In the dynamic world of aerial technology, few breakthroughs have generated as much buzz as Drone Aerial LiDAR Systems. These state-of-the-art systems have shaped a new way of work across various sectors, from geospatial surveying and topography to environmental monitoring and infrastructure management. Their precision and operational efficiency have been a driving force for change. In this blog post, we identify the technological progression from the DJI Zenmuse L2 to its predecessor, the DJI Zenmuse L1 with an in-depth technological comparison:
Function | L2 | L1 |
Efficiency comparison | L2 can cover an area of up to 2.5 square kilometers in a single mission at a relative altitude of 150 meters and a flight speed of 15 m/s. (the relative altitude of the mission is 150m and the flight speed is 15 m/s) | L1, Operating at a 100-meter relative altitude and a flight speed of 13 m/s, can cover an area of up to 2 square kilometers. (the relative altitude of the mission is 100m and the flight speed is 13 m/s) |
Echo | Supports 5 returns | Supports 3 returns |
Point cloud data rate | Single return: Maximum 240,000 points/second Multiple return: Maximum 1,200,000 points/second | Single return: maximum 240,000 points/second Multiple return: Maximum 480,000 points/second |
Spot size | L2 laser spot size is 4 x 12 cm @ 100 meters, only 1/5 of L1 | |
Ground Point Cloud Penetration | Under similar environmental and flight conditions, L2 offers a ground point density that is more than three times greater than that of L1. | |
Results accuracy | Vertical accuracy: 4cm Horizontal accuracy: 5 cm (the relative altitude of the mission is 150 m and the flight speed is 15 m/s) | Vertical accuracy 5 cm Horizontal accuracy 10 cm (The relative altitude of the mission is 50m and the flight speed is 10 m/s) |
Point cloud thickness | Under the same environment and flight parameters, the thickness of L2 point cloud is 1/3 of L1 | |
Key Takeaways:
Under the same accuracy conditions (1:500 resolution): L2 operates at a typical height of 150 meters and covers an area of 2.5 square kilometers per sortie. L1 operates at a height of 50 meters, covering an area of 0.5 square kilometers per sortie.
This results in a five-fold increase in single mission efficiency for L2.
Compared with L1, L2's penetration is greatly improved.
When operating at the same altitude of 150 meters, L2 provides satisfactory accuracy with an elevation accuracy of 4 cm and horizontal accuracy of 5 cm, while L1's accuracy exceeds 20 cm. This means that L2 offers a four-fold improvement in result accuracy compared to L1.
L2 showcases significantly enhanced efficiency, with the ability to cover a larger area per mission, achieving a five-fold increase in single mission efficiency when operating under the same accuracy conditions. Its improved echo capabilities, featuring support for five returns, lead to more comprehensive point cloud data rates. The L2's smaller laser spot size and ground point cloud penetration superiority further differentiate it from L1, providing remarkable accuracy improvements. These enhancements translate to a four-fold improvement in result accuracy, making L2 a notable advancement in the field of aerial LiDAR technology.
Software | Function | L2 | L1 |
Pilot | Split screen display | Supports three real-time display modes: visible light, point cloud, point cloud/visible light split screen | Supports three real-time display modes: visible light, point cloud, point cloud/visible light split screen |
Pilot | Point cloud mapping playback | Support | No Support |
Pilot | Multi-flight point cloud 3D model stitching | Support | No Support |
Pilot | 2D map point cloud | Support | No Support |
Pilot | Field quality report | Support | No Support |
DJI Terra | Point cloud generation with one click | Support | No Support |
DJI Terra | Ground point classification | Free Support | Suppport |
DJI Terra | DEM one-click generation | Free Support | Suppport |
DJI Terra | Point cloud profile analysis | Free Support | Suppport |
DJI Terra | Point cloud quality analysis report | Free Support | Suppport |
Key Takeaways:
L2 supports quick acquisition and viewing of point cloud quality and thinning model results through the remote control in the field;
Keep abreast of data collection status. Improve overall operational efficiency
Field quality report;
After L2 collects data, it can be post-processed for free through DJI Terra;
L1 advanced functions are only supported by the surveying and mapping edition, electric power edition, and cluster edition.
The advantages the L2 offers not only extend to its data collection capabilities but also to the post-processing and analysis functionalities. L2 stands out with its split-screen display options, making real-time data analysis more versatile. It also supports advanced features like multi-flight point cloud 3D model stitching, 2D map point cloud generation, and field quality reporting, which are not available with L1. The seamless integration with DJI Terra for post-processing, as well as the provision of various free support features such as ground point classification, DEM one-click generation, and point cloud quality analysis, set L2 apart as a robust and comprehensive solution.
Function | L2 | L1 |
Measure distance | 250 meters (reflectivity 10%, 100 klx) 450 meters (reflectivity 50%, 0 klx) | 190 meters (reflectivity 10%, 100 klx) 450 meters (reflectivity 80%, 0 klx) |
Laser ranging | Supported, up to 450m | No Support |
FOV | Repetitive scan: 70°x3°; Non-repetitive scan: 70°x75° | Repetitive scan: 70.4°x4.5°; Non-repetitive scan: 70.4°x77.2° |
IMU warm-up | No need to warm up before takeoff | Warm up for 5-10 minutes before takeoff |
Inertial navigation calibration | Manual route: 200s; Automatic route: 100s | Manual route: 120s; Automatic route: 100s |
Yaw accuracy | Real-time 0.2°, post-processing 0.025° | Real-time 0.3°, post-processing 0.15° |
Pitch and roll accuracy | Real-time 0.05°, post-processing 0.025° | Real-time 0.05°, post-processing 0.025° |
Visible light camera sensor size | 4/3 inches | 1 inch |
Visible light camera effective pixels | 20M | 20M |
Mechanical shutter life | 200,000 times | 50,000 times |
Visible light camera photo interval | 0.7 seconds minimum | 2 seconds minimum |
Various route types | Support | Support |
Point cloud real-time preview | Support, point cloud rendering optimization | Support |
Key Takeaways:
Compared with L1, the measuring range of L2 is increased by 30%:
The typical operating altitude can reach 150m, the detection range is longer, and the flight is safer.
Inertial navigation does not require preheating, which increases the effective time of the operation;
The accuracy of inertial navigation has been improved, the manual route inertial navigation calibration interval has been increased by 67%, and the effective operation time has been increased.
The life of the mechanical shutter is increased by 4 times;
The shortest photo interval supports 0.7 seconds, and only performing orthophoto operations can greatly improve efficiency;
Point cloud real-time preview has a better look and feel.