LIDAR vs. photogrammetry: what sensor to choose for a given application
In drone survey missions, the choice between a photogrammetry drone and a LIDAR drone depends heavily on the exact application. You also need to consider operational factors, such as cost and complexity. Knowing what outputs you really need will help you make the right decision.
In this article, we’ll explore the ways photogrammetry and LIDAR are actually quite different from each other, even if some of their outputs look similar. We’ll then dive into the specific benefits and applications of each method.
What’s better—LIDAR or photogrammetry?
Simply put, taking pictures and using software and base station data to line them up and geotag them is relatively simple compared to active sensing. For photogrammetry data capture, you have a camera and PPK unit working in harmony. For LIDAR data capture, you have three pieces of sophisticated hardware casting out millions of data points and recording their activity based on precise location information, on board and on the ground. Yet in both cases, to capture and process the data is getting easier and more accessible.
The key difference between photogrammetry and LIDAR revolves around their strengths and weaknesses—and when you know what these are, you can see they actually complement each other for complex projects. While LIDAR offers precise outputs that outline canopy and reach through thicker vegetation to provide terrestrial information, photogrammetry results in life-like and accurate perspectives.
LIDAR vs. photogrammetry accuracy
