Ecology & BNG Monitoring
Measurable, repeatable records of habitat extent and condition from the air, for ecology consultancies, habitat bank operators and landowners across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and the Thames Valley.
Drone habitat monitoring for Biodiversity Net Gain
Since February 2024, most new developments in England must deliver at least a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain, and those gains have to be maintained for at least 30 years. That means decades of monitoring reports, often still based on walkover surveys and hand-drawn maps.
A drone survey flown the same way each year gives you a consistent, mapped record of how a site is changing, which is hard to argue with and easy to compare.
What you get
Orthomosaic map. A high-resolution, georeferenced aerial image of the whole site, captured with RTK positioning so surveys line up year after year.
Habitat extent map. Each habitat parcel mapped and measured in hectares, such as grassland, hedgerow, woodland, scrub, field margins and bare ground, ready to compare against your baseline or management plan.
Vegetation health map (NDVI). Multispectral imagery processed into a map of vegetation vigour across the entire site, not just at sample points. It highlights areas that are thriving, struggling or bare.
GIS-ready files. Delivered as GeoTIFF and shapefile or GeoPackage layers that open in QGIS or ArcGIS, plus a short PDF summary.
Where it fits
Drone surveys don’t replace an ecologist’s condition assessment. They support it. Use them to:
- Record a site-wide baseline before habitat creation or enhancement starts
- Track habitat extent and establishment between field visits
- Spot problem areas early, such as bare patches, scrub encroachment or failed planting
- Add clear, visual evidence to monitoring reports for local planning authorities
- Cover large or hard-to-access sites quickly
How it works
- Scope. You send a site boundary and tell me what the monitoring needs to show.
- Fly. I fly a planned multispectral survey, timed for the growing season and repeatable each year.
- Process. The imagery is processed into an orthomosaic, habitat extent map and NDVI map.
- Deliver. You receive GIS-ready layers and a PDF summary, usually within a week of the flight.
Free pilot survey
I’m offering ecology consultancies and habitat bank operators a free pilot survey of one BNG site within about two hours of High Wycombe. You get the full set of outputs. In return, I ask for honest feedback and permission to use the results as an anonymised case study.
About DroneScout
DroneScout is based in High Wycombe. I’m CAA-qualified and insured, flying a DJI Mavic 3 Multispectral with RTK positioning. I also provide construction progress monitoring, orthomosaic mapping and topographic surveys.
Common questions
What time of year is best?
Late spring to late summer, when vegetation is in active growth. For year-on-year comparisons, fly at the same time each year.
How big a site can you cover?
Most sites up to around 50 hectares can be flown in a single visit, depending on access and airspace.
Can you match UKHab habitat types?
Yes. Habitat parcels can be labelled to match the UKHab classes in your baseline or metric, working from your existing habitat map where you have one.