RIEGL has published an insightful article showcasing how Alto Drones, a leader in UAV-based laser scanning and photogrammetry, has leveraged the RIEGL miniVUX LiDAR sensor to expand their business and explore diverse applications.
Based in South Tyrol, Alto Drones has established itself as a key player in various sectors, including terrain mapping, ski resort assessments, geological studies, infrastructure analysis, snow and ice measurement, archaeological research, and agricultural applications across Italy, Austria, and Switzerland. According to thomas Fontana,the CEO of Alto Drones,this success is largely due to their adoption of the RIEGL miniVUX LiDAR sensor.
Origins of Alto Drones
Fontana pursued a degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Innsbruck, where he discovered his passion for surveying. He explains, “Surveying is a field devoid of subjective opinions, unlike the frequently enough contentious construction industry, which I found increasingly unappealing.” From 2002 onward, he gained experience in surveying firms during his studies, focusing on relevant electives.
upon graduation, Fontana entered the demanding construction sector, quickly realizing it was not the right fit for him. Steadfast to take control of his career, he co-founded Alto Drones with his cousin in the summer of 2014, initially importing high-quality drones from Germany to Italy. It wasn’t long before he recognized the vast potential of drone-based photogrammetry,dedicating important time to refining workflows and testing methodologies.
Despite initial challenges and the departure of his partner, Fontana persevered, transforming Alto drones into a dedicated service provider for photogrammetric surveys. “I was convinced that I could eventually turn my passion into a sustainable business,” he reflects. By 2016, he realized that photogrammetry alone could not meet all client needs, prompting him to explore alternative technologies. “That’s when I discovered the RIEGL miniVUX-1UAV LiDAR sensor. After an introduction to the RiCOPTER and RIEGL sensors on October 25, 2016, I was captivated by the possibilities of laser scanning. When I received the quote for the miniVUX-1UAV, I was taken aback by the cost, which exceeded my annual revenue. Nevertheless, I made the leap, and it proved to be a pivotal decision,” he recalls.
Alto Drones opted for the RIEGL miniVUX-SYS,which includes a fully integrated INS/GNSS system,and awaited the launch of the new APX-20 IMU from Applanix. The delivery of the miniVUX-1UAV system took place in April 2018, and Fontana has never regretted this choice. the RIEGL miniVUX-SYS is celebrated for its exceptional capabilities,especially its ability to penetrate dense vegetation and achieve centimeter-level accuracy without the need for control points. This allows for complete survey data collection across entire mountain slopes without physical access. Additionally, the system’s 905 nm wavelength enables effective measurement of featureless surfaces like snow and ice, making it ideal for surveying glaciers and documenting avalanche conditions.
Surveying the cable car route in the Schnals Valley for Alpin Arena
The integration of the RIEGL scanner in April 2018 was seamless, and after just a few test projects, Alto drones was able to launch its first commercial endeavors in Northern Italy, generating revenue with the miniVUX-1UAV. Fontana recalls, “Initially, mastering the powerful RiPROCESS evaluation software was challenging, particularly because I believed that point-free operation was feasible. It took some time,but after extensive dialogue with the incredibly supportive staff,we succeeded in achieving our goals.”
Transformative Results
In its first year of utilizing the scanner, Alto Drones saw its revenue double, primarily due to enhanced efficiency, superior data quality, and reduced fieldwork time. A photogrammetric UAV project covering 100 hectares (approximately 250 acres) typically required 80-100 control points and at least a day of surveying. In contrast, UAV-based laser scanning allowed for the same work to be completed in half the time.Fontana states, “Data processing is also substantially faster, enabling us to manage nearly three times as many projects or cover three times the area in the same timeframe, all with improved quality. It may sound astonishing,but it’s true.”
Between April and December 2018, the company successfully completed 50 projects using the miniVUX, averaging 70 hectares (around 170 acres) each. “This is where the sensor truly excels, offering unmatched cost-effectiveness for areas ranging from 10 to 300 hectares,” Fontana summarizes.
In 2020, Alto Drones expanded its capabilities by investing in a RIEGL miniVUX-2UAV, which offers enhanced performance.This model features a laser pulse repetition rate (PRR) of 100 kHz and 200 kHz,allowing for up to 200,000 measurements per second,resulting in a dense point cloud ideal for capturing small objects. By the end of April 2021, Alto Drones plans to utilize the new RIEGL miniVUX-3UAV, which can achieve up to 300,000 measurements per second with a 120° field of view, further enhancing performance and efficiency.
Reflectance colored point cloud of the Alpin Arena Schnals/Senales cable car route
To date, alto drones has completed 220 projects, ranging from small plots of five acres to archaeological sites exceeding 1,200 acres.While smaller areas could be surveyed on foot, many of the locations were too hazardous or impractical for ground access, leading clients to opt for the miniVUX and UAV data collection.
For extensive areas, airborne laser scanning via helicopters could be an option. However, the necessary point density and environmental considerations often result in Alto Drones being awarded contracts. They frequently receive requests for rapid service, as they provide the quickest and most cost-effective solutions using their vehicles, UAVs, and scanners. “Often, we receive an order in the afternoon, conduct the flight the next day, and deliver a download link with the data by evening, just 24 hours after the order was placed,” Fontana proudly shares, emphasizing that “the RIEGL miniVUX-SYS on a copter stands out for its speed, versatility, and capability to operate under overcast conditions or during brief windows of clear whether.”
A particularly memorable project involved surveying the terrain beneath the cable car for the glacier lift operator in the Schnals Valley. They received the order in November, just before a significant snowfall was forecasted. The site, situated between 2,000 and 3,250 meters in elevation with an average slope exceeding 40°, posed additional challenges. Nevertheless, Alto Drones successfully completed the survey with three flights the following day, producing a detailed digital twin of the cable car route.
Efficiency and Cost Benefits
Comparing time and cost savings between photogrammetric and laser scanning projects can be complex due to differing accuracy,point density,and output requirements. “Our UAV surveys in over 80 ski resorts in the Alpine region are the most comparable to our previous photogrammetric projects, as they share similar requirements for snow management systems,” Fontana notes. Currently,Alto Drones surveys an average of 500 acres (200 hectares) per day,and with the new RIEGL miniVUX-3UAV,they anticipate increasing this to nearly 700 acres (280 hectares). However, some ski areas may only allow for 250 acres (100 hectares) per day due to specific conditions. the record for area performance was achieved by surveying an avalanche slope of 741 acres (300 hectares) in a single day. In contrast,in 2015,it took alto Drones three days of flight time to gather photogrammetric data for 500 acres (200 hectares),followed by one to two weeks for data processing. Now, they can deliver the same accuracy for that area in less than a day.
By the end of 2018, Fontana faced a decision: continue as a solo operator or expand Alto Drones into a larger enterprise. A freind expressed interest in joining the UAV sector, leading to the hiring of his first employee in mid-2019. Thanks to a robust order flow and increasing demand, Alto Drones added a second employee in 2020, and by the end of summer 2021, a young geodesist joined the team.
“We currently operate with a RIEGL miniVUX-2UAV mounted on a DJI M600 Pro and a RIEGL miniVUX-3UAV on a Soleon LasCO. This setup allows us to remain flexible and complete projects promptly, even amidst high demand. we are also considering acquiring a third scanner,” Fontana expresses with satisfaction.
He commends RIEGL, stating, “What I value about RIEGL is the exceptional quality of their products, combined with a personal touch that feels more like a small-town shop than a leading manufacturer in laser-based surveying. The friendliness, professionalism, and swift resolution of support requests, along with the ability to acknowledge mistakes, are unparalleled in this industry. RIEGL is simply incomparable, not just in terms of product quality and innovation, but also in their employee relations and company beliefs.”
