Sounding rocket launch complex: 680 hectares of photogrammetry for a wind study

Background

CNES wanted to simulate low-level wind flow around the sounding rocket launch complex. A simulation of this kind needs a faithful 3D model of the terrain, vegetation and buildings. We knew the area: we had carried out a LiDAR survey there for CNES in 2021 and then, in November 2023, for an engineering firm, a LiDAR and photogrammetry survey of three areas including the former Diamant site, with orthophotos from 3 to 50 cm and 1 m contour lines.

What we did

The flights were flown at 120 m in oblique mode, with one vertical and four 45° inclined views at each position, 80% forward and 70% side overlap, using RTK on the Teria network. Each ground point appears on more than nine images. Processing, from 16 to 21 April on six networked workstations, aligned 99.96% of the 25,928 images. Deliverables: a 667-million-point cloud (51.5 points per m²), a textured mesh of 274 million faces, a 13.9 cm digital elevation model, a 3.48 cm orthophoto, 5 m contour lines and a mission report. Ten weeks passed between scoping and delivery, permits included. The survey images are restricted: none is published here.

2 related missions in the log

1. April 2026

   LiDAR and photogrammetryFrench Guiana

   Photogrammetric survey of 680 hectares around the sounding rocket launch complex

   Guiana Space Centre · CNES

   On 15 and 16 April 2026: 25,928 oblique and vertical images at 120 m, a 667-million-point cloud, a 274-million-face mesh, a 3.48 cm orthophoto and contour lines, for a low-level wind simulation.

   • 680 ha
   • 25 928 images
2. November 2023

   LiDAR and photogrammetryFrench Guiana

   LiDAR and photogrammetry survey of three areas, including the former Diamant site

   Guiana Space Centre · Engineering firm

   Orthophotos from 3 to 50 cm resolution, 1 m contour lines (terrain and surface) and point clouds delivered in DWG.

All missions