This whitepaper examines the potential of UAV-borne LiDAR technology, specifically the GatorEye system, for measuring essential forest parameters such as diameter at breast height (DBH) and total tree height. Traditionally, these parameters are measured manually using level gauges and hypsometers in sample plots, a process that is laborious, expensive, and spatially limited. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) has been used for remote DBH measurement, offering high-density point clouds for accurate inventory but facing spatial limitations due to manual deployment and field access challenges.

The study demonstrates the effectiveness of UAV-LiDAR in providing higher density point cloud data compared to aircraft-borne systems. Focusing on an integrated crop-livestock-forest system with Eucalyptus benthamii plantations, 63 trees were georeferenced and measured in the field. Algorithms typically used for TLS were applied to the UAV-LiDAR point cloud for automatic individual tree detection and measurement.

The UAV-LiDAR-derived DBH and total height showed strong correlations with field measurements, with correlation coefficients of 0.77 and 0.91, and RMSEs of 11.3% and 7.9%, respectively. This study underscores the potential of UAV-LiDAR systems to efficiently measure forest plantations on a broad scale, reducing field effort and enhancing forest management decision-making. Further exploration in diverse tree plantations and forest environments is recommended.

We’re excited to announce the release of LiDARMill v2! LiDARMill v2 takes automated post-processing to the next level. In our recent webinar, we covered some of the new improvements and features including:

• Imagery Processing in LiDARMill
• Ground Control Reporting and Adjustments
• Robust Coordinate System Handling
• A Workflow Overview and Demonstration
• Multi-Mission Processing Support
• Advanced Point Cloud Filtering Options
• RGB Thermal & Fusion
• Accuracy Reporting
• Automated LiDAR and Camera Calibration Options
• Near-Real Time (NRT) Reference Station Positioning for Projects Requiring Less Than 24 Hour Turn-around Time
• Trajectory Post-Processing Without Reference Stations

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about LiDARMill v2, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d be happy to help!

This whitepaper presents groundbreaking insights into the architectural details of the ancient Raleigh Island shell-ring complex (8LV293) on the Gulf Coast of Florida, revealed through drone-mounted, high-resolution LiDAR technology.

Dating back to 900 to 1200 CE, this settlement features at least 37 residential spaces enclosed by oyster shell ridges up to 4 meters tall. Excavations in ten of these spaces uncovered extensive evidence of shell bead production from marine gastropods, highlighting the island’s role in the political economies of second-millennium CE chiefdoms across eastern North America. Unlike other regions where shell bead production was controlled by chiefs, Raleigh Island’s bead making operated independently.

The high-resolution drone LiDAR data allows for unprecedented comparisons of bead production activities across different residential spaces, providing valuable analytical perspectives on the organization of ancient shell bead production. This study underscores the potential of drone-mounted LiDAR in enhancing our understanding of ancient political economies and settlement architectures.

This whitepaper details the use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) LiDAR missions conducted in the Maya Lowlands between June 2017 and June 2018 to develop effective methods, procedures, and standards for drone LiDAR surveys of ancient Maya settlements and landscapes.

Testing at three site locations in the upper Usumacinta River region—Piedras Negras in Guatemala (2017) and Budsilha and El Infiernito in Mexico (2018)—provided a diverse range of natural and cultural contexts to evaluate the technology’s field utility. The study’s results, based on standard digital elevation and surface models, demonstrate the effectiveness of drone LiDAR for documenting ancient landscapes and settlements across the Maya Lowlands and Latin America.

This approach is adaptive, cost-effective, and suitable for targeted documentation, though it requires careful planning and sample evaluation. Future research will further refine the methods and techniques for data filtering and processing.

This whitepaper explores the application of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) equipped with RGB and LiDAR sensors for monitoring the Brazilian savanna, known as the Cerrado. The Cerrado is the most biologically diverse savanna globally, facing significant threats from anthropogenic activities, necessitating effective environmental policies. This study demonstrates the potential of these advanced sensing technologies for the physical characterization of landscapes within the Cerrado biome.

The research includes analyses of vegetation structure, where the automatic counting of trees was performed. Results indicated that the average tree height measured by RGB sensors was significantly lower than that obtained by LiDAR sensors, highlighting the limitations of Structure from Motion data in densely vegetated landscapes.

The LiDAR data enabled accurate tree counting, with 1,825 trees identified across the study area and 245 within specific ecological study parcels. This paper underscores the effectiveness of RPAS in reducing the costs and time associated with environmental surveys and evaluations, providing crucial insights for the development of conservation policies in the Cerrado.

This whitepaper presents the initial results from testing and evaluating a single-rotary Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) integrated with a long-range, multi-return LiDAR sensor. Conducted at an airfield in South Texas, USA, the study explores the evolving capabilities of miniaturized LiDAR technology and its application in UAS platforms. Compared to traditional airborne LiDAR mapping, UAS platforms offer greater flexibility in flight design, rapid response capabilities, and potentially lower costs for local mapping.

The research focuses on describing the UAS platform and its enabling technologies (LiDAR, IMU, GPS), sensor calibration and initialization processes, and the methods for geospatial surveying, data processing, and analysis. The advantages of LiDAR, such as its pulsed ranging technique and multi-return detection capability, are highlighted, demonstrating its effectiveness in applications like vegetation structure monitoring, obstacle detection, and digital terrain model refinement.

This study underscores the potential of UAS LiDAR systems for fine-scale mapping and various environmental monitoring applications, paving the way for enhanced precision and efficiency in geospatial data collection.

This whitepaper details the calibration testing conducted under task order G17PD01249: Alaska Critical Infrastructure UAV Airfield Obstruction Survey. The Dewberry team, in collaboration with Compass Data and Phoenix LiDAR, performed LiDAR sensor tests for the Kiana and Nulato Airfields. The testing involved the acquisition and post-processing of LiDAR data using two sensors, each flown at two different heights above ground.

The study aimed to assess the sensors’ ability to meet project specifications, including data formatting, LAS point cloud data, smooth surface repeatability, relative accuracy, and intensity values. Additionally, the tests evaluated LiDAR density to determine the optimal sensor and flying height for identifying obstructions, geometric calibration for measurement accuracy and repeatability, radiometric testing for detecting small or low-reflectance obstructions, and measurement consistency across multiple flights.

The findings of this comprehensive testing are documented in this report, providing valuable insights into the performance and reliability of UAV-based LiDAR systems for airfield obstruction surveys.

Drone LiDAR has been revolutionizing various industries for years, but its impact on the construction industry is perhaps the most significant. The construction sector, with its intricate and prolonged processes involving multiple phases and tasks, has been a prime candidate for disruption. Early adopters quickly recognized the potential of drones to streamline traditional processes, reduce costs, and enhance efficiency and safety. However, numerous untapped opportunities still exist for construction and engineering firms.

In this article, we will explore how drone LiDAR can be effectively utilized in the design, building, and delivery phases of a construction project.

Using Drone Lidar in Design & Engineering

Capturing land images with drones is merely the beginning of the value they offer to construction firms. By integrating raw sensor data into advanced software such as SpatialExplorer and LidarMill, firms can generate significant value, which can be packaged and monetized through various pricing structures. While these applications are robust, they cannot entirely replace traditional surveying methods. However, by combining drone LiDAR data with standard surveying tools, construction firms can offer clients a broader range of services. These services include the ability to measure cut and fill volumes, create detailed 3D renderings of construction sites, and monitor project progress more effectively.

Drones on the Construction Site

The construction industry has rapidly adopted drones, and with good reason. Drones provide a safer and more cost-effective means to perform surveys, create as-is engineering models, and collect comprehensive data and footage from job sites. Here are some key use cases for drones on construction sites:

1. Job Site Documentation: By obtaining the necessary permits and ensuring safe operation processes, UAVs can be flown over job sites to significantly reduce waste. This site documentation can be invaluable for both clients and legal teams, allowing project managers to demonstrate progress or the current state of a project at any point in its lifecycle.
2. Cut and Fill: For earthwork, grading, and GPS precision tasks, having an accurate model is critical. Drone LiDAR can map 40 acres in less than 30 minutes, delivering a surface accuracy of 3 to 5 cm within two hours. This level of precision and efficiency can result in substantial savings for large-scale projects.

By leveraging drone LiDAR technology, construction firms can not only enhance their operational efficiency but also provide superior services to their clients, ultimately gaining a competitive edge in the industry.

Conclusion

The integration of drone LiDAR technology into the construction industry holds immense potential. From the design and engineering phases to on-site applications, drones are transforming how construction projects are executed. As the industry continues to evolve, early adopters of drone LiDAR technology will be well-positioned to lead the way, driving innovation and setting new standards for efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness.

This whitepaper outlines the objectives and results of a test campaign aimed at evaluating the accuracy of point clouds generated by Phoenix LiDAR Systems in a realistic survey mission scenario. The study also tested the performance of Terrasolid software, running on MicroStation CONNECT Edition, for calibrating and enhancing the data.

Data sets were acquired using a Camflight FX8HL UAS platform and pre-processed into trajectory and point cloud files using Phoenix LiDAR Systems software. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of these technologies in producing accurate and reliable data for various survey applications, highlighting the potential for improved data calibration and processing with the integrated software solutions.

This report provides valuable insights into the capabilities and performance of UAV-based LiDAR systems for high-precision surveying and mapping tasks.