How Gröschler ensures efficiency and accuracy through drone surveying

From bottleneck to efficiency gains

“Previously, we used our drone to capture aerial images and sent them to an external surveyor for processing,” explains Matthias Kibwebwe. “This surveying process was not only expensive but also time-consuming. Often, we didn’t know exactly when we’d get the results, which made flexible planning difficult.”At roughly 300€ per flight, Matthias conducted only 30 to 40 flights annually. “We had to carefully consider whether a flight was really necessary,” he recalls. These limitations led to inefficiencies and missed opportunities.

With Trimble Stratus, those issues are a thing of the past. The introduction of a comprehensive drone surveying workflow -including drone flights, outsourced data processing by Propeller, and access to an intuitive platform- has fundamentally changed Gröschler’s approach. “Today, we conduct around 100 flights annually, and the cost per flight is about 130€. The flat-rate data plan makes it easier to fly more often without constantly worrying about the budget,” says Matthias.

Key stats

• 99 datasets processed in the past 12 months  
• 20 active users within the company
• 878 measurements on the platform

Reliable and accessible data

The cloud platform ensures that Matthias and his team receive processed data within 24 hours – often even faster. “Previously, data processing was a bottleneck. Now, I simply upload the data and get back precise point clouds, orthophotos, and digital terrain models. The best part is that all project stakeholders can directly access the data without everything being solely my responsibility.”

The ability to share data with site managers, estimators, and foremen has streamlined workflows across the company. “Our site managers can independently calculate areas and determine how much material they need. This saves me a lot of time and helps them plan their work more effectively,” Matthias shares.

Time savings and evidence preservation

One striking example of efficiency gains is the regular inventory on the construction yard. “Previously, it took 12 to 13 hours to survey stockpiles with GPS. Now, I can complete the task in two to three hours – and the results are absolutely precise,” Matthias notes.

Trimble Stratus also proves invaluable when resolving disputes with clients. “We once had a situation where it was claimed we hadn’t completed a task. Thanks to drone imagery, we could clearly demonstrate that the job had been done correctly. This saved us 1,500€.”

A tool nobody wants to work without anymore

Trimble Stratus has become an indispensable part of daily operations at Gröschler. From tender preparation to construction planning and billing, the technology is used for almost every project, regardless of size. “The data is so precise and quickly available that we rely on it for nearly everything. Even foremen use the platform on-site to determine the exact position of, for example, underground pipes. It simplifies work for everyone.”

Matthias sums it up: “Trimble Stratus has completely transformed our surveying process. I now have more time for other tasks, the data is reliable and accessible to everyone, and the overall efficiency of our team has significantly improved. No one at Gröschler wants to work without this solution anymore.”