In most cases, the LiDAR sensor alone easily exceeds the total data-collection cost of a standard drone. Professional-grade drones and commercial LiDAR scanners differ in price by more than threefold, and the more advanced the sensor, the wider the price gap. The data-collection cost of a standard drone is relatively low compared with a LiDAR drone, making it advantageous for use across the large sites and long construction periods of building projects.
For a standard drone, GCP (Ground Control Point) correction is required to obtain more accurate 3D mapping results. Not only flying the drone but also the GCP marking work can be handled easily through features such as automatic GCP recommendation, so even a non-expert can produce sufficiently accurate results.
When you attempt surveying with a LiDAR drone, all components—the sensor, drone, RTK, and post-processing software—must be synchronized in order to produce accurate 3D mapping results. Otherwise the output will differ, so obtaining consistent and accurate data requires an expert who understands each subsystem and its details.
To generate output, standard drones use photogrammetric surveying, while LiDAR drones use a surveying method based on the LiDAR sensor.
The 3D point clouds generated through photogrammetric surveying include near-realistic color and texture as well as elevation and position information. The 3D point clouds generated through LiDAR surveying include elevation information and detailed representation of fine media such as power lines, cables, and wires.
Compared with ground-truth values (coordinate data point-surveyed with a GPS instrument), a standard drone has an error range of 2–3 cm horizontal (x, y) accuracy and up to 6 cm elevation (z) accuracy, while a LiDAR drone—in the case of the Zenmuse L2—has an error range of 4 cm horizontal (x, y) accuracy and 5 cm elevation (z) accuracy. For more details on the surveying accuracy of standard drones, see this article.
Both types of drone deliver the same functional output: 3D point clouds.
Surveying with a standard drone offers greater versatility than a LiDAR drone thanks to its high-resolution visual data. It is easy to handle, yields additional deliverables useful on construction sites—such as 2D orthophotos and realistic 3D models—and is economically advantageous as well.
Surveying with a LiDAR drone is unaffected by clouds and light, which are weaknesses of standard drones. It is advantageous for acquiring data in densely wooded areas or complex terrain that includes power lines.
Considering the purpose of each site, Meissa generally recommends using standard drones; however, as explained above, which type of drone is more useful can vary depending on the circumstances of the project.
Although we recommend using standard drones, that recommendation is tailored to site conditions—and of course LiDAR survey data can be used on the Meissa platform.
Standard drones and LiDAR drones generate the same 3D point clouds but differ in some respects, so you can choose between them according to your purpose and site environment.
| Checking the upload after flight
