LIDAR SERVICES
LiDAR Topographic
Scanning
Engineering-grade aerial LiDAR surveys for terrain modelling, volumetric analysis, and precision topographic deliverables. Built for the accuracy standards your projects demand.
±2–5cm Vertical Accuracy
TC-Certified Operations
Engineering-Ready Deliverables
OVERVIEW
What Is Aerial LiDAR Scanning?
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) uses pulsed laser energy to measure precise distances from a UAV to ground surfaces. The result is a dense, three-dimensional point cloud — millions of accurately georeferenced data points covering your entire project area.
Unlike photogrammetry, LiDAR penetrates vegetation canopy to capture true ground elevation — making it the preferred method for terrain modelling in forested areas, corridor mapping, and any project where bare-earth accuracy is critical.
Compass UAV delivers calibrated, classified point clouds and derived products that integrate directly into AutoCAD, Civil 3D, ArcGIS, and other professional platforms.
Up to 500 pts/m²
Point Density
±2–5 cm
Vertical Accuracy
±3–5 cm
Horizontal Accuracy
Up to 500 ha/day
Coverage Rate
KEY BENEFITS
Why LiDAR for Your Project
Understanding where LiDAR outperforms other methods helps you specify the right technology from the start.
Bare-Earth Terrain Under Canopy
LiDAR penetrates dense vegetation and tree cover to deliver accurate ground models — critical for corridor surveys, drainage analysis, and forested sites where photogrammetry falls short.
Centimetre-Level Accuracy
Survey-grade GPS integration and rigorous calibration workflows deliver vertical accuracies of ±2–5 cm, meeting the standards required for engineering design and official submissions.
Dense, Classified Point Clouds
Deliverables include ground, vegetation, and structure classifications — ready for DTM/DSM generation, contour extraction, and integration into GIS and CAD platforms.
Large-Area Efficiency
Cover hundreds of hectares per day at a fraction of the cost of traditional ground survey methods, without compromising the accuracy your projects require.
APPLICATIONS
Where We Apply LiDAR
Serving engineering, construction, government, and resource sector clients across Southern Ontario.
Pre-Construction Topographic Surveys
Establish accurate existing conditions for grading plans, site design, and civil engineering.
Corridor Mapping
Road, pipeline, transmission line, and rail corridor surveys with full terrain profile data.
Volumetric Analysis
Stockpile measurement and cut/fill calculations for mining, aggregates, and earthworks.
Floodplain & Drainage Modelling
Bare-earth terrain models for hydraulic analysis, stormwater management, and flood risk assessment.
Airport & Aerodrome Surveys
Obstacle clearance surface modelling, runway profiling, and airside infrastructure surveys.
Forestry & Natural Resources
Canopy height models, biomass estimation, and ground surveys in dense forest environments.
Utility Infrastructure Mapping
Above-ground utility corridor mapping for infrastructure planning and right-of-way management.
Geotechnical Investigations
Terrain characterization and slope stability support for geotechnical and environmental projects.
DELIVERABLES
What You Receive
Every LiDAR project includes processed, QA-verified deliverables in the formats your team actually uses.
Custom coordinate systems, additional formats, and GIS integration support available on request.
Classified LAS/LAZ Point Cloud
Ground, vegetation, building, and noise classes. Delivered in LAS 1.4 or LAZ compressed format.
Digital Terrain Model (DTM)
Bare-earth surface model at client-specified resolution. Compatible with Civil 3D, ArcGIS, and QGIS.
Digital Surface Model (DSM)
First-return surface including vegetation and structures. Useful for obstruction analysis.
Contour Lines
2D and 3D contours at specified intervals, delivered in DXF, SHP, or KMZ format.
Intensity & RGB Imagery
Co-registered aerial imagery for visual context and point cloud colorization.
Survey Report & Metadata
Full flight report, coordinate system documentation, accuracy assessment, and calibration records.
FEATURED PROJECT
Regional Airport LiDAR Survey & Obstacle Surface Modelling
Compass UAV completed a full LiDAR survey of a Southern Ontario regional airport including runway and taxiway profiling, obstacle clearance surface modelling (OCS) to Transport Canada standards, and high-resolution point cloud data of all aerodrome infrastructure.
- Full aerodrome LiDAR coverage in under 2 days
- OCS surfaces delivered per TC TP312 standards
- Sub-5cm vertical accuracy verified by ground control
- Seamless integration with client’s GIS platform
FAQ
Common Questions
How does aerial LiDAR compare to ground-based survey methods?
Aerial LiDAR collects millions of data points across large areas in a fraction of the time and cost of traditional ground survey. While ground surveys may achieve slightly higher accuracy at individual point locations, aerial LiDAR provides far greater spatial coverage and is ideal for projects requiring full-area terrain models rather than sparse point networks.
What accuracy can I expect from a UAV LiDAR survey?
With proper ground control and calibration, our UAV LiDAR systems achieve ±2–5 cm vertical accuracy and ±3–5 cm horizontal accuracy. Final accuracy depends on flight altitude, ground control density, terrain complexity, and atmospheric conditions. We document accuracy assessments in every project report.
Can LiDAR capture terrain beneath forest canopy?
Yes — this is one of LiDAR’s most significant advantages over photogrammetry. Laser pulses penetrate gaps in vegetation canopy to return ground hits, enabling bare-earth terrain models in forested environments where photogrammetric methods would only capture the canopy surface.
What coordinate systems and datums do you work with?
We work with any coordinate system requested by the client — UTM, MTM, local project coordinates, NAD83, CGVD2013, and others. Datum transformations and local datum tie-ins are available on request.
How long does a LiDAR project take from booking to delivery?
Timeline depends on project size and complexity. Smaller projects (under 100 ha) typically see data collected within 1–2 weeks of booking, with processed deliverables within 3–5 business days of collection. Larger projects are scoped individually with agreed milestone timelines.
Do you work in controlled or restricted airspace?
Yes. We hold the necessary certifications and experience to operate in controlled airspace and can obtain Special Flight Operations Certificates (SFOCs) for restricted areas including airports, aerodromes, and military zones. Airspace authorization is managed as part of our project scoping process.
GET STARTED
Ready to Scope Your LiDAR Survey?
Book a free 30-minute consultation. We’ll review your project requirements, recommend the right sensor configuration, and provide a clear scope and delivery timeline.
Book a Free Consultation