5 Star Google Rating. 62 Reviews
About Wing Walker Aerial
Wing Walker Aerial LLC is a drone services company based in the Puget Sound area of Washington state. Founded in April 2021 by Matt Nugent—a first-responder with government drone flight experience and a tech background—we specialize in professional aerial services.
Our company focuses on three main branches: LiDAR & Mapping Services for precise topographic data, Aerial Photography for investment-grade drone photos and videos, as well as Aerial Inspections for safe, accurate, actionable 3D data for cell phone towers and critical infrastructure maintenance. We partner with licensed Professional Land Surveyors to deliver pinpoint-accurate results.
2000+
Flight Hours
600+
Projects Completed
2021
Est. Since
4
States Covered
Certified By
Professional Drone Services for the Pacific Northwest
From precision LiDAR mapping to stunning aerial photography, we deliver results that exceed expectations with safety and regulatory compliance.
Industries We Serve
Surveying
Engineering
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Architecture
Communities
Construction
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Residential
Business
Insurance
Public Safety
Inspections
Civic
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about our drone services? Find answers to common questions below.
Aerial LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing technology that uses laser pulses emitted from a drone to create highly accurate 3D models of the Earth's surface. It works by sending millions of laser pulses toward the ground, measuring the time it takes for the light to reflect back, and calculating precise distances. This produces a detailed point cloud that can represent terrain, vegetation, buildings, and other features with accuracy within centimeters. Aerial LiDAR is especially valuable because it can penetrate vegetation to map the bare ground below, making it ideal for applications such as:
• Topographic mapping
• Forestry management
• Flood modeling
• Land Development
• Infrastructure planning
• Engineering Design
Drone LiDAR should ideally be completed early in the project timeline, most commonly during the preliminary/planning, feasibility, or early design phase — well before detailed engineering design and pre-construction staking.
Optimal Timing by Project Phase
• Pre-design / Site Assessment / Feasibility (earliest and most common): Capture existing conditions topography, contours, and bare-earth terrain to inform site selection, concept layouts, earthwork estimates, drainage planning, and overall feasibility. This is the primary window for most land development, infrastructure, renewable energy, and construction projects.
• Early Design Phase: Use the data as the baseline for grading plans, civil design, and BIM integration — allowing engineers to work directly from accurate 3D models.
• Pre-construction: Sometimes repeated or supplemented for final verification, but the initial survey is rarely done this late unless the site has changed significantly.
Summary: Complete drone LiDAR as early as possible — ideally pre-design — to maximize cost savings, reduce redesign risks, and guide the entire project efficiently. This has become standard best practice in 2026 for medium-to-large sites.
Drone LiDAR mapping is chosen over drone photos (photogrammetry) primarily when you need accurate bare-earth topography beneath vegetation, higher precision in complex or obstructed environments, or direct 3D measurements that aren't limited by visual conditions. Fortunately, our LiDAR sensor also has a 20MP camera affixed to the sensor, offering both colorized LiDAR and a map i.e. orthomosaic of the project site.
Key Reasons to Choose Drone LiDAR
• Penetrates Vegetation — LiDAR's laser pulses go through tree canopies and dense foliage to map the true ground surface (bare-earth DTM), while photogrammetry only captures the top of vegetation, roofs, etc., often failing in forested, brushy, or overgrown
sites.
• Superior Accuracy in Challenging Areas — Delivers consistent vertical accuracy (often 1–3 cm) even under trees, in shadows, low light, or uniform surfaces; photogrammetry struggles with lighting, textureless areas (e.g., sand, snow), or heavy canopy.
• Direct Distance Measurements — Active sensing (lasers) provides precise point clouds for fine details like power lines, wires, curbs, or complex structures; photos rely on image reconstruction, which can introduce errors.
• Reliable in Tough Conditions — Works in low-light, dusk, or varying shadows; photogrammetry requires good daylight, texture, and overlap.
Bottom line (2026 best practice): Use drone LiDAR when vegetation, accuracy under cover, or precise terrain is critical — it's the go-to for reliable surveying in real-world, nonideal conditions. For bare/open sites, photos are often sufficient and more affordable. Many pros now combine both for the best of both worlds. We partner with Professional Land Surveyors around the Pacific Northwest (WA, OR, & ID) to ensure that the data we collect has official and recorded oversight to comply with all jurisdictional requirements.
After several years of experience flying drones in an official government capacity, our founder, Matt Nugent, was approached by a friend in real estate who struggled with capturing drone photos for his residential listings. Our founder was already FAA licensed and got started by completing a few residential drone projects. From there, Matt started receiving inquiries for bigger projects and from bigger companies. Thus, Wing Walker Aerial Photography, officially formed in April of 2021 and is Licensed and Insured.
Our founder, Matt Nugent, began scouring a thesaurus of all aeronautical terms. While beginning to search through countless aeronautical terms in alphabetical order, looking for inspiration, Matt found the word, ‘Wing Walker’. Wing Walker has multiple meanings, but in aeronautical terms, it is defined as someone on the ground who assists an aircraft by guiding from the wing area. Wing Walker or “wing walking” is also known for a stunt that pilots perform by walking out onto the wing of an airplane while in flight. Matt found this term to be relatable to drones as aeronautically, a drone pilot is on the ground guiding the aircraft, and from a less aeronautical standpoint, the drone captures a unique perspective in the air. Much like the one a Wing Walker might see from out on a plane’s wing.
We love seeing the finished product come together. There is so much time, effort, and coordination that goes into capturing photos and video footage, sometimes from several different locations, and then edited and combined into a complete production. To see it all come together is a very exciting and rewarding experience for us.
Our Wing Walker Aerial Photography pilots are not only required to be FAA Part 107 licensed, which is now legally required of commercial drone operators throughout the United States, but they also must have logged hundreds of hours of flight time prior to being offered a position with Wing Walker. This ensures our clients receive quality aerial footage and ensures our clients trust and confidence. We also believe in supporting our clients beyond capturing their aerial photo and video needs such as supporting and directing audiences and viewers towards our clients through various social media platforms.
When you work with Wing Walker Aerial Photography, you can be assured you are hiring a professional and reputable company who follows regulations and keeps everyone safe. We help you get the footage you need to make an impact in a very inexpensive and efficient manner.
Ready to Start Your Project?
Contact us today to discuss your aerial mapping, photography, or inspection needs. We'll provide a customized quote tailored to your specific project requirements.
(206) 683-0893
Location
Washington, Oregon, and Idaho
Professional drone services for LiDAR mapping, aerial photography, and inspections across the Pacific Northwest.
Address
P.O. Box 370 Buckley, WA 98321 United States
© 2026 Wing Walker Aerial LLC. All rights reserved.