Ground Mount Solar Survey — Drone-Based
Solar Site Surveys That Eliminate Pre-Installation Surprises
2.3+ lakh
Hectares Surveyed
<1cm
Level Accuracy
34+ GW
60×
Faster Than DGPS
5+ lakh
Safe Flights
Why Ground Mount Solar Projects Fail Before Installation Starts
Inaccurate site data is the root cause of cost overruns, delayed timelines, and underperforming plants. Traditional DGPS and Total Station surveys create four specific problems that compound through the project lifecycle.
👉 Wrong Terrain Data = Wrong Layout
Fixed-grid Total Station surveys miss micro-elevation changes and slope variations. These errors appear as rework during civil work — after earthmoving equipment has already been mobilised and costs committed.
👉 Missed Vegetation Causes Shadow Losses
Manual surveys cannot accurately count and map existing trees and bushes. Unaccounted vegetation causes shading losses of 10–25% that run across the plant’s entire 25-year generation lifespan.
1-Month Surveys Delay Project Timelines
Traditional DGPS/Total Station surveys require 10,000+ data points for 1000 acres and take approximately one month. This delay costs project approvals, financing windows, and competitive bid timelines.
Earthwork Errors Inflate Civil Costs
Without accurate Bund Cut/Fill Volume data, civil contractors quote conservatively — inflating earthwork estimates by 20–35%. Precise drone volume calculations eliminate this contingency padding entirely.
About The Service
What Is a Ground Mount Solar Survey?
A ground mount solar survey is a drone-based aerial data acquisition service using UAVs equipped with RTK-GPS and high-resolution cameras to capture precise terrain data of a proposed solar installation site — generating every map, model, and measurement your engineers need to design and build a ground-mounted solar power plant accurately.
The drone captures thousands of overlapping geo-referenced images in a single automated flight, processed through Pix4D and Agisoft photogrammetry software into Orthomap, Topolayout, Digital Elevation Model, Contour Maps, Vegetation Index, Spot Levels, Slope Analysis, and Volume Calculations — all at sub-centimetre accuracy.
Unlike DGPS/Total Station surveys locked to a fixed grid, Lesoko’s drone survey delivers adjustable grid accuracy (5m×5m, 1m×1m, or any variable) as per your project requirement — and covers 1000 acres with complete data in 4 working days.
Our Process
How Lesoko's Ground Mount Solar Survey Works
A four-step process — from initial site planning to final report delivery — completed in one drone flight and a 4-day processing window for sites up to 1000 acres.
Site Planning & DGCA Compliance
Our engineers study your site coordinates, terrain type, and project objectives. We program optimised UAV flight paths for 100% coverage and handle all DGCA compliance requirements before mobilisation.
Drone Data Capture
RTK-GPS drones execute automated flight paths capturing thousands of overlapping geo-referenced images across the full site extent including inaccessible dense vegetation and uneven terrain.
Photogrammetry Processing
Raw aerial data is processed through Pix4D and Agisoft into Orthomap, Topolayout, DEM, Contour Maps, Vegetation Index, Slope Maps, and Volume Calculations — all at <1cm accuracy.
Report Delivery
Complete survey package — all maps, models, KMZ/KML files, AutoCAD DWG exports, and site images delivered to your dashboard within 4 working days of the flight date.
Ground Mount Solar Survey Deliverables
Every Lesoko ground mount solar survey includes a complete data package — not just aerial images. Eight design-ready deliverables, all geo-referenced, in multiple export formats. All deliverables support both Drone and LiDAR data.
Georeferenced Orthomap
Topolayout Map
Contour Map with Spot Levels
Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
Vegetation Index & Tree Count
Contour Map
Slope Percentage Map
Handheld Camera Site Images
Why Lesoko
Why India's Solar EPCs Trust Lesoko
<1cm Level Accuracy
We achieve sub-centimetre accuracy on every ground mount survey critical for pile placement, foundation design, and earthwork planning. Our adjustable grid delivers the resolution your engineers need, at any spacing.
60× Faster Than Traditional Surveys
1000 acres with complete end-to-end data in 4 days. Traditional DGPS requires 10,000+ manual points and ~1 month. We need fewer than 200 control points and deploy within 48 hours of site confirmation.
5.1GW+ of Solar Projects
From 550MW+ of rooftop surveys to 60MW ground plant due diligence in Rajasthan, our portfolio spans the full project scale. Empanelled survey partners for L&T, Sunedison, Enerparc, and Sterling & Wilson.
Any Terrain — Including Inaccessible Areas
Dense forests, thorn plants, steep hillsides, water bodies — our drones survey terrain physically impossible for ground crews. No survey gaps, no estimated data, no topology blind spots on complex sites.
Data Analytics
We are a data analytics company that deploys drones. Every output is processed into actionable intelligence from NDVI vegetation index and tree counts to volume calculations and solar-layout-ready Topolayout maps.
200,000+ Safe Flights
Over 200,000 safe flights logged across India including 24×7 on-site drone deployment for large solar construction projects. Every mission is DGCA-compliant with certified pilots and structured safety protocols.
Service Areas
Ground Mount Solar Survey Services Across India
We provide professional drone-based ground mount solar survey services across India from large-scale utility solar parks in Rajasthan and Gujarat to industrial and commercial ground mount installations in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Our ground mount solar survey services in Rajasthan cover solar parks across the Jodhpur, Barmer, and Jaisalmer solar corridors India’s highest-irradiance zones where accurate topographic and vegetation data is critical before a single pile is driven. Extreme heat and dust in these corridors make precise pre-construction survey essential to avoid costly rework.
Our ground mount solar survey services in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka support both utility-scale IPPs and commercial ground mount operators delivering <1cm accurate Topolayout, DEM, and Contour maps from our Chennai headquarters to project sites across South and Central India.
Solar Inspection Services for Every Segment
- Independent Power Producers (IPPs)
- EPC Contractors
- O&M Service Providers
- Commercial & Industrial Rooftop
- Solar Asset Investors & Due Diligence Teams
- Solar Developers & Project Financiers
Why Ground Mount Solar Survey Is the First Step Every Solar Project Needs
Skipping a ground mount solar survey or relying on outdated satellite imagery is the single most common reason solar projects run over budget.Without accurate terrain data, your EPC contractor is designing a solar array on assumptions. Pile depths are guessed. Earthwork volumes are padded.
Row spacing is calculated without knowing the actual slope. Every one of these gaps compounds into a cost that arrives on site, not on paper. A drone-based ground mount solar survey eliminates all of them before your project moves past the planning stage giving every downstream decision a foundation of real data.
What Our Clients Say
“Lesoko’s drone survey for our 500KW ground mount site in Tamil Nadu was delivered in 3 days. The topolayout and contour maps were exactly what our structural team needed far superior to the DGPS survey we used on our previous project.”
Project Director, Solar EPC Company · Chennai, TN
“We hired Lesoko for due diligence thermal inspection on a 60MW asset acquisition in Rajasthan. Their 36-hour flight identified defects at a scale we never expected the report directly shaped our acquisition valuation and negotiation position.”
Investment Director, Renewable Energy Fund · Delhi
“The vegetation index mapping on our 200-acre site in Andhra Pradesh saved significant land clearing costs. Lesoko counted every tree and bush precisely data that our civil contractor used directly for earthwork cost estimation.”
Head of Projects, Industrial Group · Coimbatore, TN
Trusted By Industry leaders
Ground Mount Solar Survey Packages
Every package is itemised by deliverable and site area — no surprise add-ons. Contact us for a quote tailored to your project.
Basic Survey
- 🔸 Georeferenced Orthomap
- 🔸Topolayout Map
- 🔸Digital Elevation Model
- 🔸Contour Map (0.5m interval)
- 🔸Slope Percentage Map
- 🔸Handheld Camera Site Images
- 🔸KMZ / KML File
Full Site Survey
- 🔸All Basic deliverables
- 🔸Contour Map (0.1m interval)
- 🔸Spot Level Grid (5m×5m)
- 🔸Vegetation Index + Tree Count
- 🔸Bund Cut / Fill Volume
- 🔸Point Cloud Data
- 🔸AutoCAD DWG Export
Custom Engagement
- 🔸All Standard deliverables
- 🔸Spot Level Grid (10m×10m)
- 🔸Vertical / Horizontal Cross-sections
- 🔸Volume Calculation Report
- 🔸LiDAR data option available
- 🔸Dedicated project manager
- 🔸Multi-site bulk engagement
Lesoko’s ground mount solar survey includes a secure cloud-based client dashboard where your EPC team, structural engineers, and asset managers can access all processed maps, deliverables, and site intelligence the moment they are ready from anywhere in India.
Dashboard Features
- Secure role-based access and login share survey data with your EPC, structural engineer, or DISCOM team with controlled permissions
- Interactive georeferenced site map with all survey layers overlaid Orthomap, Topolayout, Contour, Slope, and Vegetation Index viewable in a single interface
- Downloadable survey deliverables in all formats — KMZ/KML, AutoCAD DWG, GeoTIFF, and PDF — ready for PVsyst, AutoCAD, and GIS platforms
- Spot level and contour data with adjustable grid view 5m×5m or 10m×10m grid toggleable directly on the map
- Vegetation Index map with AI-identified tree and bush counts click any zone to see exact vegetation density and shadow impact
- Prioritised site issue flags — drainage concerns, steep slope zones, and inaccessible terrain marked directly on the interactive map
- Construction monitoring updates if ongoing, hourly site progress visible alongside original survey baseline data
Request Your Free Ground Mount Solar Survey Quote
Phone/ Whatsapp
+91 78457 26375
Email Us
Sales@lesoko.in
Head Office
T. Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600017
Get Your Inspection Quote
Frequently Asked Questions
A ground mount solar survey is a drone-based technical assessment of a proposed land site to determine its suitability for a ground-mounted solar power plant. Using RTK-GPS equipped UAVs, the survey captures high-resolution aerial data processed into Georeferenced Orthomap, Topolayout Map, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), Contour Maps, Vegetation Index, Slope Percentage, and Bund Cut/Fill Volume calculations. Lesoko Technologies delivers ground mount solar surveys across India with less than 1cm accuracy — in 4 working days for sites up to 1000 acres.
Lesoko’s drone-based ground mount solar survey delivers complete end-to-end reports within 4 working days for sites up to 1000 acres — 60 times faster than traditional DGPS or Total Station surveys, which take approximately one month for equivalent data. For urgent pre-feasibility checks, expedited turnaround is available. The 4-day timeline covers all deliverables including Orthomap, Topolayout, DEM, Contour Maps, Vegetation Index, and Slope analysis.
Lesoko achieves less than 1cm level accuracy in all drone-based ground mount solar surveys using RTK-GPS equipped UAVs. Unlike Total Station surveys which lock grid accuracy at a fixed value such as 5m×5m, drone surveys allow adjustable grid accuracy — 5m×5m, 1m×1m, or any variable — as per project requirements. This makes drone-generated Contour maps and Digital Elevation Models significantly more accurate and useful than traditional DGPS outputs for solar layout design and earthwork planning.
1 MW ground-mounted solar plant typically requires 4 to 5 acres with fixed-tilt mounting structures, or 5 to 6 acres when single-axis trackers are used due to wider row spacing requirements. The exact land requirement depends on solar panel wattage, inter-row spacing determined by shadow analysis, terrain slope, and state DISCOM setback norms. Lesoko’s ground mount solar survey delivers a precise Topolayout map and slope analysis that allows engineers to maximise usable area and panel count on any site.
Drone survey is 60 times faster than Total Station or DGPS for ground mount solar sites — covering 1000 acres in 4 days versus approximately one month. Drone surveys require fewer than 200 control points for 1000 acres compared to over 10,000 points for DGPS. Drone surveys also deliver adjustable grid accuracy, AI-powered vegetation analysis with exact tree and bush counts, precise Bund Cut/Fill Volume calculations, and access to terrain physically inaccessible for ground crews including dense forests, steep slopes, and water bodies.
Lesoko’s ground mount solar survey report includes: Georeferenced Orthomap, Topolayout Map, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), Contour Map at 0.1m or 0.5m or 1.0m intervals, Contour Map with Spot Levels at 5m×5m or 10m×10m grid, Slope Percentage Map, Vegetation Index with tree and bush counts, Bund Cut/Fill Volume calculations, Point Cloud data, and Handheld Camera Site Images. All deliverables are available in KMZ/KML, AutoCAD DWG, and GeoTIFF formats — compatible with PVsyst, AutoCAD, and GIS platforms.
Vegetation Index in a ground mount solar survey is an AI-powered analysis of existing tree cover, bush density, and shrub distribution across the proposed solar site — using drone-captured imagery processed into NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) maps with exact tree and bush counts. For solar projects, vegetation index data is critical for three reasons: accurate shadow modelling to prevent 10 to 25 percent generation losses, land clearance cost estimation based on precise tree counts, and compensation assessment for land acquisition. Lesoko delivers vegetation index as a standard deliverable in all ground mount solar surveys.
Yes. Lesoko Technologies is headquartered at T. Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and deploys DGCA-certified survey teams across all of India. We have completed ground mount solar surveys and inspections in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, Karnataka, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala. Lesoko is empanelled with WBREDA, BREDA, and MEDA government bodies and has delivered surveys for EPC companies including L&T, Sunedison, Enerparc, and Sterling and Wilson across multiple states.
A ground mount solar survey is essential for any organisation planning to install a ground-mounted solar power plant on open land. This includes Independent Power Producers planning utility-scale solar parks, EPC contractors requiring accurate topographic data for layout design and civil planning, O&M service providers assessing existing plant terrain for performance issues, solar asset investors conducting due diligence before acquisition, commercial and industrial companies installing captive ground mount solar on factory or warehouse land, and solar developers preparing DPRs for DISCOM connectivity applications or bank financing.
A ground mount solar survey reduces solar project costs in four direct ways. First, accurate Topolayout and slope data prevents civil rework by identifying terrain issues before earthmoving equipment is mobilised — avoiding corrections that typically cost 2 to 5 times the original survey fee. Second, precise Bund Cut/Fill Volume calculations eliminate the 20 to 35 percent contingency padding that civil contractors add without accurate data. Third, AI-powered vegetation index with exact tree counts prevents missed shading that causes 10 to 25 percent generation losses across a 25-year plant lifespan. Fourth, 4-day delivery versus a month for DGPS accelerates project approvals, financing timelines, and construction start dates.
