Lidar vs. Photogrammetry: Which Do You Need?

Two Tools, Different Rules

Clients often ask for "drone mapping" without knowing exactly what they need. The difference between Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) and Photogrammetry comes down to one thing: penetration.

When to Use Photogrammetry

Photogrammetry stitches thousands of photos together. It is vibrant, textured, and perfect for visual inspections, open pit mines, and construction sites with bare earth. It is cost-effective and provides a photorealistic digital twin.

When to Use Lidar

Lidar shoots laser pulses—up to 240,000 per second. It is the only choice for forestry or vegetated terrain. Lidar pulses punch through tree canopies to hit the ground below, allowing us to generate a "Bare Earth" model even in dense woods. If you are building a road through a forest, you need Lidar.