Drone LiDAR Survey Equipment & GNSS Technology

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At LiDAR Drone Australia, the equipment used for each project is selected according to the size of the survey area, terrain, vegetation, required point density, accuracy requirements and final deliverables.

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Rather than relying on a single LiDAR sensor for every project, we operate a combination of professional drone, LiDAR and GNSS survey equipment. This allows us to match the most suitable technology to each project, from detailed local topographic surveys through to large-scale aerial LiDAR mapping across NSW and Australia.

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Our primary equipment includes the DJI Matrice 350 RTK, GeoSun GS-260X LiDAR scanner, GeoSun GS-960 LiDAR scanner and Emlid Reach RS2+ GNSS receiver for PPK processing, Ground Control Points and independent Check Points.

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DJI Matrice 350 RTK Drone Platform

The DJI Matrice 350 RTK (M350 RTK) is our primary heavy-lift

commercial drone platform for aerial LiDAR surveying.

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Designed for professional industrial and surveying applications,

the M350 RTK provides the payload capacity, flight stability,

positioning capability and reliability required for carrying

high-performance LiDAR sensors.

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Why We Use the DJI M350 RTK

​The M350 RTK provides an excellent platform for both the GeoSun GS-260X and GS-960 LiDAR systems. Its integrated RTK positioning, multi-payload capability, robust flight platform and efficient battery system make it particularly suitable for professional LiDAR data acquisition.

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For LiDAR surveying, a stable and predictable aircraft platform is extremely important. Consistent flight speed, altitude and flight-line control help the LiDAR system maintain uniform data coverage across the survey area.

The M350 RTK can also be used across a wide variety of terrain including open land, vegetation, infrastructure corridors, construction sites, steep terrain and remote locations.

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For larger projects, its interchangeable battery system also assists us in maintaining efficient field operations throughout the survey day.

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GeoSun LiDAR Sensors

LiDAR Drone Australia operates two different professional GeoSun LiDAR systems so the sensor can be selected according to the requirements of the project.

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The GS-260X is our primary system for detailed small to medium-sized LiDAR surveys, while the GS-960 provides a long-range solution for larger survey areas where coverage and operational efficiency become increasingly important.

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GeoSun GS-260X LiDAR Scanner

The GeoSun GS-260X is our primary LiDAR sensor for detailed

small to medium-sized drone LiDAR surveys.

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It combines a LiDAR scanner with GNSS and inertial

measurement technology to accurately record the position

and orientation of the sensor throughout the flight.

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The GS-260X is particularly well suited to projects requiring high-density point cloud data, detailed terrain information and effective ground classification.

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Its multiple-return capability is particularly useful when surveying areas containing trees, shrubs, long grass and other vegetation. While no LiDAR system can guarantee a ground return through every section of vegetation, multiple laser returns substantially improve our ability to identify and classify terrain beneath vegetation compared with conventional aerial imagery alone.

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Where We Use the GS-260X

We generally select the GS-260X for projects such as topographic surveys, engineering sites, development areas, road and infrastructure corridors, cemeteries, environmental surveys, vegetation mapping, creek and drainage areas, construction sites and rural properties.

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Operating the GS-260X from the DJI M350 RTK provides a highly flexible combination that can be deployed efficiently across both open and difficult terrain.

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For many of our everyday Drone LiDAR Survey projects, the M350 RTK and GS-260X combination provides the balance of accuracy, point density, flexibility and cost efficiency that we require.

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GeoSun GS-960 Long-Range LiDAR Scanner

For substantially larger LiDAR projects, LiDAR Drone Australia

can deploy the GeoSun GS-960 long-range LiDAR system.

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The GS-960 is designed for longer-range aerial laser scanning

and allows data to be captured from significantly greater distances

than our GS-260X system.

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This makes it particularly useful when surveying extensive areas

where increasing coverage per flight can significantly improve project efficiency.

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Why We Use the GS-960 for Large-Scale LiDAR Surveys

Large-area LiDAR projects require a different approach to smaller detailed surveys.

Using a sensor capable of operating efficiently from greater distances can increase flight-line coverage and reduce the number of individual flight passes required across a large survey area. Actual operating altitude is always determined by the project requirements, terrain, required point density, accuracy objectives, airspace and applicable aviation approvals.

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The GS-960 is therefore particularly suited to large properties, regional mapping, extensive infrastructure corridors, forestry, environmental projects and large remote survey areas.

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Its long-range capability gives us another important option rather than attempting to undertake every project with the same sensor.

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The objective is not simply to use the largest LiDAR scanner available. Our objective is to select the system that provides the appropriate combination of accuracy, point density, coverage, field efficiency and cost-effectiveness for the client.

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Emlid Reach RS2+ GNSS Survey Equipment

Accurate aerial data collection is only one part of a professional LiDAR or Photogrammetry survey.

LiDAR Drone Australia also operates the Emlid Reach RS2+ multi-band GNSS receiver as part of our survey control and positioning workflow.

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The RS2+ can be configured as a GNSS base station

for Post-Processed Kinematic (PPK) positioning and is also used in the field to establish accurately surveyed Ground Control Points and independent Check Points.

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Emlid Reach RS2+ as a PPK Base Station

​For selected LiDAR and Photogrammetry projects, the

Emlid Reach RS2+ can be established as a local

GNSS base station while aerial data is being collected.

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The receiver records GNSS observations throughout the survey,

allowing the aircraft or LiDAR trajectory data to be

post-processed after the flight.

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PPK processing provides another layer of positioning control and is particularly valuable on projects where a robust survey workflow and accurate positioning of the collected data are required.

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Using our own GNSS equipment also means the aerial capture and survey-control components can be coordinated as part of the same field operation.

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Ground Control Points and Independent Check Points

The Emlid Reach RS2+ is also used to accurately survey the locations of Ground Control Points (GCPs) and Check Points (CPs) throughout the project area.

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Ground Control Points – GCPs

Ground Control Points provide known survey coordinates that can be incorporated into the LiDAR or Photogrammetry workflow.

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Depending on the project, GCPs can assist with positioning, alignment, accuracy and verification of the final dataset.

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The number and distribution of Ground Control Points is determined by factors including site size, terrain, elevation changes, vegetation, project specifications and required accuracy.

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Independent Check Points – CPs

Check Points are particularly important because they provide an independent method of assessing the accuracy of the completed survey.

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Unlike control used directly within the processing workflow, designated Check Points can be retained specifically for comparison against the completed LiDAR or Photogrammetry dataset.

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This provides a practical method of confirming how closely the final survey data corresponds with independently measured positions on the ground.

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Specially Designed 1200 × 900 mm LiDAR Ground Control Mats

LiDAR Drone Australia uses specially designed 1200 × 900 mm Ground Control Point mats for many of our aerial LiDAR and Photogrammetry projects.

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Large Ground Targets for Reliable Survey Control

The larger physical size of our GCP mats makes them

suitable for aerial survey operations where targets need t

o be clearly identifiable within the collected dataset.

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Each target can be accurately positioned using

our Emlid Reach RS2+ GNSS receiver, providing a known

coordinate that can then be incorporated into the processing

and quality-control workflow.

 

The 1200 × 900 mm size also provides a substantial target footprint for drone operations conducted at normal

 

LiDAR survey altitudes.

Where site conditions do not allow conventional mats to be installed, alternative permanent or temporary ground features can be surveyed and used where appropriate.

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Selecting the Right LiDAR Equipment for Each Project

No two Drone LiDAR Survey projects are exactly the same.

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A relatively small site requiring very high-density terrain information has different requirements to a large remote property covering hundreds or thousands of hectares.

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For this reason, LiDAR Drone Australia assesses the requirements of the project before determining the most appropriate combination of aircraft, LiDAR sensor, flight parameters and ground survey control.

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GS-260X or GS-960 – Choosing the Appropriate LiDAR Sensor

For detailed small to medium-sized LiDAR surveys, the GeoSun GS-260X is generally our preferred system because of its flexibility, point density and suitability for detailed terrain mapping.

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For large-scale LiDAR surveys, the GeoSun GS-960 provides the additional range and coverage capability required to efficiently survey substantially larger areas.

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Both systems can be integrated with our DJI M350 RTK platform and supported by our Emlid Reach RS2+ GNSS survey equipment.

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This gives LiDAR Drone Australia the ability to tailor the equipment and methodology around the actual project rather than trying to make one system suit every application.

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Complete Drone LiDAR Surveying Solution

Professional LiDAR surveying is about considerably more than simply attaching a laser scanner to a drone.

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The quality of the final data depends on the drone platform, LiDAR sensor, GNSS positioning, ground control, flight planning, field procedures, PPK processing, point-cloud processing, classification and quality assurance working together.

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LiDAR Drone Australia combines the DJI M350 RTK, GeoSun GS-260X, GeoSun GS-960 and Emlid Reach RS2+ within an integrated survey workflow designed to provide accurate, reliable and practical LiDAR data.

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From detailed local surveys in Sydney and NSW through to large-scale and remote projects throughout Australia, we select the equipment and survey methodology around the requirements of each individual project.

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Discuss the Right LiDAR System for Your Project

If you have a proposed Drone LiDAR Survey, send us a description of the site, the required deliverables and, where available, a KML or KMZ file showing the survey boundary.

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We can review the project area and recommend the most suitable LiDAR sensor, flight methodology and ground-control approach for the required outcome.