Virtual Surveyor
Virtual Surveyor is desktop drone-surveying software that turns orthomosaics, elevation models, and point clouds into CAD-ready linework, surfaces, stockpile reports, and cut-and-fill maps.
Surveyors and earthworks teams pair photogrammetry outputs with interactive 3D terrain so they can interpret topography the way they would on site, then extract vectors, surfaces, and volumes without rebuilding everything in a general CAD tool.
A separate TerrainCreator app handles drone photo processing into orthomosaics and DSMs, while the Virtual Surveyor app focuses on measurement, drafting, timelines, and reporting workflows such as stockpiles, mining progress, construction earthworks, and water-flow checks.
Licensing is cloud-based and floating, so a single concurrent seat can move between desktop machines when users sign in with a Virtual Surveyor ID (Virtual Surveyor, 2026).
New installs receive a 14-day trial that unlocks every Peak-tier feature until the trial window ends, after which teams can fall back to the free Valley tier for read-only style access to projects (Virtual Surveyor, 2026).
Specifications
Pricing
Platforms
Used for
Used by
Tasks
Pros and cons
Pros
- Splits heavy photogrammetry from interactive surveying so each app stays focused.
- Free Valley tier keeps basic import and export available after trials expire.
- Floating cloud licenses reduce friction when crews swap workstations.
Cons
- Desktop-only runtime means no native browser editing on tablets.
- Advanced grading and intersection tools sit in the highest paid tiers.
- Euro-denominated subscriptions may shift with exchange rates for US buyers.
Key features
TerrainCreator processing: Build survey-grade orthomosaics and digital surface models from drone imagery through a guided photogrammetry workflow.
Topographic and planimetric drafting: Draw breaklines, points, and surfaces on top of drone-derived terrain for lightweight CAD deliverables.
Stockpile and inventory reporting: Assign materials, volumes, tonnage, and PDF reporting for single sites or recurring flights.
Construction earthworks: Compare flights to design surfaces, track cut-and-fill, and document as-built conditions over time.
Timeline and change analysis: Mountain and Peak tiers add multi-epoch comparisons, profile tools, and object removal for cleaner models.
Dropbox and OneDrive links: Keep project folders on storage you already use so teams share the same Virtual Surveyor datasets without a new silo.
Pricing
Valley
per month
Free
Free tier; verify feature limits on vendor site.
Ridge
per month
€100.00
Verify monthly vs annual rows on https://www.virtual-surveyor.com/pricing
Mountain
per month
€210.00
Includes timeline and comparison tooling per vendor matrix.
Peak
per month
€210.00
Adds advanced grading and design-surface tools per vendor matrix.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Virtual Surveyor cost?
Public pricing lists Valley at 0, Ridge at100, Mountain at 210, and Peak at210 with monthly versus annual columns on the vendor page. Currency, taxes, and whether a line item is monthly or annual can change, so confirm the quote inside the My Virtual Surveyor portal before purchase.
Does Virtual Surveyor include photogrammetry?
Ridge and higher plans unlock photogrammetry inside TerrainCreator according to the feature matrix, while Valley focuses on importing finished orthos and DSMs. Check the current comparison table because feature bundling can move between releases.
Can Virtual Surveyor export to CAD?
Valley already includes export to CAD formats for linework and surfaces produced inside the survey environment. Validate the exact file types you need against the published feature list for your tier.
Is there a free trial?
The vendor states a 14-day trial with full Peak capabilities starting at installation. After the trial, you can activate the free Valley plan to keep read-oriented access to projects per the support articles linked from the pricing page.
Does Virtual Surveyor run on Mac?
Documentation positions Virtual Surveyor as desktop software with cloud licensing; historically the ecosystem targets Windows workstations. Ask the vendor for the latest macOS or virtualization guidance if your fleet is mixed.
How does team licensing work?
Support articles describe floating licenses tied to concurrent users rather than named machines. You purchase seats for the peak number of simultaneous users, then sign in from any eligible desktop.