Photogrammetry vs. LiDAR: What’s the difference?

If you’ve worked with drone mapping — or looked into tools for surveying, inspections, or 3D modelling — you’ve probably come across the terms photogrammetry and LiDAR. Both are used to create detailed maps and models of the physical world, but they work in very different ways.

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Understanding the difference helps you decide which method best suits your project — and when one might outperform the other.

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What is the difference between photogrammetry and LiDAR?

Photogrammetry uses overlapping images to recreate 3D surfaces, while LiDAR uses laser pulses to directly measure distances. Both can produce point clouds, 3D models, and elevation data, but they differ in how the data is captured and what conditions they’re best suited to.

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How photogrammetry works

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Photogrammetry is based on photographs. A drone captures multiple overlapping images of the ground from different angles. Software with processing capability (like Birdi) then identifies shared points across these images and triangulates the camera positions to recreate the shape and layout of the landscape.

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• Input: Standard RGB (or multispectral) drone images
• Output: Orthomosaics, 3D models, point clouds, Digital Surface Models (DSMs) and Digital Terrain Models (DTMs)
• Best for: Visual detail, large areas with open ground, stockpile volumes, site context

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Photogrammetry is widely used in construction, mining, and environmental monitoring — and it’s accessible, since most drones with a good camera can be used. It works well in well-lit conditions with clear ground visibility.

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How LiDAR works

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LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) uses an active laser sensor that rapidly emits pulses of light. These pulses bounce back when they hit a surface, and the time taken is used to calculate precise distances.

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• Input: LiDAR sensor data (usually collected via drone, helicopter, or vehicle)
• Output: High-density point clouds, digital elevation models (DEMs), including both DSMs and DTMs
• Best for: Dense vegetation, steep terrain, fine-scale topography, infrastructure mapping

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LiDAR is particularly helpful in areas with vegetation or complex terrain, where it can capture both the surface and underlying ground in a single flight. That makes it a go-to method for generating accurate bare-earth terrain models under tree cover or scrub.

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Side-by-side comparison

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Which one should you use?

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It depends on your goals, terrain, and available tools.

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• Choose photogrammetry if you want detailed visuals, are working in open areas, and already have access to a camera drone.
• Choose LiDAR if you need to see beneath trees, are mapping complex topography, or need a bare-earth elevation model in challenging conditions.

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Some projects even combine both — using LiDAR for accurate terrain data and photogrammetry for textured surfaces and visual context.

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Where Birdi fits in

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Photogrammetry is supported across all Birdi plans — just upload your drone imagery and the platform can generate orthomosaics, 3D models, contours, DSMs, and DTMs. For advanced users, Birdi’s Ultimate Plan supports LiDAR processing and lets you overlay different data sources for richer insights.

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Working on a project with tricky terrain or dense vegetation? Chat with our team about how we can help.

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