The six spatial datasets SETENA requires for EIA filings — orthophoto, DTM, slope maps, drainage delineation, vegetation coverage — delivered from a single LiDAR drone survey in under 72 hours.
SETENA — Costa Rica's Secretaría Técnica Nacional Ambiental — administers the country's environmental permitting system. No significant development project can legally break ground without SETENA review. The agency classifies projects into four categories based on environmental impact risk:
| Category | Project Type | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| A | Large resorts, industrial plants, highways, ports | Full EIA — comprehensive specialist studies and all spatial datasets |
| B1 | Hotels, commercial centers, housing developments over 50 units | Abbreviated EIA — still requires complete mapping data |
| B2 | Mid-scale projects, some agricultural uses | Environmental Management Plan |
| C | Minor projects with minimal environmental footprint | Sworn affidavit only |
Most developers encounter SETENA requirements for the first time when financing is already on the clock. What surprises them is how data-intensive the filing actually is — particularly for Category A and B1 projects, where detailed spatial analysis is mandatory, not optional.
A high-resolution aerial image mosaic of the entire property, stitched from hundreds of drone photographs and precisely georeferenced to CRTM05 — Costa Rica's national coordinate system. Resolution is typically 2–5 cm per pixel. SETENA uses the orthophoto to assess current land use, vegetation condition, water bodies, and proximity to adjacent protected areas.
Bare-earth elevation data stripped of all vegetation. Contour lines at 0.5m or 1m intervals are generated for drainage assessment and slope analysis. This is the most critical dataset for engineering design — and the one that requires LiDAR on any partly forested property.
Color-coded terrain maps showing flat, gentle, moderate, steep, and very steep gradient zones derived from the DTM. Slopes exceeding 15% and 30% trigger specific SETENA review criteria and may require stabilization planning documentation.
The most technically demanding EIA requirement. SETENA needs precise analysis of how rainfall flows across the property, where it concentrates, and what natural watercourses it feeds. Drone-derived terrain models allow accurate sub-watershed boundary delineation, natural flow path mapping, and runoff volume calculations — with a precision impossible from traditional ground survey methods.
Documentation of existing vegetation types and coverage percentages — primary forest, secondary growth, pasture, crops, wetlands, and developed areas. Critical for properties near national parks, biological corridors, or wetlands, where clearing limits and buffer zone regulations are strictly enforced by SINAC.
Precise, legally verifiable confirmation of the parcel boundaries matched to the registered cadastral plan, produced using RTK GPS with centimeter-level accuracy. This defines the spatial extent of the entire environmental study area.
Tell us your property size, location, and EIA category. We'll confirm scope and pricing within one business day.
Get a Free Quote WhatsApp UsStandard photogrammetry drone cameras map the surface they can see — which on a forested or partly forested property is the tree canopy, not the ground. Costa Rica's mixed terrain (partly cleared, partly secondary growth, often with primary forest patches) means photogrammetry alone produces a terrain model that shows a continuous green carpet rather than the actual hillside beneath it.
We use the DJI Zenmuse L1 — one of the most capable commercial LiDAR systems operating in Costa Rica — delivering point cloud densities of 100+ points per square meter and accuracy of ±2cm horizontally with RTK GPS.
Client provides cadastral boundaries. We register the flight mission with DGAC and obtain airspace clearance — 24–48h for sites near airports or restricted zones.
Pilot and ground crew mobilize. RTK GPS base station establishes centimetre-accurate ground control. Drone flies automated grid patterns over the full property plus 50–100m buffer zone. Up to 200 ha in one flight day.
Raw data becomes orthophoto, DTM, contour maps, slope maps, and drainage delineation. Senior technician reviews accuracy, coordinate system, and completeness.
All deliverables in SETENA-ready formats: GeoTIFF, DXF, LAS/LAZ, KMZ, PDF maps, and formal accuracy certification. Referenced to CRTM05 with complete coordinate metadata.
Most Category A and B1 SETENA approvals include ongoing monitoring obligations — typically quarterly or annual documentation of how the project is proceeding compared to the approved environmental plan.
Regular drone surveys create timestamped, georeferenced aerial records showing: clearing extents versus approved limits, buffer zone maintenance, erosion control effectiveness, revegetation progress, and drainage system condition. This documented record protects developers during SETENA inspections or third-party complaints — it eliminates the ambiguity that leads to enforcement actions by providing precise evidence of exactly what was done, when, and how it compared to the approved plan.
All prices in USD. Includes complete SETENA-ready deliverable package.
| Property Size | Price | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 5 ha | $1,000 | Orthophoto, DTM, contour maps, slope analysis, drainage delineation, accuracy certification |
| Above 5 ha | $1,000 + $80/ha | Same full package, priced per additional hectare |
| 100+ ha | Custom quote | Multi-day mission, project-specific scope |
| Expedited (24h) | Additional fee | Priority processing for urgent EIA deadlines |
Travel fees apply based on distance from San José. For projects requiring formal hydrological reports or vegetation studies signed by licensed professionals, we coordinate with our network of environmental consultants in Costa Rica.
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SETENA typically requires six spatial datasets: (1) georeferenced orthophoto in CRTM05, (2) Digital Terrain Model and contour maps, (3) slope and hazard analysis maps, (4) drainage basin and watershed delineation, (5) vegetation coverage and land use map, and (6) georeferenced property boundary survey. All of these can be produced by a single LiDAR drone survey.
Standard turnaround is 72 hours from flight completion. Day 1 is the field survey, Days 2–3 are processing and quality control, and by Day 3–4 all SETENA-ready deliverables are in your inbox — GeoTIFF, DXF, LAS/LAZ, KMZ, PDF maps, and accuracy certification.
Standard photogrammetry drones map the top of the tree canopy, not the ground beneath. LiDAR fires 240,000 laser pulses per second and penetrates canopy gaps to reach actual ground level — producing accurate bare-earth DTMs on vegetated properties. Without it, slope, drainage, and erosion analysis cannot be reliably calculated.
Category A projects (large resorts, industrial plants, highways) require the full EIA with comprehensive spatial data. Category B1 projects (hotels, commercial centers, housing developments over 50 units) require an abbreviated EIA that still includes detailed mapping data. Category B2 and C projects have less demanding requirements but topographic and boundary data is often still requested.
Base pricing is $1,000 USD for properties up to 5 hectares, including the complete deliverable package. Each additional hectare above 5 ha is $80 USD. Properties over 100 ha receive custom project pricing. Expedited 24-hour processing is available for urgent EIA deadlines at an additional fee.
This blog post is also available as a podcast episode on the DroneSurveyCR Podcast. Listen on Spotify or watch on YouTube below.
Tell us your property size, location, and EIA category — we respond within one business day with a detailed quote.
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