RIEGL is an international leading provider of cutting-edge technology in airborne, mobile, terrestrial, industrial, bathymetric, and UAV-based laser scanning for applications in surveying.

Since 1978 RIEGL has been producing commercial LiDAR systems and focuses on pulsed time-of-flight laser radar technology in multiple wavelengths. RIEGL’s core “smart waveform” technologies provide pure digital LiDAR signal processing, unique methodologies for resolving range ambiguities, multiple targets per laser shots, optimum distribution of measurements, calibrated amplitudes and reflectance estimates, as well as the seamless integration and calibration of systems. RIEGL’s various 3D scanners and systems offer a wide array of performance characteristics and serve as a platform for continuing “Innovation in 3D®” for the laser scanning industry.

RIEGL maintains an outstanding history of reliability and support to their customers. The headquarters are located in Horn, Austria, where research & development and production are housed. Worldwide sales, training, support, and services are delivered from RIEGL's Austrian headquarters and its offices in Vienna, Salzburg, and Styria; the USA headquarters in Winter Garden, Florida and its office in Los Angeles; main offices in Japan, in China, in Hong Kong, in Australia, in Canada, in UK, in Germany and in Chile; and by a worldwide network of representatives covering Europe, North and South America, Asia, Australia, and Africa.

RIEGL is known as one of the leading suppliers in the field of airborne surveying and offers a broad portfolio of LiDAR engines and systems for airborne laser scanning. Thus, the users can choose the scanner or system exactly right for the application and requirements of their business and fully benefit from RIEGL’s proven technology.

RIEGL UAV LiDAR Sensors

The ongoing trend in the UAS industry demands for performance-matched and survey-grade laser scanners for integration with both: compact multi-rotor and high-speed VTOL or fixed-wing UAV platforms.

RIEGL’s typical accuracy/precision and the multi target capability, in combination with exceptional measurement ranges, wide field of views, extremely high laser pulse repetition rates, and fastest line speeds are the basis for the users’ success. These key attributes allow UAS flights at maximum possible operating altitudes resulting in highest possible area coverage. Both, time in the field and net-flight time are reduced significantly resulting in lower overall costs and increasing the safety in UAS applications. At the same time even more accurate point cloud data almost without gaps can be acquired. This, in turn, increases the flexibility and, most importantly, the efficiency of the platform used for the project.

With the new VUX-100-25, RIEGL now offers a lightweight and versatile airborne laser scanner with a large field of view of 160 degrees and a high pulse repetition rate of up to 1,500 kHz.

Combined with a measurement rate of up to 1.3 million measurements/sec, a scan speed of up to 200 lines/second, and an operating flight altitude of up to 360 m / 1,200 feet, the sensor provides an extra wide area coverage, which is especially advantageous for applications like mapping of complex terrain and narrow canyons. 

The sophisticated design and the low weight of 2.36 kg / 4.4 lbs allows smooth integration on drones, but also on small crewed planes (like gyrocopters) and on helicopters. 

The scanner is available as stand-alone UAV-LiDAR sensor, but also in various fully-integrated laser scanning system configurations with appropriate IMU/GNSS system and optional cameras. For customer-specific system solutions by professional system integrators, a special OEM-Version of the RIEGL VUX-100-25, which provides customer specific interfaces and less weight, is provided.

For high-speed surveying missions and applications where an optimal line and point distribution is required, RIEGL offers the RIEGL VUX-180-24 UAV LiDAR Sensor. With its wide field of view of 75 degrees and an extremely high pulse repetition rate of up to 2.4 MHz - in combination with an increased scan speed of up to 800 lines per second - the sensor was especially designed for high-speed surveying missions of mapping and monitoring critical infrastructure like power lines, railway tracks, pipelines, and runways. The sensor is available as stand-alone sensor or in various fully integrated laser scanning system configurations with IMU/GNSS system and optional cameras.

RIEGL’s NFB (Nadir/Forward/Backward)-Scanning UAV-Sensors like the VUX-120-23 and VUX-160-23 provide scan data of an unrivaled completeness even on vertical structures and narrow canyons. 

The VUX-160-23, for example, provides up to 2.4 MHz PRR, 400 lines/sec, 10 mm accuracy, 5 mm precision and an extended measurement range of up to 1800 m with only 2.65 kg in weight. It is able to capture up to 32 targets per pulse and thus offers excellent penetration capabilities, e.g., for applications in forestry. This sensor also supports fully integrated IMU/GNSS electronics for convenient system integration and is prepared for the use with up to 5 cameras.

Always committed to provide solutions of highest performance but also for maximum user-friendliness and utmost efficiency, RIEGL has developed the RIEGL IMU/GNSS solutions RiLOC-E and RiLOC-F. RiLOC-E is an ideal entry-level solution for small-scale LiDAR surveying with drones and is available for the RIEGL miniVUX-1UAV and RIEGL miniVUX-3UAV LiDAR sensor and provides an extremely user-friendly workflow for data acquisition and processing. RiLOC-F is available for the VUX-Series UAV LiDAR sensors, the VUX-120-23 and the VUX-100-25, and fully integrates a high-precision Micro-Electromechanical System (MEMS) Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), a GNSS unit, and RIEGL developed software. Post-processing of both the trajectory and scan data is done fully within RIEGL’s RiPROCESS, eliminating the need for any 3rd party software, and resulting in precisely aligned and consistent point clouds. Completely enclosed within the housing, this high-precision and cost-effective solution is especially suited for applications with uncrewed platforms, like multirotor, fixed-wing, or VTOL drones. 

RIEGL Topo-Bathymetric Airborne Laser Scanners

Especially developed for coastline and shallow water mapping and river surveying, RIEGL’s topo-bathymetric airborne laser scanners, the VQ-840-G and the VQ-840-GL, offer up to 2 Secchi depths water penetration. The lightweight VQ-840-GL is especially suited for UAV integration. 

In 2024 the portfolio of RIEGL topo-bathymetric laser scanners has been further enlarged.

The RIEGL VQ-860-G High Performance Topo-Bathymetric Airborne Laser Scanner offers enhanced depth penetration in surveying inland and near shore waters for even more efficiency in bathymetric applications. The compact system offers a large operational envelope with typical flight altitudes from 75 m to 300 m above the water surface, while providing high spatial resolution resulting from measurement rates of up to 100 kHz and a high scanning speed of up to 100 scans/sec. It is ideal for integration into large drones or manned helicopters.

Additionally, the RIEGL VQ-840-GE – with its compact and robust design and further reduced in weight – is especially prepared for integration into UAVs. The sensor can optionally be offered with an integrated and factory-calibrated IMU/GNSS system and an optional camera.

RIEGL Helicopter Pods

In addition to a broad range of airborne laser scanners and laser scanning systems for integration to fixed-wing aircraft, RIEGL offers their Helicopter Pods VP-1, VPX-1, and VQX-2 for smooth integration of airborne laser scanning systems into manned helicopters. The small and lightweight pods can be mounted on standard hard points and typical camera mounts. Quick release adapter brackets and a minimum of external cabling allow quick system installation and removal. They are available for integration of various RIEGL LiDAR sensors, corresponding cameras and high-end IMU/GNSS systems.

For the new RIEGL VQX-2 helicopter pod a "Minor Change Approval" is already available for Airbus Helicopters AS350 series helicopters.