ZenaTech acquires Cardinal Civil Resources for drone services expansion

ZenaTech Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA) completed its acquisition of Cardinal Civil Resources, a land surveying and engineering firm based in Williamsburg, Virginia. The acquisition represents ZenaTech's eighth drone-as-a-service purchase and largest to date, according to a company statement.

Cardinal Civil Resources operates across Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, serving clients including the US Department of Transportation. Founded in 2010, the company provides surveying and mapping services to federal agencies, state organizations, municipalities and commercial clients including national homebuilders and the US National Park Service.

"This eighth acquisition not only further expands our national footprint, but it connects us to a deeply rooted base of premier long-term government and commercial clients," said Shaun Passley, ZenaTech CEO.

The acquisition coincides with a recent policy proposal from US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to expand Beyond Visual Line of Sight drone operations. The proposed rule would eliminate case-by-case waivers and establish a standardized framework for wider commercial drone use.

ZenaTech's drone-as-a-service model provides on-demand access to drone services for surveying, inspections and automation without requiring customers to invest in hardware, software, pilots or regulatory compliance. The company has set a goal of establishing 25 drone service locations nationwide by mid-next year.

Market research firm Verified Market Reports estimated the global drone-as-a-service market was valued at $6.3 billion in 2024 and projected growth to $27.3 billion by 2033, representing a compound annual growth rate of 18.1% from 2026 to 2033.

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