SOUTH SG130 360 Degree LiDAR Scanner

The SOUTH SG130 is a professional multi-platform LiDAR scanning system designed for high-precision 3D mapping, topographic surveying and geospatial data collection. It combines a long-range laser scanner with GNSS and inertial navigation technology to produce georeferenced 3D point clouds. Unlike airborne-only LiDAR systems, the SG130 is designed for integration with both unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ground-based vehicles. It supports up to 360-degree scanning, 12 laser returns and a maximum measurement rate of 800,000 points per second.

The SOUTH SG130 features a long-range 1550 nm laser scanner, selectable scanning frequencies of 300, 400 and 600 kHz, a measurement rate of up to 800,000 points per second and a configurable field of view of up to 360 degrees. It supports up to 12 laser returns, high-precision GNSS/INS positioning, 256 GB of internal storage and optional high-resolution RGB imaging configurations. The scanner weighs approximately 2 kg and features a cable-free design with an integrated sliding mounting interface for switching between compatible aerial and vehicle platforms.

The SOUTH SG130 has a maximum specified measuring range of 1,000 meters for natural targets with reflectivity above 80 percent. Its practical detection range depends on the selected laser pulse repetition rate and target reflectivity. At 300 kHz, the specified range reaches 450 meters for targets with more than 20 percent reflectivity and 600 meters for targets with more than 80 percent reflectivity. At 600 kHz, these distances are approximately 250 and 300 meters respectively. Actual performance depends on environmental conditions and surface characteristics.

The SOUTH SG130 has a specified absolute horizontal and vertical system accuracy of approximately ±3 cm under the manufacturer's reference test conditions of 150 meters above ground level and a flight speed of 8 m/s. The laser scanner provides a specified single-measurement ranging accuracy of 10 mm and repeatability of 5 mm. Actual survey accuracy depends on GNSS conditions, trajectory processing, system calibration, scanning geometry and the use of suitable survey control.

The SOUTH SG130 can capture up to 800,000 laser measurement points per second. The scanner supports selectable laser pulse repetition rates of 300, 400 and 600 kHz, allowing operators to balance measurement range and point density according to project requirements. Higher measurement density can improve the representation of small objects, vegetation and infrastructure. Actual point cloud density depends on the scanning configuration, flight or vehicle speed, distance to targets and survey geometry.

The SOUTH SG130 is designed as a multi-platform LiDAR system rather than a scanner restricted to airborne surveying. Its configurable field of view of up to 360 degrees, cable-free design and integrated sliding interface allow it to be transferred between compatible drone and vehicle platforms. This enables both aerial mapping and ground-based mobile mapping workflows using one LiDAR platform. The system is particularly useful for surveying companies that need to collect geospatial data across different project environments.

The SOUTH SG130 is suitable for land surveying, geospatial mapping, civil engineering, construction, forestry, mining, railway surveying, energy utilities, archaeology and infrastructure management. Surveyors, GIS specialists, engineering consultants and mobile mapping professionals can use the system to collect detailed 3D measurements of terrain, buildings, vegetation and infrastructure. Its multi-platform design makes it suitable for organizations working with both UAV mapping and vehicle-based surveying.

Yes. The SOUTH SG130 is designed for professional topographic surveying, terrain mapping and land measurement. It collects georeferenced 3D point clouds that can be processed into digital terrain models (DTMs), digital surface models (DSMs), elevation maps and contour lines. Its long-range measurement capability and multiple-return technology are useful for mapping uneven terrain, large construction sites and areas with vegetation. Final mapping accuracy depends on the survey configuration and processing workflow.

Yes. The SOUTH SG130 supports up to 12 laser returns, allowing it to collect information from multiple reflective surfaces along the same laser pulse. In forest environments, these reflections can originate from tree canopies, branches, understory vegetation and exposed ground. The resulting point clouds can support canopy height analysis, forest structure mapping, vegetation classification, terrain model generation and forest inventory workflows. Ground point detection depends on canopy density, flight configuration and available gaps in the vegetation.

Yes. The SOUTH SG130 can collect detailed 3D measurements of power transmission corridors, utility infrastructure and surrounding vegetation. The point cloud data can support the identification of transmission towers, conductors, ground surfaces and nearby obstacles. When processed using suitable LiDAR analysis software, this information can be used for corridor mapping, vegetation clearance assessments, infrastructure documentation and maintenance planning.

Yes. The SOUTH SG130 is suitable for open-pit mining surveys, quarry mapping, earthworks measurement, construction site documentation and stockpile analysis. Its high-density LiDAR data can be used to create terrain surfaces, calculate material volumes, measure excavation areas and compare changes between survey dates. The ability to operate on aerial and ground-based platforms provides additional flexibility when surveying complex construction sites or mining environments.

Yes. SOUTH identifies railway surveying and archaeology among the SG130's professional applications. For railway projects, its point clouds can support corridor documentation, surrounding terrain mapping and infrastructure analysis. In archaeology, LiDAR measurements can help identify subtle terrain features, historic earthworks and landscape structures that may be difficult to recognize in conventional imagery. Interpretation requires appropriate point cloud classification and terrain visualization methods.

The SOUTH SG130 is designed for integration with UAVs and ground-based vehicles. SOUTH identifies the SOUTH SF1200 quadcopter, SOUTH VTOL UAV platforms and DJI Matrice 300 RTK, Matrice 350 RTK and Matrice 400 RTK as supported aerial platforms in its product documentation. Vehicle-based installations are also possible through compatible mounting and positioning configurations. Integration must account for payload capacity, mounting hardware, electrical connections and supported control interfaces.

The SOUTH SG130 weighs approximately 2 kg and measures 234 × 112 × 120 mm without the camera. Its relatively compact housing is designed for installation on compatible professional drones and mobile mapping vehicles. The total installed payload weight can increase when RGB cameras, mounting hardware, cables and additional accessories are included. Aircraft and vehicle integrations should be checked against the complete system weight and power requirements.

Yes. The SOUTH SG130 supports a selectable scanning field of view of up to 360 degrees. This allows the sensor to capture measurements in multiple directions around the scanning axis, making it suitable for both aerial surveying and vehicle-mounted mapping. The available scanning coverage depends on the selected configuration and installation orientation. When integrated into a moving platform, mounting geometry and physical obstructions can affect the effective field of view.

Yes. The SOUTH SG130 combines laser scanning with high-precision GNSS and inertial navigation technology. The published 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 has a specified update rate of 500 Hz. These values describe the positioning subsystem under suitable conditions and should not be interpreted as guaranteed final point cloud accuracy.

Yes. The SOUTH SG130 supports high-resolution RGB imaging configurations, with the manufacturer's current datasheet identifying 45 MP and 61 MP camera options. The camera specifications include an 18 mm focal length, a full-frame sensor configuration and an approximately 90-degree field of view. Camera imagery can be combined with georeferenced LiDAR measurements during processing to create true-color 3D point clouds and support orthophoto generation.

The SOUTH SG130 uses a 1550 nm laser scanner and is specified as a Class 1 laser product under IEC 60825-1:2014. This classification indicates that the laser emission complies with the applicable Class 1 limits under the manufacturer's specified operating conditions. The scanner uses multiple-return laser measurement technology to collect spatial information from different surfaces. Operators should follow the manufacturer's installation, operating and laser safety instructions.

The SOUTH SG130 has an IP64 ingress protection rating, a specified operating temperature range of -20°C to +55°C and power consumption of approximately 40 W. IP64 provides protection against dust ingress and splashing water, but does not make the scanner waterproof or suitable for immersion. Operators should verify the electrical supply, thermal conditions and environmental limitations of the complete LiDAR and carrier platform installation.

The SOUTH SG130 is supported by SOUTH AcuteLas Studio software for processing aerial and ground-based LiDAR data. The software provides workflows for positioning and orientation processing, combining multiple survey datasets, flight strip management, point cloud optimization, point cloud classification and orthophoto generation. AcuteLas Studio can also process multiple datasets in batches, making it suitable for projects involving several flights or survey sessions.

The SOUTH SG130 collects laser measurements and positioning information that can be processed into georeferenced 3D point clouds. Depending on the survey configuration and processing workflow, these datasets can be used to produce classified point clouds, ground point datasets, digital terrain models (DTMs), digital surface models (DSMs), elevation maps and terrain profiles. With a compatible RGB camera, colorized point clouds and orthophotos can also be generated. These outputs are suitable for GIS, surveying, engineering and infrastructure applications.

The SOUTH SG130 can record up to 12 laser returns from an emitted pulse when multiple reflective surfaces are encountered. A laser pulse travelling through vegetation, for example, may generate returns from the upper canopy, branches, lower vegetation and exposed ground. Multiple-return measurements can improve the amount of vertical information collected in complex environments and help with ground point extraction. The number of valid returns depends on the surfaces encountered and the conditions during scanning.

The SOUTH SG130 manufacturer specifies typical flight heights of approximately 120 meters at 600 kHz, 200 meters at 400 kHz and 250 meters at 300 kHz. These reference configurations balance laser pulse repetition rate, measurement range and survey coverage. The appropriate altitude for an actual project depends on point density requirements, terrain, vegetation, required accuracy, aircraft capability and local aviation restrictions. Maximum laser measuring range should not be interpreted as a recommended flight altitude.

Yes. SOUTH AcuteLas Studio supports importing and processing multiple LiDAR datasets within a single workflow. Its functions include processing positioning and orientation data from several flights, managing flight strips and combining point clouds from different survey sessions. This is particularly useful for large-area mapping projects where several flights or vehicle-based surveys are needed to cover the entire site. Consistent coordinate systems and suitable quality control are important when combining datasets.

Yes. SOUTH AcuteLas Studio provides point cloud classification, ground point extraction and orthophoto generation capabilities for compatible SG130 survey data. LiDAR measurements can be classified into terrain and other object categories, while imagery from a compatible RGB camera can be processed into orthophotos. These datasets support topographic mapping, vegetation analysis, construction documentation, GIS applications and engineering design.

The SOUTH SG130 includes 256 GB of onboard flash storage for recording LiDAR measurements and associated survey data. Actual storage requirements depend on scan duration, measurement frequency, recorded returns, camera acquisition settings and the number of survey sessions. Operators should check the available storage capacity before beginning a project and regularly transfer and back up survey data to maintain a reliable processing workflow.