Case Studies
Real Projects.
Proven Results.
From active international airports to open-pit mines and federal military bases — see how Compass UAV delivers precision aerial data across the industries that trust us most.
Featured Projects
High-Profile Engagements
Pierre Elliott Trudeau Montréal International Airport
Pierre Elliott Trudeau Montréal International Airport
High-precision aerial LiDAR and photogrammetric survey of the airside and landside infrastructure at YUL to support a major terminal expansion and ground-level drainage remediation program.
The Challenge
Surveying an active international airport requires coordination with NAV CANADA, Transport Canada, and airport operations. All flights required SFOC authorization and had to be conducted during designated low-traffic windows to avoid interference with active taxiways and instrument approach paths.
Our Approach
Compass UAV obtained all required SFOC and airspace authorizations and coordinated flight windows with the airport authority. LiDAR captures were combined with GCP-controlled photogrammetry to produce survey-grade deliverables with sub-centimetre vertical accuracy across the full terminal apron, perimeter roads, and stormwater infrastructure.
Key Results
- Full airside LiDAR survey completed in 4 nights
- ±1.5 cm vertical accuracy across apron and perimeter
- Seamless integration into AutoCAD Civil 3D for drainage design
- Zero impact on airport operations
- SFOC-compliant throughout — zero regulatory incidents
Mactaquac Dam — Hydroelectric Facility Survey
Mactaquac Dam — Hydroelectric Facility Survey
Comprehensive topographic and structural survey of the Mactaquac Generating Station and surrounding headpond area using aerial LiDAR to support ongoing structural assessment and long-term remediation planning.
The Challenge
The dam’s complex geometry — including the gravity dam structure, spillways, and extensive headpond — required survey-grade vertical accuracy to support engineering assessments of settlement and deformation over time. Traditional ground-based survey was logistically prohibitive given the site’s scale and restricted access zones.
Our Approach
Multiple LiDAR flight lines were planned to achieve full coverage of the dam face, crest, spillway aprons, and surrounding terrain. Ground control was established with RTK GPS and validated against known benchmarks. The resulting point cloud was classified and processed into DTM, DSM, and breakline deliverables for integration into the project’s long-term monitoring framework.
Key Results
- Full dam structure and headpond surveyed in 2 days
- ±2 cm vertical accuracy — suitable for deformation analysis
- Point cloud, DTM, and DSM delivered to NB Power engineering team
- Established baseline for ongoing settlement monitoring program
Ontario Place — Digital Twin Capture
Ontario Place — Digital Twin Capture
Complete aerial photogrammetric capture of the Ontario Place grounds and structures to produce a high-fidelity 3D digital twin in support of the site’s redevelopment planning and heritage documentation program.
The Challenge
The site is located within Toronto’s Class C airspace and within proximity to Billy Bishop Airport, requiring precise airspace coordination. The mixture of above-water structures, heritage pavilions, and open green space required multiple flight configurations to achieve complete 3D coverage without occlusions.
Our Approach
Flights were conducted under NAV CANADA RPAS authorization with nadir and oblique capture passes to ensure full 3D model fidelity across complex structures. Ground control was established using total station and RTK methods. The point cloud and mesh outputs were validated for completeness and delivered in formats compatible with the project’s BIM environment.
Key Results
- Full-site 3D digital twin — structures, grounds, and waterfront
- Georeferenced mesh and point cloud delivered in BIM-compatible formats
- Heritage pavilions documented to millimetre-level detail
- Used as baseline reference model for redevelopment design team
- Completed within Class C airspace with zero incidents
Open-Pit Mine Monthly Stockpile & Topo Scans
Open-Pit Mine Monthly Stockpile & Topo Scans
Ongoing monthly UAV photogrammetry flights to generate volumetric stockpile reports and updated topographic surveys for an active open-pit operation, replacing costly and time-consuming conventional survey methods.
The Challenge
Mine operations require up-to-date volumetric data for inventory reconciliation, production planning, and regulatory reporting. Traditional survey methods introduced safety risks for ground surveyors and significant downtime. The client needed a repeatable, high-frequency workflow that could turn around results within 24 hours of flight.
Our Approach
A repeatable flight plan and permanent GCP network were established on first mobilization. Monthly flights are flown on a set schedule, processed using consistent parameters, and delivered via a standardized volumetric and topographic report. The client receives stockpile volumes, change analysis, and updated topo surface within 24 hours of flight.
Key Results
- Monthly flight cadence maintained for 18+ consecutive months
- ±3% volumetric accuracy — meets mine reconciliation requirements
- 24-hour report turnaround from flight to delivery
- Ground survey crew risk eliminated during active mining operations
- Estimated 60% cost reduction vs. conventional monthly surveys
All Projects
Complete Portfolio
9 projects
01Montréal, QC
Pierre Elliott Trudeau Montréal International Airport
Client: Airport Authority
The Challenge
Surveying an active international airport requires coordination with NAV CANADA, Transport Canada, and airport operations. All flights required SFOC authorization and had to be conducted during designated low-traffic windows to avoid interference with active taxiways and instrument approach paths.
Our Approach
Compass UAV obtained all required SFOC and airspace authorizations and coordinated flight windows with the airport authority. LiDAR captures were combined with GCP-controlled photogrammetry to produce survey-grade deliverables with sub-centimetre vertical accuracy across the full terminal apron, perimeter roads, and stormwater infrastructure.
Key Results
- Full airside LiDAR survey completed in 4 nights
- ±1.5 cm vertical accuracy across apron and perimeter
- Seamless integration into AutoCAD Civil 3D for drainage design
- Zero impact on airport operations
- SFOC-compliant throughout — zero regulatory incidents
02Mactaquac, NB
Mactaquac Dam — Hydroelectric Facility Survey
Client: NB Power
The Challenge
The dam’s complex geometry — including the gravity dam structure, spillways, and extensive headpond — required survey-grade vertical accuracy to support engineering assessments of settlement and deformation over time. Traditional ground-based survey was logistically prohibitive given the site’s scale and restricted access zones.
Our Approach
Multiple LiDAR flight lines were planned to achieve full coverage of the dam face, crest, spillway aprons, and surrounding terrain. Ground control was established with RTK GPS and validated against known benchmarks. The resulting point cloud was classified and processed into DTM, DSM, and breakline deliverables for integration into the project’s long-term monitoring framework.
Key Results
- Full dam structure and headpond surveyed in 2 days
- ±2 cm vertical accuracy — suitable for deformation analysis
- Point cloud, DTM, and DSM delivered to NB Power engineering team
- Established baseline for ongoing settlement monitoring program
03Georgian Bay, ON
Wasaga Beach to Collingwood Shoreline Mapping
Client: Conservation Authority
The Challenge
The 35 km shoreline corridor spans sandy beach, vegetated dune, urban waterfront, and steep bluff terrain. Seasonal water level fluctuations and active wave conditions required flight planning that could produce a seamless, consistent dataset across highly variable surface types.
Our Approach
The corridor was divided into optimized flight blocks with overlapping LiDAR and photogrammetric coverage. Flights were timed for low water and calm conditions. Point clouds were classified into bare earth, vegetation, and built features, then merged into a continuous shoreline DTM with cross-shore profiles at 50 m intervals.
Key Results
- 35 km of Georgian Bay shoreline captured in a single mobilization
- Bare-earth DTM with ±3 cm vertical accuracy
- 1,400+ cross-shore elevation profiles generated
- Orthomosaic and classified point cloud delivered for erosion modelling
- Dataset adopted as baseline for long-term shoreline change monitoring
04Toronto, ON
Ontario Place — Digital Twin Capture
Client: Infrastructure Ontario
The Challenge
The site is located within Toronto’s Class C airspace and within proximity to Billy Bishop Airport, requiring precise airspace coordination. The mixture of above-water structures, heritage pavilions, and open green space required multiple flight configurations to achieve complete 3D coverage without occlusions.
Our Approach
Flights were conducted under NAV CANADA RPAS authorization with nadir and oblique capture passes to ensure full 3D model fidelity across complex structures. Ground control was established using total station and RTK methods. The point cloud and mesh outputs were validated for completeness and delivered in formats compatible with the project’s BIM environment.
Key Results
- Full-site 3D digital twin — structures, grounds, and waterfront
- Georeferenced mesh and point cloud delivered in BIM-compatible formats
- Heritage pavilions documented to millimetre-level detail
- Used as baseline reference model for redevelopment design team
- Completed within Class C airspace with zero incidents
05Northern Ontario
Open-Pit Mine Monthly Stockpile & Topo Scans
Client: Confidential — Active Mine Operator
The Challenge
Mine operations require up-to-date volumetric data for inventory reconciliation, production planning, and regulatory reporting. Traditional survey methods introduced safety risks for ground surveyors and significant downtime. The client needed a repeatable, high-frequency workflow that could turn around results within 24 hours of flight.
Our Approach
A repeatable flight plan and permanent GCP network were established on first mobilization. Monthly flights are flown on a set schedule, processed using consistent parameters, and delivered via a standardized volumetric and topographic report. The client receives stockpile volumes, change analysis, and updated topo surface within 24 hours of flight.
Key Results
- Monthly flight cadence maintained for 18+ consecutive months
- ±3% volumetric accuracy — meets mine reconciliation requirements
- 24-hour report turnaround from flight to delivery
- Ground survey crew risk eliminated during active mining operations
- Estimated 60% cost reduction vs. conventional monthly surveys
06Norfolk County, ON
Ministry of Finance — Tobacco Plot Mapping
Client: Ontario Ministry of Finance
The Challenge
Accurate delineation of tobacco crop boundaries required sub-metre resolution orthomosaics that could be georeferenced against existing cadastral boundaries. The program required strict chain-of-custody documentation for all deliverables to support potential enforcement proceedings.
Our Approach
High-resolution photogrammetric flights were conducted over a grid of target parcels during the growing season. Orthomosaics were produced with full metadata and georeferencing documentation. Deliverables were formatted for GIS integration and included a documented accuracy assessment to support admissibility requirements.
Key Results
- 80+ parcels surveyed across Norfolk County
- Sub-5 cm GSD orthomosaics with documented accuracy
- Full chain-of-custody documentation provided
- GIS-ready deliverables integrated into Ministry enforcement database
- Program completed across two growing seasons
07Holland Marsh, ON
University of Guelph — Holland Marsh Crop Research Mapping
Client: University of Guelph
The Challenge
Research-grade crop data requires both RGB orthomosaics and multispectral indices (NDVI, NDRE) at sufficient resolution to differentiate individual crop rows and identify within-field variability at the plot scale. Flight timing had to align with critical crop growth stages across multiple field seasons.
Our Approach
RGB and multispectral sensors were flown in coordinated passes over research plots, with imagery timed to coincide with ground-truth sampling events. NDVI and NDRE indices were computed per-flight and delivered alongside calibrated reflectance orthomosaics. Data was formatted for direct import into the research team’s analysis platform.
Key Results
- 5 cm GSD multispectral orthomosaics across all research plots
- NDVI, NDRE, and GNDVI indices delivered per flight
- 3 full growing seasons of data captured
- Enabled spatial correlation between UAV indices and yield samples
- Published findings cited UAV data as key enabling technology
08Ontario
Waste Connections Canada — Landfill Mapping
Client: Waste Connections Canada
The Challenge
Landfill airspace is a finite and regulated asset. Accurate volumetric tracking is required for regulatory reporting, financial planning, and day-to-day operational decisions about filling patterns. Ground access across active tipping faces is hazardous, making UAV survey the only practical approach.
Our Approach
LiDAR surveys are conducted on a quarterly schedule using a permanent GCP network established during initial mobilization. Point clouds are processed to bare-earth and top-of-waste surfaces, with volumetric change calculations performed against the regulatory design surface. Reports are formatted to meet the Ministry of Environment reporting template.
Key Results
- Quarterly LiDAR program delivering Ministry-compliant volumetric reports
- Top-of-waste surface accuracy ±5 cm for regulatory compliance
- Airspace consumption trend analysis updated each quarter
- Ground crew risk eliminated during active waste deposition
- Operational planning improved through accurate remaining capacity data
09CFB Borden, ON
Canadian Forces Base Borden — Firefighter Training Area Mapping
Client: Department of National Defence
The Challenge
Security and access protocols on a Department of National Defence installation required advance coordination with base authorities and compliance with strict airspace and operational restrictions. All data handling was subject to DND security requirements.
Our Approach
Compass UAV coordinated with DND base administration and security to obtain necessary access and airspace clearances. Flights were conducted within the approved operating envelope with military base security monitoring. LiDAR and orthomosaic deliverables were handled in accordance with DND data classification requirements.
Key Results
- Full training area mapped — structures, access roads, and terrain
- LiDAR DTM delivered for drainage and remediation design
- High-resolution orthomosaic for facility planning and scenario mapping
- Full DND security and access protocol compliance maintained
- Data delivered to DND project team within 5 business days
Project details
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