The Surge in Drone Geomatics Across the Kingdom
Aerial LiDAR and high-resolution photogrammetry have become the primary method for terrain modeling across Saudi Arabia's giga-projects. Heavy-lift multicopters and VTOL fixed-wing drones capture hundreds of square kilometers per week at sub-centimeter Ground Sampling Distances (GSD).
However, operating unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for surveying in Saudi Arabia requires strict adherence to sovereign airspace and geospatial security protocols.
The Dual-Regulatory Framework
Any commercial survey contractor conducting drone operations must possess two layers of operational clearance:
- General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Clearances: Commercial UAS Operator Certificate and NOTAM flight clearance.
- GEOSA Aerial Geospatial Data Permit: Sensor validation and sovereign In-Kingdom data hosting verification.