Stormbee demonstrates scanner drone at DronePort

Yesterday, Stormbee demonstrated that mapping of landscapes or infrastructures can soon take place in the blink of an eye. Thanks to their ultramodern LIDAR technology, a small city can actually be mapped in just one day with the help of a drone. During the demo, the DronePort campus building was scanned in just a few minutes. The amazing are results. 

Stormbee is a company that developed a drone to perform mapping tasks with a very high accuracy by means of a LIDAR scanner. With LIDAR technology (LIght Detection And Ranging or Laser Imaging Detection And Ranging) a mirror with a laser rotates very quickly to take measurements of the environment. The drone was completely designed and built by the Belgians. The software is also an in-house development. 

The use of LIDAR technology is much more accurate than that of the “classical” photogrammetry (up to mm level). For example, it is less interfered by reflections and also makes it possible to record a complete georeferencing of the results. This makes it possible to seamlessly superimpose or link the point clouds of different measurements. Stormbee claims to be the only player on the market with a LIDAR that can be mounted on a drone and can carry out measurements via a normal tripod. 

This way of working can also make various assignments safer and more efficient to execute. For example, it is not necessary to enter dangerous terrain because no Ground Control Points (GCPs) have to be placed. Remote measurement in, for example, factories often reduces downtime because day-to-day processes are less disturbed. 

The system can even be used in woody environments. Because millions of points are measured, some of them will also end up on the ground between the leaves. This makes it possible to measure the ground level through the leaves. The LIDAR scans 300° and 150 m in both directions. This means that the underside of structures can also be scanned without actually having to fly under it.

The purpose of the demonstration was to introduce interested people to their system and its benefits. Among those present there were mainly pilots, but Port of Antwerp was also represented.