When it comes to aerial surveying, both LiDAR and photogrammetry offer powerful tools for geospatial data collection. However, photogrammetry has rapidly gained traction due to its cost-effectiveness, ease of use, and versatility across industries like construction, mining, agriculture, and infrastructure development. Let’s dive deeper into why photogrammetry is often the more practical and efficient choice for most projects, even when compared to the high precision but expensive LiDAR technology.
This article explores what LiDAR mapping is, what photogrammetry is, their differences, and why photogrammetry surveying is often the more efficient and cost-effective choice for most applications.
Photogrammetry is a method of collecting 3D measurements from overlapping 2D images taken by drones. These images are processed using advanced software to create accurate, georeferenced 3D models and maps. Photogrammetry offers a fast, cost-effective solution, and is accessible to businesses of all sizes due to its lower upfront costs and user-friendly software tools.
Affordable and Accessible: Unlike LiDAR, which requires expensive sensors, photogrammetry uses standard drone cameras, making it an affordable option for a wide range of projects.
High-Resolution Imagery: Photogrammetry produces detailed orthomosaics, allowing for visual inspections, site analysis, and mapping with high-resolution clarity.
Faster Data Collection: With automated drone flights and cloud-based processing, photogrammetry allows for quick and efficient data collection, even for large areas.
Scalability: It can be scaled easily for large or small projects, from agriculture to urban planning to construction.
While LiDAR certainly has its place, especially in complex terrain where precise elevation data is needed, photogrammetry shines in versatility and cost-effectiveness. Here's why:
Photogrammetry is the go-to option for businesses with limited budgets. The equipment is significantly cheaper drones with standard cameras are far more affordable than specialized LiDAR sensors. Plus, data processing is faster and requires less training, meaning businesses can save time and money.
While LiDAR may be better for dense forests or environments where penetration through vegetation is necessary, photogrammetry excels in generating detailed 3D models, orthomosaics, and contour maps. These models provide valuable visual insights for site inspections, design validation, and volume calculations—making photogrammetry the top choice for industries where high-resolution images and detailed maps are needed.
From construction and urban planning to mining and agriculture, photogrammetry’s versatility allows it to be applied to nearly every industry. It provides accurate data without the need for complex equipment, making it more adaptable to various use cases. Whether you need detailed site plans, crop health analysis, or slope stability studies, photogrammetry offers the flexibility to cover it all.
Photogrammetry requires much less specialized knowledge than LiDAR. With modern automated drone systems and cloud-based processing, users can quickly and easily generate 3D models and maps with minimal training. Photogrammetry software is often designed to be user-friendly, which accelerates the learning curve and reduces the need for technical expertise.
LiDAR is a remote sensing technology that uses laser pulses to measure distances and create high-accuracy 3D maps of terrain and structures. A LiDAR sensor emits laser beams toward the ground, and the time it takes for the pulses to reflect, is used to calculate distances. These measurements create a dense point cloud, which is then processed into a digital terrain model (DTM) or digital elevation model (DEM).
High accuracy, even in dense vegetation or low-light conditions.
Capable of penetrating foliage to generate bare-earth models.
Effective for applications requiring precise elevation data, such as flood modeling and forestry management.
Expensive to deploy due to the high cost of sensors and data processing.
Requires specialized expertise to interpret data and generate usable outputs.
Not ideal for capturing high-resolution color imagery, making it less suitable for visual documentation.
Photogrammetry has emerged as the preferred choice for various industries due to its accessibility, affordability, and ability to generate detailed, visually rich maps.
Construction projects require real-time site monitoring to track progress, optimize resource allocation, and ensure safety compliance. Photogrammetry surveying provides high-resolution orthomosaics and 3D models, allowing project managers to:
Monitor site changes over time.
Measure distances, volumes, and areas.
Identify potential design deviations or safety hazards.
Accurate topographic mapping is essential for mine planning and resource estimation. Drone photogrammetry in mining enables:
Stockpile volume calculations for material inventory management.
Slope stability monitoring to ensure worker safety.
Detection of terrain changes to optimize extraction processes.
For urban development projects, photogrammetry provides detailed land surveys to:
Assess land use and zoning constraints.
Design road networks and utility infrastructure.
Plan large-scale construction and redevelopment projects.
Photogrammetry plays a crucial role in precision agriculture, helping farmers optimize crop yield and land utilization through:
Crop health analysis using multispectral imagery.
Irrigation planning based on elevation models.
Soil erosion monitoring for better land conservation.
Photogrammetry provides critical data for tracking environmental changes and assessing disaster impact. Key applications include:
Mapping deforestation and land degradation.
Monitoring coastal erosion and flood-prone areas.
The accuracy of LiDAR vs. photogrammetry depends on several factors, including terrain conditions and project requirements.
If the primary goal is elevation modeling in heavily forested areas, LiDAR is the better choice due to its ability to penetrate vegetation.
For general surveying, mapping, and inspections, photogrammetry is often the superior option because it provides both high-resolution imagery and accurate 3D models at a fraction of the cost.
Given the advancements in survey photogrammetry software, photogrammetry remains the preferred solution for most industries, offering scalability, affordability, and ease of use.
The evolution of drone technology and advanced photogrammetry software has made aerial mapping more accessible than ever. Improvements in AI-driven automation, cloud-based processing, and computer vision algorithms are enhancing photogrammetry’s accuracy, efficiency, and real-world applications.
With the growing adoption of drones in industry, businesses are leveraging photogrammetry for faster decision-making, improved efficiency, and reduced operational costs. As drone surveying technology advances, photogrammetry is set to play a dominant role in geospatial data collection and analysis.
While LiDAR may be ideal for projects that require precise elevation data in complex terrains, photogrammetry offers a practical, cost-effective, and versatile solution for most surveying and mapping tasks. From construction to agriculture to urban planning, photogrammetry provides businesses with high-resolution, detailed models that can be processed quickly, and without the need for expensive hardware.
In industries where both visual data and efficient workflows are key, photogrammetry is often the superior choice, and with the continuous evolution of drone technology, its capabilities will only continue to expand.
By investing in advanced photogrammetry solutions like Skydeck by Asteria Aerospace, businesses can unlock cost-effective, scalable, and highly accurate surveying capabilities.
Also Read: Understanding Aerial Surveying & Drone Mapping
What is the main difference between LiDAR and photogrammetry?
LiDAR uses laser pulses to generate highly accurate point clouds, making it effective for mapping dense vegetation and uneven terrain. Photogrammetry, on the other hand, captures high-resolution 2D and 3D models using overlapping images, offering a cost-effective and accessible alternative for surveying open areas and structures.
Which is more accurate: LiDAR or photogrammetry?
Both technologies provide high accuracy, but LiDAR is more precise in vegetated or complex terrains as it can penetrate foliage. Photogrammetry excels in open environments and infrastructure projects, delivering detailed 3D models and orthomosaics with modern drone technology.
What are the cost differences between LiDAR and photogrammetry?
LiDAR is significantly more expensive due to high-end sensors and complex data processing, making it ideal for large-scale government and industrial applications. Photogrammetry is more cost-effective, utilizing standard drone cameras and user-friendly software to process data efficiently.
Which method is better for aerial mapping and surveying?
For aerial photogrammetry vs. LiDAR, the choice depends on the use case. Photogrammetry is ideal for surveying urban areas, construction sites, and agriculture due to its affordability and ease of use. LiDAR is better suited for forests, powerline inspections, and complex terrains where elevation accuracy is critical.
How do LiDAR and photogrammetry compare in data processing?
LiDAR data processing is complex and time-intensive, requiring specialized software and expertise to manage point clouds. Photogrammetry offers faster, automated processing with modern drone software, allowing users to generate orthomosaics, 3D models, and contour maps with minimal training.
