Call to truly understand accuracy requirements in UAV LiDAR surveys

Routescene have always advocated that survey and competent UAV flying skills are two discrete skills sets. Ignoring this will compromise results. The difference between satisfactory and excellent data outputs is due to the close collaboration between surveyor, UAV service provider and data analyst. Achieving this skills mix is alchemy at its best.

Gert Riemersma, CEO of Routescene, states, “LiDAR and UAV are two emerging technologies still in their infancy. It is paramount that sound survey techniques and aviation principles are applied to any UAV LiDAR survey. We instil the need for a considered and rigorous approach to achieve the maximum output from any LiDAR instrument in as safe a manner as possible.”

Gert has been working with LiDAR since 2008. A qualified land surveyor and private pilot, Gert previously worked for many years in the Oil & Gas industry as a hydrographic surveyor. He has used this wealth of practical experience with survey sensors; in particular, GPS/INS, to develop the Routescene UAV LidarPod® and provide expert survey advice to clients.

“Inexperienced survey or flight teams combined with a lack of survey planning can mean many hours of post-processing to achieve satisfactory results. Anticipating all the operational considerations of undertaking a UAV LiDAR survey, particularly looking at the workflow of processing the data in the field, has a huge positive impact on the quality of the resulting data and reduces data processing time.”