Who needs this?
Forestry and environmental teams, engineering firms doing topo in tree cover, corridor mappers, as-built documentarians, and anyone who needs a consistent surface model when photogrammetry alone cannot see the ground.
Types of LiDAR
- Terrestrial (TLS): Tripod-mounted, millimeter-level at close range — BIM, as-built, structural.
- Mobile (MLS): Vehicle or backpack — urban and corridor at driving or walking speed.
- Airborne / drone (ALS): Covers large areas; drone systems bring professional capture to smaller teams.
- SLAM: Maps without GPS — mines, tunnels, indoor complexes.
LiDAR vs photogrammetry (quick)
| Factor | LiDAR | Photogrammetry |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetation | Strong with multi-return | Weak under canopy |
| Lighting | Active sensor | Needs good light |
| Color texture | Often separate camera | Built into images |
| Typical budget | Higher hardware cost | Often lower |