GS-960 Large-Scale
Drone LiDAR Surveys Australia

LiDAR Drone Australia has the capability for Large-Scale
LiDAR Surveying Throughout NSW and Australia-wide

High-Capacity Aerial LiDAR Mapping for Large Properties, Corridors & Regional Projects

LiDAR Drone Australia operates the GeoSun GS-960 high-performance LiDAR system for large-scale aerial LiDAR surveys throughout NSW and Australia.

The GS-960 provides significantly greater operating range and survey coverage than conventional lower-altitude Drone LiDAR systems, making it particularly suited to large properties, major infrastructure corridors, regional mapping and extremely large survey areas extending across thousands of hectares.

For the client, the advantage is straightforward: larger areas can be captured more efficiently while maintaining the point density and accuracy required for the intended project outcome.

Rather than selecting equipment simply because it is available, we assess the project area, terrain, vegetation, required accuracy, survey control and final deliverables before determining whether the GS-960 or our higher-density GS-260X is the most appropriate LiDAR system.

Designed for Extremely Large Drone LiDAR Surveys

Large-area LiDAR projects create very different challenges to

smaller individual sites.

As survey areas increase, flight efficiency, LiDAR range,

GNSS performance, overlapping flight blocks, data

consistency and processing become increasingly important.

The GS-960 has been specifically selected by

LiDAR Drone Australia to provide an efficient solution for very

large properties, extensive infrastructure corridors and regional-scale survey projects.

Surveying Thousands of Hectares

The GS-960 allows us to undertake projects that extend far beyond conventional small-site Drone LiDAR surveying.

Depending on terrain, vegetation, access, airspace, accuracy requirements and required point density, projects can be planned across thousands of hectares and very large regional survey areas.

Extensive sites are divided into carefully planned flight and processing blocks so that the final data can be combined into one consistent project-wide dataset.

This makes the system particularly well suited to clients who require LiDAR over large rural holdings, extensive infrastructure networks, long corridors, environmental regions, catchments and major development areas.

Wider Coverage Per Flight

The GS-960's long operating range and wide field of view allow larger areas to be captured from each flight line compared with lower-altitude high-density LiDAR systems.

This can reduce the number of flight lines required across large properties and corridors and substantially improve field efficiency.

High-Performance LiDAR Without Unnecessary Data

Large projects do not always require extremely high point densities.

Our objective is to collect sufficient high-quality LiDAR data for the intended purpose, rather than creating unnecessarily large datasets that increase field time, processing and storage requirements without improving the client's final outcome.

Why We Use the GeoSun GS-960

The GS-960 combines a high-performance long-range laser scanner with precision GNSS and IMU positioning to provide a powerful aerial LiDAR acquisition system for large-area 3D mapping.

It is particularly suited to:

Extremely large rural properties
Regional topographic surveys
Major infrastructure corridors
Roads and highways
Rail corridors
Transmission and utility corridors
Mining and resource projects
Forestry
Environmental mapping
Catchments and floodplains
Rivers and waterways
Agricultural properties
Remote-area projects
Major land-development investigations

GeoSun GS-960 LiDAR Specifications

The specifications below are manufacturer specifications for the GS-960 system.

GS-960 System Specifications

System Weight: Approximately 1.6 kg

Operating Temperature: -10°C to +40°C

Power Supply: 24 V

Power Consumption: Approximately 70 W

Internal Storage: 256 GB

Compatible Platforms: DJI M300, DJI M350, multirotor and VTOL platforms

GS-960 LiDAR Unit

Measuring Range: Up to 500 m at 20% reflectivity and up to 1,000 m at 80% reflectivity
Maximum Specified Range: 750 m
Laser Wavelength: 1,535 nm
Laser Classification: Class 1 – IEC 60825-1:2014
Scan Rate: 300 lines per second
Manufacturer Measuring Accuracy: 5 mm
Return Capability: Multiple / unlimited returns
Pulse Repetition Frequency: 100 kHz to 550 kHz
Field of View: Approximately 80°

GNSS & IMU Positioning System

Update Frequency: 200 Hz
Heading Accuracy: 0.017°
Pitch Accuracy: 0.005°
Roll Accuracy: 0.005°
Position Accuracy: Approximately 0.02 m horizontal and 0.03 m vertical under specified conditions
GNSS Support: GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo
IMU: gSpin 310

What These Specifications Mean for Your Project

Technical specifications are important, but ultimately our clients need to know how the technology benefits their project.

Greater Survey Coverage

The GS-960's long-range capability allows us to design larger flight blocks and wider survey coverage where site conditions and operational approvals permit.

For very large properties, long corridors and regional surveys, this can provide a substantial improvement in field efficiency.

Efficient Regional-Scale Mapping

Reducing unnecessary flight lines allows the GS-960 to cover very large areas far more efficiently than would normally be practical using a lower-range LiDAR sensor.

This makes the system particularly valuable where the project extends across hundreds or thousands of hectares and where consistency across the entire survey area is critical.

Multiple LiDAR Returns

The GS-960 can record multiple laser returns from a single pulse.

This is particularly valuable in areas containing trees and vegetation because some laser energy may interact with the upper canopy while other returns may reach branches, understorey and the ground.

Where sufficient ground returns are obtained, these points can be classified and used to develop a bare-earth Digital Terrain Model.

High-Quality Positioning

The integrated GNSS and IMU system continuously records the position, orientation and movement of the LiDAR sensor during flight.

This trajectory information is a critical part of producing an accurately georeferenced 3D point cloud.

Sensor Accuracy Is Not the Same as Survey Accuracy

It is important to distinguish between the manufacturer's 5 mm LiDAR measuring accuracy and the final absolute accuracy of an aerial LiDAR survey.

The final survey accuracy is influenced by many factors, including:

Flight altitude
GNSS conditions
IMU performance
Flight geometry
Terrain
Vegetation
Laser incidence angle
Base station or CORS data
PPK processing
Ground Control
Check Points
Point-cloud processing
Coordinate transformation
Vertical datum

For this reason, LiDAR Drone Australia does not simply quote the laser manufacturer's range accuracy as the accuracy of the finished survey.

Accuracy Is Planned Around the Project

Before the survey begins, we consider the accuracy actually required by the client.

A regional environmental survey may have very different requirements from an engineering or surveying project.

The LiDAR system, flight altitude, overlap, Ground Control and Check Point methodology can then be designed accordingly.

Ground Control & Independent Check Points

For projects requiring higher levels of absolute accuracy,

we can establish survey control and independent

Check Points throughout the project area.

Our GNSS equipment is used to establish known positions

that can assist with processing and independently assess

the completed LiDAR surface.

GDA2020 & Australian Height Datum

Projects can be delivered using GDA2020 / MGA and Australian Height Datum (AHD) where required.

Other project coordinate systems can also be accommodated where specified.

PPK Processing

Trajectory and GNSS data is processed using PPK workflows to provide accurate positioning throughout the LiDAR survey.

Accuracy Verification

Where Check Points are included, the completed LiDAR

surface can be independently compared against surveyed

positions to provide an objective indication of project accuracy.

GS-960 or GS-260X – We Select the Right LiDAR for the Project

LiDAR Drone Australia operates both the GeoSun GS-960 and GS-260X because one LiDAR sensor is not necessarily the best choice for every project.

GS-960 – Large-Area & Regional Survey Efficiency

The GS-960 is typically considered where projects involve:

Extremely large survey areas
Thousands of hectares
Long infrastructure corridors
Large rural properties
Regional mapping
Major environmental areas
Large catchments and waterways
Efficient coverage across extensive project areas

GS-260X – High-Density Detailed Mapping

Our GS-260X is typically suited to:

Small-to-medium survey areas
High-density LiDAR capture
Complex terrain
Detailed engineering projects
Vegetated areas
Lower-altitude surveying
Projects requiring very detailed surface representation

We Do Not Force One Sensor to Suit Every Project

We select the equipment based on the required outcome, accuracy, terrain, vegetation and budget.

This gives our clients access to the LiDAR system that makes the most sense for their particular project.

Higher-Altitude LiDAR Operations

The GS-960 is technically capable of collecting LiDAR data at considerably greater ranges than conventional Drone LiDAR systems.

In Australia, normal RPA operations are generally limited to 120 m above ground level unless the appropriate CASA approval or authorisation is held for operations above this height.

Where higher-altitude LiDAR capture provides a genuine project benefit and the necessary operational approvals can be obtained, the GS-960's long-range capability provides an important advantage.

Where higher-altitude operations are not appropriate, the system can still be configured to provide efficient large-area LiDAR capture within the applicable operational limits.

Large-Scale LiDAR Deliverables

The GS-960 is simply the data acquisition system.

The value to the client comes from what we produce from that data.

Depending on project requirements, we can provide:

Classified LiDAR Point Clouds

High-density georeferenced LAS or LAZ point-cloud data.

Ground-Classified Point Clouds

Ground returns separated from vegetation and other surface features.

Digital Terrain Models – DTM

Bare-earth terrain models generated using classified ground returns.

Digital Surface Models – DSM

Surface models representing vegetation, structures and terrain.

TIN & 3D Terrain Models

Triangulated terrain surfaces suitable for surveying, engineering and design applications.

Contours

Contour datasets generated at an interval appropriate to the project accuracy and intended use.

Orthophotography

High-resolution aerial imagery can be collected where required to complement the LiDAR survey.

CAD & GIS-Ready Deliverables

Data can be prepared for integration with common engineering, surveying, CAD and GIS workflows.

Cross Sections & Long Sections

Profiles can be produced for roads, waterways, pipelines, rail corridors and other linear infrastructure where required.

Large-Scale LiDAR for Remote Australia

Many large-area LiDAR projects are located well away

from towns, sealed roads and conventional access.

LiDAR Drone Australia has specialist field capability for r

emote and difficult terrain throughout Australia.

Our crews can be supported by fully equipped

4x4 vehicles, an Iveco Daily 4x4 truck, 8x8 amphibious

ll-terrain vehicle, independent communications and

emote-area field equipment.

This capability allows us to reach suitable drone launch areas and establish survey control across properties where access can become a major part of the project.

Complete In-House LiDAR Processing

Our involvement does not end when the drone lands.

LiDAR Drone Australia manages the LiDAR workflow from field acquisition through to final processing and delivery.

This can include:

Flight planning
LiDAR acquisition
GNSS processing
PPK trajectory processing
Point-cloud generation
Flight-strip alignment
Point-cloud optimisation
Ground classification
Vegetation classification
Ground Control integration
Check Point verification
DTM generation
DSM generation
TIN generation
Contours
CAD and GIS preparation
Final quality assurance

Keeping the workflow in-house gives us greater control over the consistency and quality of the final project.

Large-Scale LiDAR Surveying Across Australia

LiDAR Drone Australia provides large-scale Drone LiDAR surveying throughout NSW, Queensland, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Northern Territory and regional Australia.

Our capability is particularly suited to projects where the survey area, terrain, vegetation or remoteness places the project beyond the scope of a conventional small-site drone survey.

From individual large properties to surveys extending across thousands of hectares and major regional areas, we can scale the LiDAR methodology to suit the project.

Planning an Extremely Large LiDAR Project?

You do not need to determine whether your project requires the GS-960, GS-260X, a particular point density or a specific flight configuration before contacting us.

That is what we assess.

Simply send us:

Your project location
KML, KMZ, SHP or CAD boundary
Approximate survey area
Required accuracy, if known
Required deliverables, if known
A brief description of the terrain and vegetation
What you ultimately need the LiDAR data to achieve

We can review the site and recommend the most suitable and cost-effective LiDAR survey methodology.

Large Project? Send Us the Boundary and We Can Take It From There

Whether your project covers hundreds of hectares, thousands of hectares, a long infrastructure corridor or a major regional survey area, LiDAR Drone Australia can develop a LiDAR solution around the actual requirements of the project.