Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC
Birds Eye Aerial Drones (BEAD) is a veteran-owned drone service provider delivering RTK/PPK-enabled aerial inspection, mapping, and GIS-integrated data for utilities, transportation, government, agriculture, and environmental clients across California.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC does
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC (BEAD) is a Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business founded in 2014 by Scott Painter and headquartered in El Cajon, California (San Diego County). The company provides professional drone-based aerial inspection, mapping, surveying, photography, and precision agriculture spraying services to enterprise and government clients in the utilities and energy, roads and railways, commercial and AEC, government and municipal, agriculture, environmental, and GIS-services sectors across California and select nationwide engagements. Service delivery is governed by a proprietary four-step methodology branded as NAVIGATE and supported by a fleet equipped with RTK/PPK GPS, LiDAR, RGB, and thermal sensors, producing orthomosaics, 3D models, contour maps, and GIS-compatible outputs with ±2 cm horizontal accuracy at sub-centimeter resolution.
Technically, BEAD's stack integrates flight hardware (multi-sensor UAS payloads) with established geospatial software (Pix4D, DroneDeploy, Esri ArcGIS, AutoCAD Civil 3D, BIM, Optelos, Datumate, LiveEO) and applies computer vision and predictive analytics on the captured imagery for defect detection, vegetation encroachment, and grid reliability monitoring. Named engagements include SDG&E DIAR Project Oversight, LA Metro territory-wide GIS integration, NCTD transit inspections, EPA Valley Fever particulate testing, SCE utility inspections, Burns & McDonnell T&D project support, PGH Wong construction surveys, and NCM Engineering bridge inspections (2019–ongoing).
Commercially, BEAD operates a Drone-as-a-Service / professional services model in which revenue is generated through quote-based, project-by-project task orders and retainers (no public pricing), with enterprise field sales as the primary GTM motion augmented by a Value-Added Reseller (VAR) program and strategic alliances with PRH Group (utilities construction), AgTech Logic (agriculture spraying), Athena Consulting, and Artemia Communications. The firm reports 28,000+ missions, 25,000+ incident-free flight hours, 350,000+ utility assets inspected, and 500,000+ infrastructure assets documented, with $10M in liability insurance and FAA Part 107 certification across the pilot roster. No external funding, parent entity, or revenue figures have been disclosed.
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC
- Legal name
- Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC
- Website
- https://birdseyeaerialdrones.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Birds Eye Aerial Drones (BEAD) is a veteran-owned drone service provider delivering RTK/PPK-enabled aerial inspection, mapping, and GIS-integrated data for utilities, transportation, government, agriculture, and environmental clients across California.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Drone Inspection & Aerial Surveying Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aerial Surveying & Crop Scouting (Imaging, Mapping, Stand Counts) (AFACAIAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Drone/UAS Application Services (Spraying, Spreading, Seeding) (AFACAIAB)
Keywords
Where Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) Professional Services: BEAD generates revenue primarily through project-based professional drone service engagements. Clients hire BEAD for specific missions (inspections, mapping, surveying, spraying) on a per-project or retainer basis. Pricing is determined by scope, asset type, flight complexity, sensor payload, deliverables, and geographic coverage. The company provides turnkey aerial drone imaging and consulting services. No public pricing is listed; engagements are quote-based through task orders and project agreements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Project-based drone service engagements — no published tiers; all work is quote-driven per scope of work. |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC (BEAD) is a Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business that sells professional aerial drone inspection, mapping, surveying, and photography services on a project/task-order basis. Its FAA Part 107-certified pilots deploy advanced UAS platforms equipped with RTK/PPK GPS, LiDAR, RGB, and thermal sensors to deliver sub-centimeter-accurate orthomosaics, 3D models, contour maps, and GIS-compatible deliverables to utilities, transportation, government, agriculture, and environmental clients. The company also operates a Value-Added Reseller (VAR) program and standards its delivery with a proprietary NAVIGATE™ four-step framework.
Product overview
Birds Eye Aerial Drones (BEAD) is a veteran-owned drone service provider offering a comprehensive suite of aerial intelligence solutions. The core offering centers on professional drone inspection, mapping, and photography services delivered through their proprietary NAVIGATE process framework—a standardized four-step methodology ensuring utility-grade accuracy. The portfolio spans utility inspections (including LiDAR and thermal imaging), agriculture drone services (with AgTechLogic partnership for spraying), environmental monitoring, railway inspections, and GIS mapping. Key products include drone-as-a-service (DaaS) models, LiDAR services as an add-on module, and a Value-Added Reseller program. All services leverage advanced sensors (LiDAR, thermal, multispectral), RTK/PPK-enabled accuracy (±2cm), and integrate with industry-standard platforms including ESRI ArcGIS, AutoCAD Civil 3D, BIM, Pix4D, and Drone Deploy for data processing and analysis.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Aerial Drone Inspection Services Professional drone-based visual and sensor inspection services for utilities, infrastructure, construction, and environmental applications; RTK/PPK-enabled flights delivering ±2 cm horizontal accuracy with the company marketing the service as 80% safer for crews compared to manual methods.
- Drone Mapping & Surveying Services Aerial mapping and surveying using LiDAR, RTK GPS, and photogrammetry to produce ortho imagery, contour maps, 3D models, and GIS-compatible deliverables for rail, transportation, utilities, AEC, government, and environmental clients.
- Drone Photography & Videography Services Professional aerial photography and videography for commercial real estate marketing, construction progress documentation, and cinematic / pre-production scouting for film and television projects.
- Utility Drone Solutions Specialized aerial inspection and vegetation management services for utility providers and grid operators covering UAV utility inspections, aerial vegetation management, thermal imaging, LiDAR scanning, substation mapping, solar farm inspections, wind turbine blade inspections, wildfire pre/post assessment, and grid reliability monitoring.
- Agriculture Drone Services Precision agriculture drone services for California specialty crop growers covering crop monitoring, NDVI analysis, precision spraying of fertilizers/herbicides/pesticides, water stress mapping, soil health surveys, yield prediction, harvest planning, and irrigation optimization.
- Environmental Drone Monitoring Services Environmental monitoring and compliance services for air quality, water quality, wildlife protection during construction, wetland restoration monitoring, buffer zone compliance, contamination detection, and environmental impact assessment, supporting Clean Air / Clean Water Act reporting.
- Railway & Road Drone Inspection Services Drone-based inspection and mapping of rail corridors, tracks, bridges, overhead wires, tunnels, and embankments, including ballast degradation analysis and vegetation encroachment detection, executed without track occupancy or lane closures.
- Aerial Drone Consulting Services Consulting and advisory engagements on using aerial drone data for infrastructure, agriculture, utility, and government applications, including scope design, mission planning, and data interpretation.
- Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) Engagements On-demand drone service model providing access to professional UAS equipment and FAA Part 107-certified pilots without upfront investment; scalable from single-asset inspections to 200-mile corridor surveys under per-project or retainer engagements.
- Value-Added Reseller (VAR) Program Channel/reseller program that lets partner companies resell and white-label BEAD's drone services and drone-related technology solutions to their own customers as a bundled offering.
Quantifiable outcome
- 60% faster inspections compared to traditional field methods
- +12 more outcomes
Companies that use Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability6 records
Feature6 records
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EsricoreBEAD partners with Esri (GIS platform leader) for data integration, enabling BEAD's aerial deliverables to be directly imported into client GIS platforms for mapping, asset management, and spatial analysis workflows.
- OpteloscoreOptelos provides drone data management and analytics platforms that BEAD uses to process, organize, and deliver actionable inspection data to enterprise and utility clients.
- DatumatecoreDatumate partnership sets new standards in aerial surveying by providing BEAD with automated photogrammetry and construction-grade mapping tools, delivering precise and actionable data to clients.
- PRH GroupcorePRH Group integrates BEAD's advanced drone technology into powerline construction and restoration projects, enhancing operational efficiency and safety in utility projects nationwide. Joint go-to-market for infrastructure construction and restoration engagements.
- AgTech LogiccoreBEAD partners with AgTech Logic — a trailblazer in agricultural spray systems and data automation — to deliver next-gen drone spraying services to California fields, integrating smart sprayer technology into BEAD's drone platforms for precise, efficient, and sustainable agricultural applications.
- Athena Consulting LLCminorAthena Consulting provides consulting and advisory services. Partnership enables BEAD to access consulting-driven client engagements in utility and government sectors.
- Artemia CommunicationsminorArtemia Communications is a strategic communications firm. Partnership supports BEAD's marketing, stakeholder engagement, and thought leadership initiatives in the utility infrastructure space.
- Council for Supplier DiversityminorEconomic and community partnership supporting local economies and promoting diversity within the drone service industry. Helps BEAD gain preferential access to government contracting opportunities via diverse supplier programs.
- East County Economic Development CouncilminorCommunity partnership supporting economic development in the San Diego East County region. Aligns BEAD's community presence with regional growth and employment initiatives.
- Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)minorAUVSI is the leading industry organization for unmanned systems. BEAD's engagement ensures adherence to highest industry standards while staying abreast of emerging drone regulations, technologies, and market trends.
- Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA)minorAMA is the national governing body for model aviation. BEAD's association with AMA supports safe operations standards and community goodwill within the broader aviation ecosystem.
- Palomar CollegeminorEducational partnership with Palomar College provides students with learning experiences and insights into the evolving field of drone technology, nurturing the next generation of aerial drone industry professionals.
- Grossmont CollegeminorEducational partnership with Grossmont College provides students with learning experiences and insights into drone technology, supporting workforce development in the San Diego region.
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityminorPartnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (where BEAD's founder Scott Painter holds an MBA in Aviation) connects BEAD with aviation academia for student engagement, research, and talent pipeline development.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC social profiles
Digital presenceBirds Eye Aerial Drones LLC compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC
What does Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC do?
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC (BEAD) is a Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business that sells professional aerial drone inspection, mapping, surveying, and photography services on a project/task-order basis. Its FAA Part 107-certified pilots deploy advanced UAS platforms equipped with RTK/PPK GPS, LiDAR, RGB, and thermal sensors to deliver sub-centimeter-accurate orthomosaics, 3D models, contour maps, and GIS-compatible deliverables to utilities, transportation, government, agriculture, and environmental clients. The company also operates a Value-Added Reseller (VAR) program and standards its delivery with a proprietary NAVIGATE™ four-step framework.
Is Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC a public or private company?
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC founded?
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC based?
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC make money?
One revenue line is on record: drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) Professional Services.
Does Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC have an API?
No public API is recorded for Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC.
What industry is Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC in?
Birds Eye Aerial Drones LLC's product category is Commercial Drone Inspection & Aerial Surveying Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFACAIAJ, Aerial Surveying & Crop Scouting (Imaging, Mapping, Stand Counts), with a secondary code of AFACAIAB, Drone/UAS Application Services (Spraying, Spreading, Seeding).