Drone LiDAR · BC & Alberta
Dense 3D point clouds with centimetre-level accuracy — delivered by the DJI Matrice 350 RTK and Zenmuse L2. From terrain modelling to corridor mapping, we capture what ground crews can't reach.
01 / What It Is
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is an active sensing technology that fires laser pulses at the terrain below and measures the travel time of each returning echo. Unlike photogrammetry, LiDAR penetrates vegetation canopy — individual pulses bounce off branches, leaves, and trunks as well as bare ground, producing a stratified point cloud that reveals surface topography even beneath dense forest cover.
When mounted on our DJI Matrice 350 RTK paired with the Zenmuse L2, airborne LiDAR produces a three-dimensional model of the earth's surface at densities that satellite or crewed-aircraft methods cannot match at this price point. The result is a georeferenced point cloud that your engineering, GIS, or project team can import directly into ArcGIS, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Bentley MicroStation, or any modern CAD/GIS platform.
Every IAS LiDAR mission is paired with on-board RTK positioning referenced to a base station or VRS network, ensuring accurate geolocation of each point — critical for repeat surveys, construction control, and multi-source data fusion.
Multi-return pulses capture ground beneath forest canopy — essential for BC's heavily forested terrain.
Centimetre-level positional accuracy through real-time kinematic GNSS — no GCP dependency for most projects.
Up to 240 pts/m² at standard flight altitude — sufficient for detailed volumetric and surface analysis.
Simultaneously captured RGB imagery colorizes point clouds for faster interpretation and client deliverables.
02 / How It Works
Every LiDAR mission follows a structured workflow — from desktop planning through to calibrated, classified point cloud delivery.
We review the project extent, terrain relief, vegetation density, and accuracy requirements. Where required, we apply for Special Flight Operations Certificates (SFOCs) or restricted airspace authorizations. As Transport Canada Advanced RPAS certified operators, we can access controlled airspace around airports, helipads, and restricted corridors — coverage others can't provide.
For projects requiring the highest confidence in positional accuracy, we deploy an RTK base station on a known control point or connect to the provincial VRS network. Ground control points (GCPs) are established with a GNSS receiver and used to validate and refine the final registered dataset.
The DJI Matrice 350 RTK executes a pre-planned mission at optimized altitude and line spacing for the required point density. The Zenmuse L2 fires up to 240,000 laser pulses per second across five return channels while simultaneously capturing RGB imagery. IMU data and RTK telemetry are recorded for post-processing.
Raw LiDAR data is processed in DJI Terra and refined using LiDAR processing software to produce a calibrated, georeferenced point cloud. Ground, vegetation, and structure returns are classified. Noise and outlier points are filtered to produce clean data products ready for downstream analysis.
Classified point clouds are exported in client-specified formats (LAS, LAZ, RCP). Derivative products — digital elevation models, contours, cross-sections — are generated and independently verified. Final deliverables are shared via secure cloud link with accompanying accuracy report and project metadata.
03 / Applications
Our LiDAR scanning clients span civil engineering, forestry, mining, utilities, and government — anywhere dense, accurate 3D surface data accelerates decisions.
Civil Engineering & Construction
Capture stockpile volumes, earthwork progress, and grading compliance to centimetre-level accuracy. Replace slow total-station fieldwork on active construction sites with a single drone flight that covers the entire site in hours.
Forestry & Natural Resources
Map bare-earth digital terrain models (DTMs) through BC's dense second-growth and old-growth forest. Generate accurate slope, aspect, and drainage models for harvest planning, road layout, and watershed analysis.
Transportation & Utilities
Capture road, pipeline, and powerline rights-of-way with a fraction of the crew time. Produce cross-section profiles, clearance analysis, and encroachment documentation for linear infrastructure across BC and Alberta.
Mining & Aggregates
Track extraction progress and stockpile inventory with repeatable LiDAR flights. Compare multi-temporal point clouds to quantify material moved and validate blast performance — data products your operations team can act on.
Municipal & Government
Generate high-resolution digital elevation models for flood modelling, landslide risk assessment, and infrastructure planning. LiDAR-derived hydraulic terrain data supports accurate provincial floodplain analysis.
Oil & Gas
Capture 3D as-built conditions of wellpads, tank farms, and processing facilities without interrupting operations. LiDAR data supports facility management, expansion planning, and environmental compliance documentation.
04 / What You Receive
All deliverables are packaged with a project accuracy report and metadata sheet. Formats are confirmed at project scoping — we work to your GIS or CAD environment.
05 / The Hardware
IAS operates the DJI Matrice 350 RTK with Zenmuse L2 — one of the most capable compact LiDAR systems commercially available. Rare in BC. Built for Western Canadian operating conditions.
06 / FAQ
The DJI Zenmuse L2 delivers ±2 cm horizontal and ±2 cm vertical accuracy under standard conditions with RTK positioning. Actual accuracy in your deliverables depends on flight altitude, base station configuration, ground control density, terrain relief, and atmospheric conditions. We document achieved accuracy against checkpoints in every project's QA report — so you have documented evidence for your records, not just manufacturer specifications.
Yes — this is one of LiDAR's primary advantages over photogrammetry. Multi-return LiDAR (the L2 captures up to 5 returns per pulse) penetrates canopy gaps and reflects off ground beneath vegetation. In dense old-growth or second-growth BC forest, penetration rates vary by canopy closure and species, but bare-earth ground points are typically recoverable. Photogrammetry cannot produce bare-earth terrain models under heavy canopy.
Drone LiDAR collects millions of point measurements per flight — a density ground crews can't replicate at comparable cost. For large areas, terrain modelling, and linear corridors, aerial LiDAR is dramatically faster and often lower cost than a traditional field crew. Ground measurement remains appropriate for boundary determinations (which are the domain of a licensed BC Land Surveyor) and for individual point measurements in tight spaces. The two methods are complementary: IAS LiDAR delivers data products for decision support — your professionals certify and mark up as required.
Under favourable conditions, the Matrice 350 RTK can cover approximately 200–250 hectares per flight hour at standard LiDAR acquisition altitude. A full operational day (multiple batteries, good weather, accessible site) can yield 500–1,000+ hectares of collected data depending on terrain. Project scope, site access, wind, and regulatory requirements affect actual productivity. We provide realistic coverage estimates at project scoping.
Yes. As Transport Canada Advanced RPAS certified operators, we are authorized to operate in controlled airspace and can obtain Special Flight Operations Certificates (SFOCs) for restricted zones. Many infrastructure and industrial sites in BC and Alberta are within airport control zones — we handle the regulatory coordination so your project stays on schedule. Many operators cannot offer this capability.
We deliver point clouds in LAS 1.4 or compressed LAZ by default. Raster products (DTM, DSM, CHM) are delivered as GeoTIFF. Contours and vector features are available in DXF, SHP, or GeoPackage. Colorized point clouds for Autodesk workflows are packaged as RCP. If your CAD or GIS environment requires a specific format or coordinate reference system, confirm it at project scoping and we'll match your requirements.
Ready When You Are
Tell us your project scope and we'll respond within one business day with a detailed quote. Or call ARIA right now — our AI project assistant is available 24/7.
Serving BC and Alberta · Based in Abbotsford · Transport Canada Advanced RPAS Certified
