Drone LiDAR Processing: From UAV Flight to Deliverables in Minutes

Manual drone LiDAR processing takes hours. Parameter tuning, noise filtering, classification iterations—traditional desktop software turns a 20-minute flight into a day-long processing ordeal. There’s a faster way.

Skip the Manual Work — Process 10 Hectares Free

What Makes Drone LiDAR Different?

Unlike traditional airborne LiDAR mounted on manned aircraft, drone (UAV) LiDAR systems fly at lower altitudes, typically 50-120 meters AGL. This produces:

Higher Point Density

100-400+ points per square meter vs. 4-20 for manned surveys

Greater Detail

Fine features like curbs, vegetation understory, and small structures

Flexible Deployment

Rapid mobilization for smaller sites without aircraft logistics

Cost Efficiency

Lower cost per hectare for projects under 500 hectares

AI-classified drone point cloud showing automatic segmentation of ground, vegetation, and structures

Popular Drone LiDAR Sensors

Popular drone LiDAR sensors include DJI Zenmuse L1 and L2, RIEGL miniVUX series, Livox sensors, and various YellowScan and Phoenix LiDAR configurations.

All produce standard LAS or LAZ point cloud files that require classification and processing before delivering usable terrain models and vector outputs.

The Drone LiDAR Processing Workflow

A typical UAV LiDAR workflow involves these four key steps:

01

PPK Correction

PPK software combines trajectory data with base station GNSS to achieve centimeter-level georeferencing, producing a corrected LAS/LAZ file.

02

Point Cloud Cleaning

Remove outliers, filter noise below ground, eliminate temporary objects like vehicles, and smooth edge artifacts.

03

Classification

Assign each point to a category (ground, vegetation, building) following ASPRS LAS standards. This determines quality of all downstream products.

04

Product Generation

Generate DTM, DSM, contour lines, hillshade maps, slope maps, building footprints, and tree inventory from classified data.

Common Drone LiDAR Use Cases

Construction Site Surveys

Drone LiDAR excels at earthwork volume calculations and site grading verification. The high point density captures fine grade changes that photogrammetry often misses, especially in bare earth or low-vegetation areas.

Corridor Mapping

Utility corridors, roads, and railways benefit from drone LiDAR’s ability to penetrate vegetation. Power line mapping uses wire classification to extract conductor positions and measure vegetation clearances.

Forestry Inventory

Multiple returns reveal forest structure: canopy height, stem locations, and ground elevation under dense cover. Drone systems provide cost-effective coverage for smaller timber stands. See our forest inventory guide.

Topographic Surveys

For topographic mapping, drone LiDAR delivers contour lines and DTMs that meet survey-grade accuracy requirements. CAD-ready DXF exports streamline delivery to civil engineers.

Processing Drone LiDAR with Lidarvisor

Lidarvisor provides cloud-based processing specifically designed for UAV LiDAR data. Key advantages for drone operators:

☁️ No Software Installation

Upload LAS/LAZ files from any browser. No desktop software to install or maintain.

🤖 AI Classification

Automatic segmentation into 12 ASPRS classes without parameter tuning.

📦 Large File Support

Handle files up to 50 GB from multi-flight drone projects.

📊 Complete Outputs

DTM, DSM, contours, hillshade, building footprints, and tree detection—all in one workflow.

📐 CAD Export

DXF files organized by layer for direct use in Civil 3D or AutoCAD.

💰 Affordable Pricing

Plans from $89/month, not thousands like desktop alternatives.

The AI-powered classification handles the complexity that makes drone data challenging: dense vegetation, mixed urban environments, and varying terrain all processed automatically.

Try AI Classification Free — 10 Hectares

Drone LiDAR vs. Photogrammetry

Both technologies have their place in UAV mapping. Here’s when to use each:

Factor	Drone LiDAR	Photogrammetry
Vegetation penetration	Yes (multiple returns)	No (surface only)
Low light / shadows	Works in any light	Requires good light
Texture / color	Limited (intensity only)	Full RGB imagery
Cost per hectare	Higher sensor cost	Lower hardware cost
Best for	Terrain under vegetation, power lines, forestry	Urban mapping, stockpiles, orthophotos

Pro tip: Many professionals use both—LiDAR for terrain and structure, photogrammetry for visual documentation.

Stop Wrestling with Classification Parameters

Your drone collected the data in 20 minutes. Why spend hours fighting with classification settings? Lidarvisor processes UAV point clouds automatically, with no parameters to tune and no software to install.

Test it with your own data: 10 hectares free, no credit card required.

Process Your First Drone Flight Free →