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Drone Support Services  ·  Sub-Consultant Services

Aerial Documentation for PCA Firms & Engineers

FAA Part 107 aerial capture for ASTM E2018 property condition assessments — geo-tagged imagery, orthomosaic mapping, and PCR appendix-ready deliverables. 48-hour turnaround. Central Valley coverage.

When Rooftops Aren’t Safely Accessible from Grade

ASTM E2018 property condition assessments frequently encounter a coverage gap that field observers can’t close without significant cost and delay: roofs, parapets, upper facades, and elevated mechanical equipment that are not safely accessible from the ground.

When your report notes “roof not safely accessible; visual review from grade only,” the most critical reserve line item in your PCR is backed by the weakest documentation in the file. DSS closes that gap as a same-week aerial sub-consultant — so your PCR appendix has the coverage your clients and their lenders expect.

VERTEX, Bureau Veritas North America (BVNA), and m2e Consulting Engineers already integrate drone sub-consultants into ASTM E2018 PCAs. BVNA’s Jim Bartlett is co-chair of ASTM Task Group WK86230 for Drone Assessments of Commercial Real Estate. Industry direction is settled — the model is proven.

What PCAs Routinely Can’t Access

  • Roof surfaces requiring fall-protection equipment (OSHA Subpart M)
  • Parapets, roof edges, and ridge details from grade level
  • Upper-floor facade: expansion joints, cladding anchors, spandrels
  • Full parking lot coverage for drainage and pavement condition
  • Rooftop mechanical: HVAC units, drains, penetrations, flashing
  • Consistent, repeatable documentation across all four elevations

How the Sub-Consultant Workflow Works

Simple to engage. Fast to deliver. Ready to drop into your PCR.

1

Book the Flight

Contact us with the property address and your site-visit date. We confirm airspace, schedule same-week, and coordinate with the property.

2

We Fly the Property

FAA Part 107 aerial capture — roof, all four facade elevations, and full site. Flight completed before or day-of your site visit.

3

Deliverable in 48 Hours

Geo-tagged imagery, orthomosaic, and zone-organized documentation delivered to a private portal within 48 hours of the flight.

4

Drop Into Your PCR

The sub-report is formatted for PCR appendix inclusion — technical metadata table, neutral observation language, clear non-engineering disclaimer.

What the Sub-Report Includes

Formatted for PCR appendix inclusion — not a consumer report. Every deliverable is structured so your PE or project manager can cite it cleanly in the Property Condition Report.

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Orthomosaic Mapping

GeoTIFF or high-res JPG — georeferenced, scale-accurate, GIS-compatible. Full roof surface and full site.

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Geo-Tagged, Time-Stamped Imagery

Organized by zone: roof sections, N/S/E/W elevations, parking lot, and mechanicals. Every image timestamped and location-tagged.

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Technical Metadata Table

Drone make/model, camera sensor, flight altitude AGL, ground sample distance, FAA cert number, GPS coordinates, weather conditions.

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Observation-Level Findings

Zone-by-zone visual findings with a “ground-level assessment recommended” flag where aerial imagery is not fully conclusive. No engineering opinions.

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ASTM-Referenced Scope Statement

Explicitly positions the sub-report as supplemental imagery capture in support of ASTM E2018. Clear non-engineering disclaimer on every page.

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Private Portal + PDF Export

Deliverables in a secure portal you can share directly with your client, plus a clean PDF formatted for PCR appendix attachment.

Non-Engineering Disclaimer (appears on every page of the sub-report): This aerial documentation sub-report was prepared as supplemental imagery capture in support of a Property Condition Assessment. It does not constitute a Property Condition Report, does not satisfy any component of ASTM E2018 independently, does not include engineering opinions or cost estimates, and does not represent the findings or professional opinions of the engaging PCA consultant.

Pilot Credentials

FAA CertificationPart 107 Remote Pilot
Certificate Number5069830
Remote IDCompliant (effective Mar 2024)
Airspace AuthorizationLAANC — filed per flight
Service AreaCentral Valley CA · 25-mi radius

Equipment & Specifications

AircraftDJI Mavic 2 Pro · Phantom 4 Pro
Typical Altitude100–400 ft AGL
Ground Sample Distance~0.5–2 in/px
Mapping SoftwareDroneDeploy · Reality Capture
Turnaround48 hours from flight completion

Drone Integration in ASTM E2018 PCAs — Industry Precedent

Three named firms already integrate drone sub-consultants into ASTM E2018 property condition assessments. The workflow is established. DSS provides the local Central Valley capacity.

VERTEX Engineering

“The information collected using drones and thermographic cameras provide the assessor with more precise information to create their PCR… combined with physical inspections and digital photography.”

Bureau Veritas North America

“Our drones can quickly and safely inspect and measure roofs… generate comprehensive roof reports 3× faster than traditional methods.” BVNA co-chairs ASTM Task Group WK86230 for Drone Assessments of Commercial Real Estate.

m2e Consulting Engineers

“Our licensed professional engineers conduct a comprehensive walk-through survey of the property… [using] drone-assisted roof surveys for large or complex properties.”

Book a Sub-Consultant Flight

When your next assignment has a roof or upper facade that isn’t safely accessible from grade, contact us. We’ll confirm same-week availability, quote a flat rate, and deliver PCR appendix-ready documentation in 48 hours.

Contact Us to Schedule View Sample Deliverable