Don’t Skip the Recce: Why Site Visits Still Matter in a Digital World

With satellite imagery, terrain maps, and 4K drone footage all a click away, it’s easy to assume that boots-on-the-ground recces are outdated. That you can plan a shoot, a charity project, or a high-end trek from a laptop.

But if your project involves remote locations, logistical complexity, or any kind of risk, there’s no replacement for being there in person.

A recce isn’t just helpful. It’s the thing that stops things going wrong before they start.

Whether you’re filming off-grid, launching an international challenge, or running a humanitarian programme in the field, here’s why proper site assessments still matter.

1. Google Earth won’t tell you what the ground actually feels like

A satellite image can give you elevation, route options, and a sense of scale. It won’t tell you the trail’s washed away, that the riverbed’s too soft for a vehicle, or that the “clearing” you were planning to use is now a construction site.

On a recce, you don’t just look. You test.You find out what’s real.You catch the small things early, when they’re still easy to fix.

2. Your fixer isn’t you

A good local contact is worth their weight in gold. But they don’t carry your risk. And they don’t always see the site through your lens.

They might say a trail is “easy” or a location is “accessible” because it works for them. That doesn’t mean it works for your team, your gear, or your insurance.

Seeing it yourself gives you control. It means fewer surprises, and decisions made on your terms.

3. A recce costs less than failure

Logistical failures in the field don’t come cheap.

One missed access issue, one gap in the plan, and suddenly your project’s on hold, your budget’s gone, and your team’s stuck trying to fix something that could’ve been spotted days or weeks earlier.

A recce is a small investment that protects the bigger one.

4. You build trust, not just plans

Recces aren’t only about terrain. They’re about people.

Going in person builds relationships. With community leaders, local authorities, fixers, accommodation owners, land managers. That trust pays off later — when things need flexibility, fast communication, or just a bit of goodwill to keep moving.

What we do on a Crux recce

We don’t just visit a location and write a few notes. We get into the detail.

We walk the route. Test the assumptions. Speak to the people who’ll be involved. We look at access, safety, water, shelter, weather exposure, evacuation options, phone coverage, community sentiment, and risk hotspots.

Then we compile everything into a practical, field-ready report that gives you the confidence to move ahead — or to make changes while you still have the chance.

Final thought

Digital planning tools are brilliant. We use them too. But they’re not a substitute for someone who’s been on the ground and looked at it properly.

If the stakes are high, the terrain is complex, or your reputation’s on the line, a recce isn’t the luxury. It’s the essential.