Northern Drone Llc

What Northern Drone Llc does

Northern Drone LLC is a privately held, bootstrapped drone-based aerial survey and inspection service provider founded in 2019 by Cody Hedstrom and headquartered in West Fargo, North Dakota. The company operates six specialist service lines — LiDAR Mapping, Drone-Based GPR Survey, Bathymetric Surveys (sonar USV), Solar Farm Analysis, Telecom Inspections, and Agricultural Surveys — plus a Stockpile Volumetrics offering, each built on purpose-built sensor platforms rather than repurposed consumer drones. Its core technology stack combines DJI L-series LiDAR with RTK positioning, airborne ground-penetrating radar at 250MHz–1GHz, sonar-equipped unmanned surface vessels, and radiometric thermal imaging, with data processed in-house using Pix4D, Agisoft Metashape, and DroneDeploy and delivered in GIS/CAD-ready formats (LAS/LAZ, GeoTIFF, DXF, SHP, KMZ). FAA Part 107-certified pilots execute missions under COA/waiver authorization (including BVLOS) with $2M+ liability coverage, and the company holds FCC Part 15 §15.509 and IEC 62446-3 compliance for qualifying GPR and solar thermal projects.

The company serves enterprise clients in power and utilities, mining and quarry, construction and engineering, solar and energy, agriculture, and telecom — addressing pain points around dangerous crew climbs, slow turnaround, and inaccurate data with claims of 50–75% cost reduction versus traditional ground survey methods, 24–72 hour data delivery, and engineering-grade accuracy (4–5 cm LiDAR vertical, ±2 cm bathymetric depth, 1–2% stockpile volume). Since founding, Northern Drone has completed over 2,400 missions and serves clients across all 50 U.S. states through a fully mobile deployment model, supplemented by the Fly With Us contract pilot network for nationwide capacity scaling. The business model is professional services revenue: project-based quote-by-quote scoping with a 50% deposit to schedule and 50% due on delivery, standard 72-hour turnaround (36-hour rush available), with retainer and preferential pricing offered to repeat enterprise clients for recurring programs such as annual vegetation management, quarterly solar inspections, and seasonal agricultural surveys. The three-person core team (Founder & Chief Pilot, Geomatics/Data Processing Lead, Field Operations Specialist) executes quoting, flying, and processing in-house, and the company has grown without external funding.

Name

Northern Drone Llc

Legal name

Northern Drone LLC

Website

https://northerndrone.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Northern Drone LLC provides drone-based aerial survey and inspection services across all 50 U.S. states, operating six specialist service lines (LiDAR mapping, drone GPR, bathymetric, solar thermal, telecom, agricultural) for utilities, mining, construction, and agricultural clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerial Survey and Inspection Services

NAICS

Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (54137)

akta.pro primary industry

Aerial Surveying & Crop Scouting (Imaging, Mapping, Stand Counts) (AFACAIAJ)

Keywords

• Aerial survey services
• Drone inspection services
• LiDAR mapping
• Bathymetric surveys
• Ground-penetrating radar

Headquarters

HQ city

West Fargo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Aerial Survey & Inspection Services: Project-based professional services revenue from drone-based LiDAR, GPR, bathymetric, agricultural, telecom inspection, and solar thermal survey services. Each project scoped individually with fixed pricing. Standard payment terms: 50% deposit to schedule, 50% due on delivery. Repeat/enterprise clients offered retainer and preferential pricing for ongoing programs (annual vegetation management, quarterly solar inspections, seasonal ag surveys).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Northern Drone LLC provides specialist drone-based aerial survey and inspection services using purpose-built sensor platforms across six service lines: LiDAR Mapping, Bathymetric Surveys, Drone-Based GPR Survey, Stockpile Volumetrics, Agricultural Surveys, and Solar/Telecom Inspections. The company delivers GIS/CAD-ready data outputs (GeoTIFF, LAS/LAZ, DXF, SHP, KMZ, PDF) within 72-hour standard turnaround, operated by FAA Part 107 certified pilots with $2M+ liability coverage on a fully mobile deployment model across all 50 U.S. states.

Product overview

Northern Drone LLC operates as a specialist aerial survey and inspection service provider offering six distinct service lines built on purpose-built drone and USV platforms. The core portfolio includes Agricultural Surveys (multispectral/thermal NDVI mapping), Telecom Inspections (4K/thermal tower inspection), Solar Farm Analysis (radiometric thermal fault detection), LiDAR Mapping (dense 3D point clouds with vegetation penetration), Drone-Based GPR Survey (sub-surface radar in hazardous terrain), Bathymetric Surveys (sonar USV for flooded pit mapping), and Stockpile Volumetrics (photogrammetric inventory measurement). All services deliver GIS/CAD-ready data outputs (GeoTIFF, LAS/LAZ, DXF, SHP, KMZ, PDF) with 72-hour standard turnaround or 36-hour rush processing, operated by FAA Part 107 certified pilots with $2M+ liability coverage across all 50 U.S. states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LiDAR Mapping Airborne LiDAR survey generating dense 3D point clouds with full vegetation canopy penetration to capture bare-earth terrain at ±2–5 cm vertical accuracy. Used for corridor surveys, flood modeling, forestry inventories, and engineering design with outputs in LAS/LAZ, GeoTIFF, and DXF formats at up to 300 points/m² density. Targeted at electric utilities, engineering firms, and forestry operators.
• Bathymetric Surveys Sonar-equipped USV and drone platforms for flooded quarry pit mapping delivering ±2 cm depth accuracy and centimeter-level RTK positioning. Outputs include color-coded depth contours, cross-section profiles, georeferenced point clouds, and CSV exports with volume calculations for dewatering planning, reclamation permitting, and MSHA compliance reporting. IHO S-44 compatible. Targeted at aggregate quarries and mining companies.
• Drone-Based GPR Survey Airborne ground-penetrating radar service flying 1–3 m AGL with terrain-following for sub-surface mapping in hazardous, contaminated, or inaccessible terrain. Operates at 250 MHz–1 GHz frequency (up to 5 m depth in suitable soil conditions) for utility detection, void assessment, and geotechnical surveys under FCC §15.509 compliance. Targeted at mining, construction, and engineering firms needing sub-surface data without ground crew exposure.
• Stockpile Volumetrics Aerial photogrammetric stockpile volume measurement service achieving 1–2% accuracy versus ground survey under good conditions with proper ground control. Covers active quarry yards, aggregate operations, and construction staging sites without halting operations or deploying personnel on piles. Delivers per-pile and total volumes, orthomosaics, and color-coded surface models. Targeted at quarries, mining operations, and construction firms.
• Agricultural Surveys Precision agriculture aerial survey service deploying multispectral and thermal IR cameras to capture NDVI, NDRE, SAVI, and EVI crop health indices across fields of any scale. Delivers orthomosaics, georeferenced rasters, and KMZ/SHP files compatible with farm management platforms for targeted input decisions. Targeted at large-scale farming operations, agricultural cooperatives, golf courses, and turf management facilities.
• Solar Farm Analysis

Quantifiable outcome

• 73% cost reduction vs. traditional survey methods (benchmark range 50–75% for sites over 5 acres)
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)coreOthersFAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate required for all commercial drone operations. All Northern Drone pilots hold current Part 107 certification. Company also holds COA/Waiver capability for restricted airspace operations including BVLOS.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• YellowScan: YellowScan designs and manufactures LiDAR sensor solutions for drone-based mapping and surveying. Adjacent to Northern Drone's LiDAR Mapping service line, providing hardware integration partners rather than a direct service competitor.
• senseFly (Parrot): senseFly, a Parrot subsidiary, manufactures fixed-wing mapping drones for surveying, mining, and agriculture. Comparable to Northern Drone's core aerial survey capabilities through overlapping customer segments in mining, agriculture, and corridor mapping.
• Phoenix LiDAR Systems: Phoenix LiDAR Systems manufactures UAV LiDAR mapping systems used for corridor, forestry, and engineering surveys. Comparable to Northern Drone's LiDAR Mapping service through overlapping technology stacks, though focused on hardware rather than service delivery.

Broad incumbents

• DroneDeploy: DroneDeploy is a drone mapping and data management platform used for construction, agriculture, and surveying workflows. Comparable to Northern Drone's mapping and stockpile volumetrics services but operates as a software platform rather than direct service provider.
• Skyward (Verizon): Skyward, a Verizon-owned drone operations management platform, supports enterprise drone programs including aviation management, BVLOS, and LAANC. Partially comparable to Northern Drone's enterprise aviation management capabilities, though operating as a software platform.

Direct peers

• Sharper Shape: Sharper Shape provides drone-based inspection for utility transmission and distribution infrastructure, including vegetation encroachment and asset inspection. Direct vertical peer to Northern Drone's power utility LiDAR corridor service, with similar NERC compliance focus.
• PrecisionHawk: PrecisionHawk offers drone-based data collection and analytics for agriculture, energy, and infrastructure. Comparable to Northern Drone's multi-vertical aerial survey approach with LiDAR, multispectral, and thermal capabilities delivered through professional services.
• Measure (UAVio): Measure (formerly Measure UAS) provides drone services for enterprise across construction, energy, and infrastructure. Comparable to Northern Drone's enterprise-focused project-based aerial survey model with FAA Part 107 certified pilot network and managed service delivery.
• Cyberhawk: Cyberhawk provides drone-based visual inspection and survey services for oil & gas, utilities, and infrastructure. Directly comparable to Northern Drone's specialist industrial inspection model with similar enterprise customer focus and FAA-equivalent certified pilot operations.
• Raptor Maps: Raptor Maps performs drone-based thermal inspection of utility-scale solar farms to detect panel-level faults, hotspots, and underperforming strings. A direct vertical peer to Northern Drone's Solar Farm Analysis line, with similarly specialized sensor payloads and IEC-aligned reporting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northern-drone-llc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Northern Drone Llc