthomosaic, your annotated image library, and any additional data exports included in your scope. For construction monitoring clients, the folder is updated after each flight so your entire project history is in one place. Delivery is within one business day of the flight on standard engagements.

Yes. SION Solutions provides aerial documentation packages designed to support insurance adjuster workflows after storm events. Deliverables include high-resolution roof orthomosaics, annotated damage documentation, and 3D models that allow remote review of the affected area. We serve both commercial property owners and adjusters directly. Contact us to discuss your specific claim requirements.

SION Solutions operates throughout the Mid-South — Memphis and Shelby County, North Mississippi (including DeSoto, Marshall, and Tate counties), Eastern Arkansas (including Crittenden and Mississippi counties), and West Tennessee. Projects outside this primary service radius are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. We have completed projects in Coldwater, MS; Paragould, AR; and Macon, MS.