What an aerial render shows
An aerial render is a view from above at an angle, the way a drone would see the site. It shows the street pattern, the lots, the houses or buildings, the stormwater ponds and the open space, all at once. It also shows the edges: the roads the project connects to, the tree lines that stay, and the neighbors next door.
That last part matters at a hearing. People want to know how the new homes sit next to theirs, where traffic comes in and what happens to the woods. A good aerial answers those questions before they are asked.
Common views
| View | Used for | What we need |
|---|---|---|
| High oblique (whole site) | Hearings, investor decks, sales centers | Survey, site plan, product types |
| Low oblique (one street) | Showing the street scene and setbacks | Typical lot layout, elevations or product photos |
| Phase views | Explaining what gets built first | Phasing plan |
| Context view | Showing the project against its neighbors | Aerial photos of the area, neighbor heights |
Terrain and trees
We model the ground from your contours, so slopes, swales and ponds read correctly. Tree lines you plan to keep stay in the image; areas to be cleared don't. If the grading plan changes the land a lot, send it and we'll model the finished grade instead of the existing one.
Buildings on the lots
For a subdivision we place the house types you plan to offer, with a little variety in color and roof so the street looks lived in. For commercial or mixed-use sites we model buildings from footprints and heights. Detailed facades are rarely needed from the air; massing with the right rooflines usually reads well.
Questions
Can the render match a real aerial photo?
We can match the angle and light of a drone or aerial photo so the new development drops into the photo. Send the photo and its rough camera position.
Do you add cars and people?
A few, if you want them. From high up they are small, but a few cars on the streets help the place look lived in.
Have a survey or a concept plan? Send the boundary, the lot layout and the views you need, and we'll quote the job.
Request a quote