Drone LiDAR Survey
Dense 3D point-cloud acquisition for terrain, corridors, infrastructure and vegetation-affected sites where photogrammetry cannot see the ground.
Overview
LiDAR measures the ground directly with laser pulses — including through gaps in vegetation canopy that make photogrammetric terrain extraction unreliable. A drone LiDAR survey produces a dense, classified point cloud from which true bare-earth terrain, canopy heights and structures are separated.
BTPL deploys drone LiDAR where the project demands it: forested corridors, plantation areas, undulating vegetated terrain, and infrastructure sites where a reliable DTM is the foundation of design.
Applications
- Terrain mapping under vegetation cover
- Highway, railway and canal corridor DTMs
- Transmission-line route surveys and clearance analysis
- Floodplain and drainage studies
- Earthwork quantification on vegetated sites
- Mining and quarry mapping
- UAV LiDAR sensor systems
- GNSS base/rover for trajectory and control
- Point-cloud classification software
- Terrain modelling and CAD/GIS extraction tools
How BTPL Performs the Work
Feasibility & planning
Point-density, accuracy and canopy assessment; flight and control planning to suit the deliverable.
Control network
GNSS base stations and control points established on the project datum; check points distributed across terrain types.
LiDAR acquisition
Calibrated flight lines with controlled overlap; trajectory processed against GNSS base data.
Point-cloud processing
Strip adjustment, noise removal, ground classification and feature classification (vegetation, buildings, wires as applicable).
Terrain products
Bare-earth DTM, contours, sections and volumes generated from classified ground points; accuracy verified on check points.
Accuracy & Quality Control
Ground classification is reviewed manually on critical areas — automated classification alone is never treated as final. Vertical accuracy is verified against RTK check points on hard and soft surfaces separately, and the classification report states point densities actually achieved.
Related Industries
Related BTPL Projects
Common Questions
When is LiDAR better than photogrammetry?
Whenever the ground itself is the deliverable and vegetation is present — LiDAR measures through canopy gaps to the surface, while photogrammetry only reconstructs what the camera sees. For open terrain with good texture, photogrammetry is often the more economical choice.
What point density is delivered?
Density is designed per project — corridor terrain work and clearance analysis have different needs. The plan states the target density and the report states what was achieved.
Can LiDAR and photogrammetry be combined?
Yes, and frequently should be: LiDAR provides the terrain, an orthomosaic from the same flight campaign provides the visual context and planimetric detail.
Planning a Drone LiDAR Survey?
Tell us the location, the approximate area or corridor length, and the deliverables you need — we will respond with the appropriate methodology and a clear proposal.