High-resolution aerial orthophoto of a dense urban district captured by AAMS survey aircraft
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Aerial Mapping & LiDAR Survey

Manned survey aircraft and advanced UAVs delivering engineering-grade geospatial data with centimeter-level precision.

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Overview

Precision Aerial Data Acquisition at Scale

AAMS combines a specialized fleet of manned aerial survey aircraft with advanced UAVs to deliver high-accuracy aerial mapping at scale. Equipped with cutting-edge sensor payloads including nadir cameras, oblique imaging systems, full-waveform LiDAR, and thermal sensors, we capture high-resolution geospatial data with centimeter-level precision.

From regional corridors and dense urban environments to remote desert terrain, our dual-platform strategy ensures the right sensor is deployed for every mission, producing engineering-grade datasets that meet the highest standards for planning, design, and infrastructure intelligence.

Enquire Now Explore capabilities ↓
  • Manned survey aircraft
  • Advanced UAVs
  • Nadir cameras
  • Oblique imaging systems
  • Full-waveform LiDAR
  • Topo-bathymetric LiDAR
  • Thermal sensors
  • Multi-beam echo sounders

<5cm

Ground sampling distance for orthophoto mapping

30+pts/m²

Airborne LiDAR point density

10cm

Vertical accuracy on LiDAR terrain models

2.5×

Secchi depth reached by topo-bathymetric LiDAR

What we capture

Core Capabilities

Four complementary acquisition methods, flown from manned aircraft, UAVs and survey vessels, combined to suit the terrain, scale and accuracy each project demands.

01 / Photogrammetry

Vertical (Nadir) Imagery & Orthophoto Mapping

Our aerial survey aircraft capture high-resolution vertical (nadir) imagery, the foundational layer for accurate, map-grade geospatial products. Every image is processed through rigorous aerial triangulation and orthorectification to produce seamless orthomosaics and true orthophotos with uniform scale across the entire project area.

With ground sampling distances (GSD) from 5 cm down to sub-5 cm and horizontal accuracy of 2 pixels RMSE or better, these deliverables serve as engineering-grade base maps for cadastral mapping, urban planning, infrastructure design, and environmental monitoring. We produce both standard orthophotos and true orthophotos, the latter eliminating building lean and blind spots for precise measurement of tall structures and dense urban environments.

  • Orthomosaics
  • True orthophotos
  • Sub-5 cm GSD
  • ≤2 px RMSE
Orthophoto map of a town and surrounding desert terrain produced from nadir aerial imagery Orthophoto
02 / Laser scanning

High-Density Airborne LiDAR

Full-waveform airborne laser scanning penetrates vegetation canopy, maps bare-earth terrain, and captures the structure of everything above it in a single pass. With point densities exceeding 30 points/m² and vertical accuracy down to 10 cm, we deliver clean, classified point clouds (LAS/LAZ), precise Digital Terrain Models (DTMs), Digital Surface Models (DSMs), and contour datasets.

These datasets hold up under the most demanding engineering, flood modeling, utility, and infrastructure design requirements. Because LiDAR capture is independent of daylight, we can acquire data day or night, accelerating project timelines where photogrammetric flights would be constrained.

  • Classified LAS/LAZ
  • DTM & DSM
  • Contours
  • Day or night capture
Classified airborne LiDAR point cloud showing a transmission tower, powerlines and vegetation LiDAR point cloud
03 / 3D modeling

Oblique Aerial Imaging & 3D City Models

Multi-directional oblique cameras capture angled imagery at 45° from four cardinal directions simultaneously with the nadir view, all in a single flight. This multi-angle approach reveals building façades, street-level detail, and structural conditions that vertical imagery alone cannot see.

Combined with LiDAR data and stereo-matching algorithms, oblique imagery produces photorealistic 3D mesh models and textured city models where every roof, wall, and terrain feature is measurable. These outputs power smart city platforms, digital twin environments, urban revitalization planning, heritage documentation, and visual impact assessment for major developments, without the cost and time of repeated flights.

  • 3D mesh models
  • Textured city models
  • Façade imagery
  • Digital twin ready
Oblique aerial image of a coastal city and harbor used to build a 3D city model Oblique imagery
04 / Hydrography

Airborne Bathymetric Survey

We extend our mapping precision below the waterline. Using topo-bathymetric LiDAR, we simultaneously capture topographic and shallow-water bathymetric data in a single mission, producing a seamless, continuous surface from dry land through the shoreline and into nearshore waters to depths of up to 2.5× Secchi depth.

For deeper environments, we deploy survey vessels equipped with multi-beam echo sounders and inertially-aided positioning, delivering high-resolution seabed, riverbed, and reservoir floor models that adhere to IHO and USACE charting standards. The integrated datasets support dredging volume calculations, navigation channel surveys, port and coastal engineering, flood and reservoir capacity studies, shoreline change detection, benthic habitat mapping, and underwater infrastructure inspection, bridging the gap between terrestrial and marine geospatial intelligence.

  • Topo-bathymetric LiDAR
  • Multi-beam sonar
  • Seabed & riverbed models
  • IHO & USACE standards
Aerial view of a shoreline and shallow coastal waters mapped with topo-bathymetric LiDAR Bathymetric LiDAR

Applications

Where AAMS Delivers Value

From cadastral base maps to digital twin asset records, our aerial datasets feed directly into the decisions that shape land, infrastructure and coastlines.

  1. 01

    Topographic & Cadastral Mapping

    Engineering-accurate base maps for land administration, site development, and boundary definition.

  2. 02

    Urban Planning & Smart Cities

    3D city models, land-use classification, and infrastructure inventories that feed directly into digital twin frameworks and intelligent municipal platforms.

  3. 03

    Volumetric Analysis

    Stockpile, cut-and-fill, and mine-site volume calculations with repeatable accuracy for audit and reporting.

  4. 04

    Corridor & Linear Infrastructure Mapping

    Power lines, pipelines, roads, and rail networks mapped end-to-end with consistent accuracy along hundreds of kilometers.

  5. 05

    Environmental & Coastal Monitoring

    Shoreline change detection, vegetation health assessment, and thermal mapping for ecological and climate studies.

  6. 06

    Mangrove Ecosystem Monitoring

    High-resolution aerial and thermal imaging combined with LiDAR canopy height mapping for mangrove forest health assessment, biodiversity surveys, and coastal protection valuation, critical for environmental compliance and climate resilience initiatives.

  7. 07

    Bathymetric & Hydrographic Mapping

    Seabed, riverbed, and reservoir floor surveys for navigation channels, dredging volume calculations, and port and harbor engineering, with data structured for seamless integration into digital twin asset management and coastal resilience platforms.

  8. 08

    Stadium & Major Infrastructure Mapping

    Pre- and post-construction 3D documentation of large sporting venues, event facilities, and landmark projects using sub-5 cm GSD photogrammetry and oblique imaging, enabling digital twin asset records for lifecycle management, compliance, and predictive maintenance.

  9. 09

    Landscape & Site Planning

    High-resolution topographic surveys, volumetric earthworks analysis, and 3D landscape visualization for golf courses, urban parks, resort development, and hospitality projects, with digital twin-ready outputs for real-time site management and design evolution.

  10. 10

    Mining & Quarry Operations

    High-density LiDAR and sub-5 cm photogrammetry for open-pit mapping, haul-road design, grade control, and slope-stability monitoring, supported by repeatable stockpile and cut-and-fill volumetric analysis for reconciling production against reserves. Tailings-dam and rehabilitation surveys feed directly into digital twin mine-site models for safety assurance, regulatory reporting, and lifecycle planning.

  11. 11

    Underwater Infrastructure Inspection

    Mapping and condition assessment of submarine cables, pipelines, outfalls, and offshore structures using integrated bathymetric and multi-beam sonar methods.

  12. 12

    Disaster Response & Resilience Planning

    Rapid post-event mapping for flood extent, structural damage, and recovery coordination, supported by bathymetric data for coastal inundation and storm surge modeling.

FAQ

Aerial Survey Questions, Answered

Not sure which method suits your project? Our team can recommend the right platform, sensor and deliverables.

How accurate is an airborne LiDAR survey, and what affects the cost?

Our full-waveform airborne LiDAR delivers point densities exceeding 30 points/m² with vertical accuracy down to 10 cm, producing classified point clouds, DTMs, DSMs and contours suitable for engineering design, flood modeling and utility planning.

Cost depends mainly on the size of the project area or corridor length, the point density and accuracy required, terrain and access, and the deliverables needed. Capturing imagery and LiDAR in the same flight often reduces overall cost. Contact us for a scoped quotation.

What is topo-bathymetric LiDAR and how is it used for coastal mapping?

Topo-bathymetric LiDAR captures land and shallow-water data in a single mission, producing one continuous surface from dry land through the shoreline and into nearshore waters to depths of up to 2.5× Secchi depth. It is ideal for shoreline change detection, port and coastal engineering, dredging volume calculations and storm surge modeling. For deeper water, we add vessel-based multi-beam surveys that meet IHO and USACE standards.

Should I choose a manned aircraft or a drone survey for a large area?

For regional corridors, large urban areas and hundreds of kilometers of linear infrastructure, manned survey aircraft cover ground quickly with consistent accuracy. UAVs suit smaller, localized sites that need flexible, rapid deployment. Because AAMS operates both platforms, we deploy whichever delivers the required accuracy most efficiently. Read more in our guide to aircraft vs drone aerial mapping.

How are stockpile volumes calculated from LiDAR?

We create a precise surface model of each stockpile or excavation from high-density LiDAR or sub-5 cm photogrammetry, then compare it against a base or previous survey surface to calculate volume. Because the method is repeatable, results can be tracked survey to survey for cut-and-fill reporting, audit, and reconciling mine production against reserves.

Can LiDAR be used for mangrove mapping?

Yes. LiDAR canopy height mapping, combined with high-resolution aerial and thermal imaging, supports mangrove forest health assessment, biodiversity surveys and coastal protection valuation. These datasets help meet environmental compliance obligations and inform climate resilience initiatives.

What is the difference between photogrammetry and LiDAR?

Photogrammetry builds maps and 3D models from overlapping imagery and excels at visual detail, producing orthophotos and textured models. LiDAR measures distance with laser pulses, penetrates vegetation to map bare-earth terrain, and can be captured day or night. Many projects combine both. See our comparison of airborne photogrammetry vs LiDAR.

Start a project

Plan your next survey from above.

Tell us about your site, accuracy requirements and deliverables. We will recommend the right aircraft, sensors and workflow for the job.

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