Mapping
Drone Mapping for Irish Farms
The practical workflow for farm orthomosaics, topographic mapping, drone survey outputs, ground control, software and Irish field conditions.
Read guide →Plain-English guides to drone mapping, topographic farm surveys, crop monitoring and agri-drone choices for Irish conditions.
A useful drone project starts with the operation and decision—not a product promise.
Name the deliverable: orthomosaic, elevation surface, repeat survey, crop-variation map or inspection photographs. Record the area, coordinate system, required resolution, accuracy evidence, file formats and who will make the decision from it.
The IAA applies risk-based Open, Specific and Certified categories. Check operator registration, pilot competency, aircraft class/weight, people and property around the site, visual-line-of-sight limits and the current IAA geographical-zone map for every job.
A camera drone may capture identifiable people or neighbouring property. The Data Protection Commission says drones can act as mobile surveillance systems. Define what is collected, minimise unnecessary capture and decide how data is stored, shared and deleted.
Imagery can highlight variation; it does not identify a cause by itself. Teagasc recommends combining sensor outputs with other information and manual verification. Walk the flagged zones and involve the appropriate adviser before acting.
Aviation compliance does not authorise application of a plant protection product. The EU Sustainable Use Directive sets a general prohibition on aerial spraying with tightly controlled derogation conditions, while Irish product authorisation and label rules still apply.
The SCSI’s Irish aerial-survey guidance covers project planning, data capture, accuracy and deliverables. Use our drone mapping brief to turn those questions into a farm-ready scope.
Reviewed 25 July 2026. Check the current IAA/EASA, DAFM/PRCD and product-label position for the specific operation. Hexagon.ie is independent and does not provide regulatory approval, agronomic diagnosis or surveying certification.
Everything an Irish farmer or drone operator needs to know about agri-drones.
IAA/EASA operation categories, registration, competency, geographical zones and when an operational authorisation may be required.
Read the guide →How to map crop variation, repeat flights consistently and ground-truth flagged zones before deciding what they mean.
Read the guide →How aviation rules, aerial-spraying controls, Irish PPP authorisation and the product label create separate approval gates.
Read the guide →Create farm orthomosaics, topographic maps, elevation models and repeatable drone survey records for drainage, habitat and field planning.
Read the guide →A requirements-first buying brief covering mapping outputs, support evidence, training, data formats and regulatory fit.
See reviews →Irish and EU precision farming news, regulation updates, and case studies from farms using drones.
Read news →Irish farmers are looking at drones for practical reasons: wet ground, difficult inspection windows, rising input costs and the need for better field records. The safest starting point is not spraying; it is mapping, monitoring and evidence-led farm survey work that is legal today.
Drone mapping can turn a planned flight into an orthomosaic, elevation model or management-zone map. That gives you a clearer view of drainage problems, crop variation, habitat boundaries and areas that need ground-truthing before money is spent.
Hexagon.ie exists so Irish farmers and operators can understand what drone data can support, what remains uncertain, and which questions need a qualified adviser, operator or regulator before action.
Start with the GuidesThe most important guides for anyone new to agri-drones in Ireland.
The practical workflow for farm orthomosaics, topographic mapping, drone survey outputs, ground control, software and Irish field conditions.
Read guide →Drone options compared for Irish mapping, monitoring and future agri-drone operations, with support and regulatory caveats kept visible.
Read guide →What drones can actually tell you about your crops, what equipment you need, and what it costs to get started.
Read guide →