akar.earthAKAR Mapper: Drone and Boundary Mapping
AKAR Mapper turns drone flights and RTK surveys into orthomosaics, canopy height models and auditable boundary layers for carbon and EUDR work.
AKAR Mapper turns drone flights and RTK surveys into georeferenced layers for land-sector projects: orthomosaics, canopy height models, 3D layers and precise boundary and plot polygons. It provides the detailed, auditable map layer between satellite imagery and field plots.
What problem it solves
Satellite imagery at 10 m resolution cannot show individual young trees, small smallholder plots or the exact edge of a planting. Phone GPS boundaries can be off by several metres, which matters for small farms and for EUDR polygons. Validation bodies want to see that boundaries, plots and planted areas are real. Drone imagery combined with RTK positioning closes this gap. See drone photogrammetry for forestry.
Capabilities
- Flight planning: overlap, altitude and ground sampling distance set for the purpose, from boundary checks to canopy measurement.
- Orthomosaics: high-resolution, georeferenced image maps of the site.
- Surface and canopy height models: from photogrammetry, for tree height and canopy structure analysis.
- 3D layers: point clouds and models for visual inspection and audits.
- Boundary and plot capture: polygons digitised from imagery or surveyed with RTK GNSS.
- Accuracy reporting: each output records its positioning method and estimated accuracy.
- Exports: standard GIS formats, ready for AKAR Eligibility, dMRV or the client’s own systems.
How it is used
- Define the area and purpose: boundary verification, planting check, canopy measurement or audit support.
- Plan flights and ground control.
- Fly and survey on site, usually during a field data campaign.
- Process imagery into layers.
- Review layers with specialists and link them to plots in AKAR dMRV.
Who it is for
- ARR and mangrove developers documenting planted areas and growth.
- Projects preparing for validation or verification site visits.
- Exporters resolving disputed or unclear EUDR plot boundaries.
- Researchers combining drone, plot and satellite data.
Outputs and formats
Typical deliverables are a georeferenced orthomosaic, a digital surface model and canopy height model where vegetation structure matters, plot and boundary polygons, and a short flight and processing report stating dates, equipment, positioning method and estimated accuracy. Layers are delivered in standard GIS formats such as GeoTIFF, shapefile and GeoJSON, so they open in common GIS software and can be checked by auditors and buyers without special tools.
Limitations
Drones cover limited areas per day, so they are used for samples, high-value areas or disputed plots rather than whole landscapes. Photogrammetry measures the canopy surface, not the ground under dense forest; lidar is better where terrain under canopy matters. Weather, wind and flight permissions limit when flights can happen. Drone layers complement plots; they do not replace them for carbon accounting. Canopy heights from photogrammetry also need checking against field-measured heights before they are used in any biomass estimate.
Related service and tools
AKAR Mapper is used in our field data campaigns and validation and verification support. See the dMRV hub and the full AKAR suite.
Access
Access is through a demo request. Message us with the area, vegetation type and what you need mapped.
Frequently asked questions
What does AKAR Mapper produce?
Orthomosaics, digital surface and canopy height models, 3D layers and boundary or plot polygons, all georeferenced and ready to use in GIS or in other AKAR tools.
Do you fly the drones?
Yes. Flights are run by our field team with appropriate flight permissions, as part of a field campaign or monitoring visit.
How accurate are drone maps?
With RTK or ground control points, positional accuracy can reach centimetre-to-decimetre level in good conditions. Accuracy is reported with each output.
How do I get access?
By demo request. Message us with the area, vegetation type and what you need mapped.