Swiss-Austrian Collaboration to Laser-Scan Alps Using Dufour Drones
A Swiss-Austrian consortium is to trial laser scanning applications in the Swiss Alps using Dufour Aerospace drones, reports a press release. The partners are RIEGL, BSF Swissphoto, SLF and Dufour. A series of test flights will begin this Spring and continue on for several months.
Dufour will support the project by employing its 3‑metre-wingspan AeroMini and 6‑metre-wingspan Aero2 UAS platforms. RIEGL is to provide the laser scanners and assistance with the integration; BSF Swissphoto will contribute to data validation and assess the commercial relevance of the technology and the processes; While, the WSL-Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF is to ensure the data quality meets the necessary requirements, by supporting the field test with experienced personnel.
The release explains, “There is growing interest among various private and public stakeholders in high-resolution, up-to-date and cost-effective data, particularly in the area of alpine environmental hazards or energy production.
“Presently, aeroplanes and helicopters are used for such purposes, but this particular test series will demonstrate the efficiency of drone application with a view to a lower environmental impact and significant cost reductions.”
Drones have been employed for aerial geo-data acquisition for some time, but are only usable for small areas. Dufour has developed a platform suitable for projects that before only crewed planes were used.

(Credit: Naturetrek)
Thomas Pfammatter, co-Founder and CEO of Dufour Aerospace, commented, “This is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of our AeroMini and Aero2 vertical take-off-and-landing uncrewed aerial systems in relevant applications. We’ll have a shared, clear aim of increasing efficiency in data generation medium and long-term, supported by renowned, experienced partners.”
Michael Mayer, MD of Richter (a RIEGL company), added, “This project will help us to understand the potential of drones at a larger scale, covering wide application areas. As a quality-conscious high-end producer of laser scanners, we are predestined to contribute our expertise.”
He continued, “While we already have a lot of experience with using our high-end sensors with UAS, this is nowadays mostly limited to smaller areas using multi-copter types, single-rotor drones or VTOLs of smaller scale.”
The series of trials are expected to begin this spring in Dübendorf, Switzerland, with basic functional tests, but will then be extended to the Alpine region during the course of 2024 and 2025, depending on the results from each individual trial.
The project is also supported by the Federal Office for Defence, armasuisse, and Fondation the Ark.
For more information
(Top image: Dufour Aero2)
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