What Above Surveying Ltd does

Above Surveying Ltd is a UK-headquartered (Colchester) provider of drone-based aerial inspection services and the SolarGain software platform for the utility-scale solar industry, founded in 2016. The company serves solar asset owners, EPC contractors, O&M providers, and lenders/developers, operating across North America, Europe, LATAM, UK & Ireland, and APAC/MEA through direct regional sales teams and a network of 500+ data collection partners, with 900+ customer companies and 10,000+ sites inspected or managed to date. Its core service is IEC 62446-3:2017-compliant thermographic inspection using drone-mounted infrared cameras, supported by aerial topographic mapping (LiDAR and photogrammetry), digital construction management, and a Module Condition Monitoring service delivered in partnership with Kiwa PI Berlin and 2 Degrees Kelvin (2DK).

The company's technical core is SolarGain, a cloud-based digital twin platform that integrates factory pre-shipment QA data, on-site inspection results, construction progress, and ongoing operational monitoring into a single asset health record, complemented by a fully offline-capable SolarGain Mobile app for field teams. The technology stack combines robotics, AI, and computer vision: AI models perform anomaly detection on thermal and RGB imagery (identifying hotspots, string faults, PID, junction box failures, and module defects at cell level), and a power loss model developed with Loughborough University C.R.E.S.T translates thermal findings into quantified performance impact.

Above's business model is a hybrid of professional services and SaaS. Inspection, construction management, and topographic mapping are delivered as project-based professional services, while SolarGain is offered on a subscription basis with multi-year enterprise contracts and customized, quote-based pricing. Go-to-market is consultative and enterprise field sales, supported by content marketing, industry events (Intersolar, UK Solar Summit, Energyear), webinars, and channel partnerships. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, Cyber Essentials, and Synesgy certifications, and has secured approximately $4.3M in disclosed venture funding (Anglia Capital Group 2020, Clean Growth Fund 2022) supplemented by 2025 expansion capital from family offices used in part to fund the acquisition of German drone startup ucair.

Name

Above Surveying Ltd

Legal name

Above Surveying Ltd

Website

https://abovesurveying.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Above Surveying Ltd provides drone-based aerial inspection and the SolarGain digital twin platform for utility-scale solar asset owners, EPCs, O&M providers, and lenders across 900+ companies and 10,000+ sites globally, combining robotics, AI, and computer vision across the full solar asset lifecycle.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Inspection and Asset Management Services

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (541370)

akta.pro primary industry

Inspection Services (Ground, Aerial/Drone, Helicopter, Climbing) (EUADAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB), Solar Balance-of-Plant EPC (Piles/Foundations, Trenching, Combiner Networks) (EUAEADAJ)

Keywords

• Aerial solar inspection
• Drone thermography services
• Solar asset monitoring
• Solar digital twin platform
• Module condition monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Colchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Inspection Services: Aerial thermographic inspection services using drone-based infrared cameras to capture high-resolution thermal imagery across solar assets. Services are offered globally with IEC standards compliance and include both one-time inspections and recurring monitoring programs.
2. SolarGain Software Platform: Cloud-based SaaS platform providing digital twin functionality, inspection data management, task lists, observations tracking, and portfolio management. Accessed via subscription with web-based portal and mobile app access.
3. Digital Construction Management: Services combining progress monitoring with site component digitalisation (Digital Twin), using the SolarGain platform to keep construction projects on track and to quality. Includes subcontractor coordination and QA/QC support.
4. Topographic Mapping: Aerial topographic surveying providing precise terrain and shading data through high-resolution aerial photogrammetry and LiDAR. Supports project planning and yield forecasting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Above Surveying provides drone-based aerial thermographic inspection services for utility-scale solar assets, complemented by the SolarGain cloud platform that creates a digital twin integrating inspection, construction, and operational data across the full asset lifecycle. The company delivers topographic mapping, digital construction management, and module condition monitoring services to solar asset owners, EPCs, O&M providers, and lenders.

Product overview

Above Surveying Ltd operates as a solar inspection and digital asset management company offering a unified platform-plus-services model. The core product is SolarGain, a cloud-based digital twin platform that integrates all inspection and operational data. This platform is complemented by service offerings including drone-based thermographic inspections, digital construction management, aerial topographic mapping, and module condition monitoring (delivered via partnership with Kiwa PI Berlin and 2DK). The SolarGain Mobile app extends platform access to field workers with offline capability. Together, these products and services span the complete solar asset lifecycle from development and construction through to long-term operations and maintenance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SolarGain Cloud-based platform that integrates all test, inspection, and operational data into a single digital environment, creating a comprehensive digital twin for solar assets across their complete lifecycle from design through construction to operations.
• SolarGain Mobile Mobile application linked to the SolarGain platform that enables real-time data access, streamlined workflows, and fieldwork management, with full offline capability for remote site operations.
• Thermographic Inspection Drone-based infrared thermal imaging inspection service that detects hotspots, string faults, module defects, and other thermal anomalies across utility-scale solar plants, with AI-powered analysis integrated into SolarGain and IEC 62446-3:2017 compliant methodology.
• Digital Construction Management Service combining aerial oversight with field-based quality control, using the SolarGain platform to monitor construction progress, create digital twins, track punch lists, and enable efficient subcontractor coordination.
• Topographic Mapping Aerial topographic surveying using LiDAR and photogrammetry technologies to provide precise terrain data, digital surface models, digital terrain models, orthomosaics, and elevation mapping for solar plant design and development.
• Module Condition Monitoring End-to-end module quality assurance service from factory pre-shipment audits through post-installation testing to lifetime operational monitoring, delivered in partnership with Kiwa PI Berlin and 2DK, with data captured through the SolarGain digital twin.

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ucaircoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2025German drone start-up acquired by Above Surveying in July 2025 to expand international reach and strengthen European presence. ucair operated a Germany-wide drone pilot network since its founding in 2017 as an innogy Innovation Hub spin-off. Both companies use drones for thermographic inspections and have invested in automation and data analytics. The acquisition positions Above to become a leading aerial inspection and data analytics company globally.
• Kiwa PI BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2024Ground-breaking partnership announced November 2024 creating a turnkey solution for module quality assurance and condition monitoring. Kiwa PI Berlin provides stringent engineering standards and module testing capabilities. The collaboration integrates quality assurance, engineering, and digital solutions across the module value chain from factory pre-shipment audits through post-shipment, installation testing, asset digitalisation, and lifetime operational monitoring.
• 2 Degrees Kelvin (2DK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2024Partnership announced November 2024 as part of the Module Condition Monitoring service. 2DK provides engineering and operational expertise, having advised and provided services on over 1GW of large-scale solar assets throughout design, development, construction, commissioning, operational and decommissioning phases.
• SYMBIOSYST ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbove participates in this research project focused on bifacial module performance and albedo effects. The research aims to substantiate varied effects of albedo on bifacial panels from aerial drone inspection data.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Raptor Maps: US-based provider of drone-based solar asset management software with thermographic analytics and a digital asset record platform. Most direct competitor to Above Surveying in solar-specific aerial inspection and lifecycle data management.
• DroneDeploy: Cloud-based drone inspection and mapping platform with AI analytics used across construction, energy, and solar. Competes with Above on the SaaS layer of drone-based inspection data management and asset documentation.
• Aerodyne Group: Global drone-based enterprise inspection and data analytics company serving utilities, renewables, and infrastructure. Competes directly with Above in drone-based industrial inspection services delivered through regional partner networks.
• Optelos: Visual data management and inspection platform that ingests drone and ground imagery for asset condition assessment. Overlaps with Above's SolarGain digital twin approach to inspection data organization and analytics.
• PrecisionHawk (HUVR): Drone-based industrial inspection and data analytics platform serving energy and infrastructure. Comparable to Above in combining drone flight services with a software analytics layer for asset owners.
• Cyberhawk Innovations: Drone inspection service provider specializing in utilities, oil & gas, and renewables. Overlaps with Above in aerial thermography and visual asset inspection delivered through a global pilot network.

Broad incumbents

• Trimble: Established provider of surveying, positioning, and geospatial software for infrastructure and energy projects. Competes at the surveying/mapping layer (LiDAR, photogrammetry) used by Above's topographic services and adjacent to SolarGain's digital twin concept.
• ESRI: Dominant GIS and spatial analytics platform used by utilities and infrastructure operators. Adjacent incumbent competing for the asset management and geospatial data layer that SolarGain targets within solar.
• Skydio: US drone manufacturer with strong enterprise inspection software stack. Competes as an upstream hardware and autonomy platform that could disintermediate service-led inspection providers like Above over time.

Emerging players

• Pix4D: Photogrammetry software for converting drone imagery into maps, point clouds, and 3D models. Comparable to Above's topographic mapping workflow using aerial photogrammetry for solar plant design and shading analysis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/above-solar
• Xx.com/AboveSolar

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Above Surveying Ltd