A pioneering pilot project is about to begin in the Swiss Alps, where a consortium of Swiss and Austrian companies, including Dufour Aerospace, RIEGL, BSF Swissphoto and SLF, plans to use drones to survey the Alpine landscape on a large scale for mapping. The project partners will soon conduct a series of test flights with the ultimate goal of extensive mapping of this mountainous region using laser scanning.
Widespread laser scanning drones
There is an increasing demand for high-quality, up-to-date terrain models of the Swiss Alps, especially in areas exposed to Alpine environmental risks and energy production. Until now, collecting such data has been the domain of planes and helicopters equipped with laser scanners. This consortium aims to use drones to conduct large-scale laser scanning for the first time, with less environmental impact and significant cost savings as added benefits.
Dufour Aerospace is supplying the drones that will be used for the project. They are AeroMini and Aero2, and their wingspan is 3 and 6 meters, respectively. RIEGL will take care of the delivery of the LiDAR modules and provide support for their integration. BSF Swissphoto will play a key role in validating the data collected and assessing the commercial importance of the technology and processes used. The WSL Snow and Avalanche Research Institute (SLF) verifies the data quality.
“Unique opportunity”
Thomas Pfamatter, Co-Founder and CEO of Dufour Aerospace, explains the unique opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of their unmanned aerial vehicles in relevant applications. “With the support of experienced and renowned partners, we strive to achieve a common goal: to significantly improve data generation efficiency in the medium and long term. We are excited to get started on this project.”
Michael Mayer, Managing Director of RiCOPTER UAV GmbH, part of RIEGL, emphasizes the opportunity to explore the capabilities of UAVs on a larger scale and thus optimize the performance of their cutting-edge equipment. Jörg Fertli, CEO of BSF Swissphoto, sees Dufour Aerospace as the ideal partner for projects that were previously unthinkable without manned aircraft. “We are on the cusp of making large-scale aerogeographic data collection autonomous.”
doctor. Yves Bühler from the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) stresses the importance of access to up-to-date, affordable and high-quality data for their research and service activities. “We are confident that there is still significant progress to be made, especially in the areas of avalanche and mountain hazard research.”
New era
The test series, which will begin this spring in Dübendorf, Switzerland, with basic functional tests, is expected to expand to the Alpine region throughout 2024 and 2025, depending on the results of each individual test. The project is also supported by The Ark Foundation and Armasuisse, which confirms the national commitment and importance of this initiative.
Through the use of advanced technology and collaboration between leading partners, this consortium stands on the threshold of a new era in exploration and monitoring of the Swiss Alps. The results of this project could become a benchmark for future applications of drone technology in similar challenging environments around the world.
