One more certification in the bag, on to the LiDAR flights.
A drone-mounted LiDAR sends laser pulses towards the ground and measures their return time to reconstruct a three-dimensional point cloud. Unlike classic photogrammetry, it partly penetrates vegetation, which makes it a valuable tool for surveys in wooded areas or on hard-to-reach terrain.
In Switzerland, on top of the basic A1/A3 certification, you also need the A2 certification to fly drones carrying a LiDAR system. With LiDAR, ground surveys under tree cover or in building zones gain considerably in accuracy.
Drone operations in Switzerland are regulated by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), which sets out several categories depending on the drone's weight, the flight zone and the type of sensor on board. This new certification extends our capabilities in drone photogrammetry: we can now combine LiDAR sensors with high-resolution imagery for more precise aerial surveys, including in forested areas or dense building zones, where vegetation or obstacles limit classic photogrammetry.
Combined with our 3D laser scanning and our experience in geographic information systems, this LiDAR flight capability lets us offer consistent surveys across a whole site, whatever its topography or vegetation cover.
Do ask us for a demonstration. You'll find the details of our certifications and qualifications on our dedicated page.