SOUTH SA130 UAV LiDAR Scanner

The SOUTH SA130 is a professional airborne LiDAR scanning system designed for high-precision 3D mapping, topographic surveying and geospatial data collection using drones. It combines a long-range laser scanner, GNSS/INS positioning technology and a 45 MP RGB mapping camera. The SA130 provides a maximum specified laser measuring range of 1,500 meters, captures up to 2 million points per second and supports multiple laser returns. It is suitable for land surveying, forestry, mining, infrastructure inspection and large-area aerial mapping.

The SOUTH SA130 features a maximum laser measuring range of 1,500 meters, a measurement rate of up to 2,000,000 points per second, a 100-degree scanning field of view and multi-echo laser technology. It offers a specified system accuracy of 5 cm at 300 meters, an integrated precision positioning and orientation system, a 45 MP RGB mapping camera and 256 GB of onboard storage. The scanner weighs approximately 2 kg, has an IP64 protection rating and supports integrated UAV flight control and point cloud processing workflows.

The SOUTH SA130 has a maximum specified laser measuring range of 1,500 meters and a minimum detection distance of 1 meter. The maximum range represents the sensor's laser measurement capability under specified conditions and should not be confused with its recommended operating altitude. The effective scanning distance depends on target reflectivity, atmospheric conditions, laser incidence angle and the required survey accuracy. Flight altitude should be selected according to the desired point density and mapping requirements.

The SOUTH SA130 has a specified horizontal and vertical system accuracy of 5 cm at a measuring distance of 300 meters under manufacturer test conditions. The laser scanner provides a specified single-measurement accuracy of 15 mm and repeatability of 5 mm. Its integrated positioning and orientation system supports centimeter-level trajectory positioning. Actual survey accuracy depends on GNSS conditions, flight altitude, trajectory processing, sensor calibration, ground control and environmental factors.

The SOUTH SA130 can capture up to 2,000,000 laser measurement points per second. Its scanner also supports a 400 scan-line configuration and an angular resolution of 0.001 degrees. This high measurement rate enables dense 3D point cloud acquisition over terrain, buildings, infrastructure and vegetation. Actual point cloud density depends on flight altitude, aircraft speed, scanning geometry, measurement settings and the number of valid laser returns.

Yes. The SOUTH SA130 uses multi-echo LiDAR technology, allowing the scanner to record reflections from multiple surfaces along a laser pulse's path. For example, a pulse entering a forest may generate returns from the upper canopy, branches, lower vegetation and exposed ground. This capability is particularly useful for forestry surveying, vegetation mapping and digital terrain model generation. The number of usable returns depends on the surfaces encountered and the visibility of objects beneath the vegetation.

The SOUTH SA130 is designed for professionals working in land surveying, geospatial mapping, forestry, mining, civil engineering, construction, transportation infrastructure, utilities and environmental monitoring. Surveyors, GIS specialists, drone mapping companies and engineering consultants use airborne LiDAR data to measure terrain, generate elevation models, document infrastructure and analyze large areas. Its long-range scanning capabilities are especially useful for difficult-to-access locations and complex landscapes.

Yes. The SOUTH SA130 is suitable for high-precision topographic surveying, land mapping and terrain analysis. Its georeferenced LiDAR point clouds can be processed into digital terrain models (DTMs), digital elevation models (DEMs), digital surface models (DSMs), contour lines and elevation points. The manufacturer also identifies applications involving 1:500 and 1:1000 scale mapping under specified survey conditions. The suitability of the collected data for a particular mapping standard depends on achieved accuracy, point density and applicable survey requirements.

Yes. The SOUTH SA130 is particularly suitable for forestry surveying because its multi-echo LiDAR technology can record reflections from vegetation at different heights. When laser pulses pass through gaps in tree canopies, additional returns may be collected from understory vegetation and exposed ground. The resulting point clouds can support canopy height modeling, forest inventory, vegetation classification, terrain mapping and environmental monitoring. Ground detection performance depends on canopy density, flight configuration and scanning conditions.

Yes. The SOUTH SA130 can collect high-density 3D point clouds along power transmission lines and utility corridors. The collected measurements can be used to map transmission towers, electrical conductors, nearby vegetation and surrounding terrain. Compatible point cloud processing software can support corridor mapping, vegetation clearance analysis, terrain profiling and infrastructure documentation. Accurate conductor detection depends on flight planning, scanning geometry and sufficient point cloud density.

Yes. The SOUTH SA130 can support open-pit mining surveys, quarry mapping, stockpile measurement, earthworks monitoring and construction site documentation. Its LiDAR point clouds can be converted into terrain surfaces for elevation analysis, excavation measurements and volume calculations. Repeated surveys can also be compared to assess changes in ground levels and project progress. Accurate volume measurements require suitable processing software, consistent coordinate systems and reliable survey control.

Yes. The SOUTH SA130 is suitable for mapping mountainous landscapes, steep slopes, transportation corridors and large infrastructure projects. Its long measuring range and 100-degree scanning field of view help capture spatial information across uneven terrain. Processed data can support road and railway alignment studies, elevation profiling, corridor mapping and engineering design. For mountainous areas, terrain-following flight planning and appropriate overlap can help maintain consistent data coverage.

The SOUTH SA130 supports several professional UAV platforms, including the SOUTH SF1200, SF3300 and SF4200, as well as the DJI Matrice 300 RTK and Matrice 350 RTK. The scanner can be used with compatible multirotor and fixed-wing aircraft for different survey requirements. Drone integration depends on payload capacity, mounting hardware, electrical connections and supported control interfaces. Compatibility with other aircraft should be verified before installation.

The SOUTH SA130 weighs approximately 2 kg and measures 164 × 102 × 138.3 mm. Its compact housing integrates the LiDAR scanner, positioning and orientation components, and mapping camera into an airborne surveying payload. The complete installed payload weight may increase when mounting hardware, cables and additional accessories are included. The aircraft must have sufficient payload capacity for the complete operational configuration.

Yes. The SOUTH SA130 incorporates a positioning and orientation system combining satellite positioning with inertial navigation. Its published post-processed positioning specifications include horizontal accuracy of 0.01 m, vertical accuracy of 0.02 m, roll and pitch accuracy of 0.006 degrees, and heading accuracy of 0.019 degrees. The inertial measurement system operates at an update frequency of 500 Hz. These specifications describe positioning performance under defined conditions and do not guarantee identical accuracy for every individual LiDAR point.

Yes. The SOUTH SA130 includes a 45 MP RGB mapping camera with an 18 mm focal length and a full-frame 36 × 24 mm sensor. The camera captures high-resolution imagery alongside the LiDAR data. Using compatible processing software, the images can be combined with georeferenced laser measurements to create true-color 3D point clouds. This is useful for terrain interpretation, building documentation, infrastructure visualization and geospatial mapping.

The SOUTH SA130 has a 100-degree scanning field of view. This wide scanning angle allows the airborne LiDAR system to collect measurements across a broad ground swath during flight. It can help improve survey efficiency by reducing the number of flight lines needed to cover a project area. Actual coverage depends on aircraft altitude, terrain elevation, scanning geometry, flight line spacing and the required overlap between adjacent passes.

The SOUTH SA130 uses a pulsed laser operating at a wavelength of 1,550 nm. The scanner is classified as a Class 1 laser product according to IEC 60825-1:2014, meeting the applicable eye-safety requirements under specified operating conditions. Operators should follow the manufacturer's laser safety, installation and maintenance instructions and avoid unauthorized modifications to the optical system.

The SOUTH SA130 has an IP64 ingress protection rating and a specified operating temperature range of -20°C to +55°C. IP64 indicates protection against dust ingress and splashing water from different directions, but it does not make the equipment waterproof or suitable for immersion. The scanner is designed for outdoor aerial surveying, although operation should remain within the environmental limits of both the LiDAR system and its carrying aircraft.

The SOUTH SA130 supports Fly2MAP Pilot for UAV flight and LiDAR data acquisition control, and AcuteLas Studio for trajectory processing and point cloud post-processing. Fly2MAP Pilot allows compatible aircraft and LiDAR settings to be managed through an integrated ground control interface. AcuteLas Studio provides functions for trajectory processing, multi-flight data fusion, point cloud classification, coordinate transformation, quality inspection and terrain model generation. Available functions may depend on the software edition and license configuration.

The SOUTH SA130 collects laser measurements, positioning and orientation information, and RGB camera imagery. After processing, these measurements can produce georeferenced 3D point clouds, colorized point clouds, digital terrain models (DTMs), digital elevation models (DEMs), digital surface models (DSMs), contour lines, elevation points and terrain profiles. These deliverables can be used in GIS, CAD, infrastructure engineering, forestry analysis, topographic surveying and environmental monitoring workflows.

The SOUTH SA130 works with AcuteLas Studio, which supports point cloud processing, visualization, coordinate transformation and data export workflows. AcuteLas Studio documentation identifies compatibility with common point cloud formats, including LAS, PLY, E57, PCD and XYZ. The availability of particular export formats and workflows depends on the software version and modules in use. Users should verify the required file formats and coordinate reference systems before beginning a project.

Yes. The SOUTH SA130 can collect high-density 3D measurements that can be processed into digital terrain models, digital surface models and elevation maps. AcuteLas Studio includes tools for ground point extraction, point cloud classification, DEM and DSM generation, and automatic contour line extraction. These functions are useful for topographic surveying, construction planning, hydrological analysis, civil engineering and land development. Final terrain model accuracy depends on the survey data quality and processing workflow.

Yes. When integrated with a supported SOUTH UAV platform, the SA130 can be operated through Fly2MAP Pilot for coordinated aircraft and LiDAR control. The system supports configuration of flight parameters, camera settings and LiDAR acquisition settings through the ground control station. Supported functions include LiDAR status monitoring, sensor initialization and automated data collection. The available capabilities depend on the aircraft and control system configuration.

The survey area covered in one flight depends on the aircraft, flight duration, altitude, flight speed, terrain and required point cloud density. The manufacturer's documentation identifies indicative flight durations of approximately 25 minutes for the DJI Matrice 300 or 350 RTK, 50 minutes for the SOUTH SF1200, 100 minutes for the SOUTH SF3300 and 150 minutes for the SOUTH SF4200 in their respective configurations. These are reference figures rather than guaranteed flight times. Actual survey coverage must be calculated from the mission plan and operational conditions.

The SOUTH SA130 includes a specified 256 GB flash storage system for recording survey data. Storage requirements depend on mission duration, laser measurement frequency, camera acquisition settings and the number of recorded laser returns. Operators should check available storage before each mission and transfer or back up survey data regularly. Larger projects or multiple flights may require additional storage management and data processing capacity.