New LiDAR: two surveys of the Macouria solar plant site, with 1.95 and 2.97 cm vertical error

Background

In French Guiana, the challenge of LiDAR is always to see the ground under a forty-metre forest. Before using a new system on client missions, we compared it with our reference points and processing methods. Its first mission met a construction need: in Macouria, Corsica Sole wanted to measure the volumes moved during the earthworks for its photovoltaic plant, with one survey after clearing and a second after topsoil stripping.

What we did

First test dataset on 4 June 2026, quality report in mid-June on three processing methods and on our reference points on the Petit-Saut road and at Matiti. First client survey on 1 September, after clearing: 9 hectares at 100 m height and 8 m/s, 487 points per square metre on average, 46 of them on the ground, and 597 photos at 1.22 cm per pixel taken in parallel. Of sixteen targets measured in RTK, six were used for control; on the ten independent check points, the error is 1.95 cm vertically for LiDAR and 2.4 cm horizontally for the orthophoto. Delivered on 3 September, followed by vectorised power lines in DWG on the 14th. Second survey on 2 October, after topsoil stripping: 8.78 hectares, 517 points per square metre, 2.97 cm vertically for LiDAR and 3.07 cm horizontally for the orthophoto on five check points, deliverables online on 6 October.

3 related missions in the log

1. October 2026

   LiDAR and photogrammetryFrench Guiana

   Second LiDAR and photogrammetric survey of the Macouria solar plant site

   Macouria · Corsica Sole

   On 2 October 2026, after topsoil stripping: 8.78 hectares, 517 points per m², 2.97 cm vertical error for LiDAR and 3.07 cm horizontal error for the orthophoto on five check points; deliverables online on 6 October.

   • 517 points per m²
   • 2,97 cm vertical error
2. September 2026

   LiDAR and photogrammetryFrench Guiana

   First LiDAR and photogrammetric survey of the Macouria solar plant site

   Macouria · Corsica Sole

   On 1 September 2026, after clearing: 9 hectares, sixteen targets including ten check points, 1.95 cm vertical error for LiDAR and 2.40 cm horizontal error for the orthophoto; delivered on 3 September, vectorised power lines in DWG on the 14th.

   • 1,95 cm vertical error
   • 16 targets
3. February 2024

   LiDAR and photogrammetryFrench Guiana

   Orthophotos and terrain models of two planned solar sites

   Montsinéry-Tonnegrande, Roura · Corsica Sole

   Flights from 15 to 20 February 2024; for one site in Montsinéry and one in Roura, orthophoto, terrain model and 1 m contour lines delivered on 20 February.

All missions