DJI Zenmuse L1 Aerial LiDAR Payload

The DJI Zenmuse L1 brought aerial LiDAR mapping to the DJI ecosystem when it launched in 2021. Its LiDAR module captures 240,000 points per second on a single return (480,000 with multiple returns), reaches 450 m at 80% reflectivity in darkness (190 m at 10% reflectivity in 100 klx sunlight), and publishes 10 cm horizontal / 5 cm vertical system accuracy at 50 m. That made airborne laser scanning accessible to survey teams already operating the DJI Matrice 300 RTK.

The integrated 20MP 1-inch RGB camera enabled simultaneous photogrammetry capture alongside LiDAR data, producing colorized point clouds in a single flight. The non-repetitive scanning pattern provided good coverage for terrain mapping, vegetation analysis, and corridor surveys.

The Zenmuse L3 has substantially advanced DJI's aerial LiDAR capabilities: a 1535 nm laser emitting up to 2 million pulses per second, a 900 m default detection range (950 m @ 10% reflectivity with DJI enablement), up to 16 returns at the 100 kHz and 350 kHz rates, and 3 cm vertical / 4 cm horizontal RMSE at 120 m. For projects requiring dense, consistent point clouds—particularly in forestry, power line surveys, and topographic mapping—the L3 delivers substantially better results per flight. Note that DJI lists the Matrice 400 as the L3's only supported aircraft.

For new LiDAR surveying projects, we deploy the Zenmuse L3 for its longer range, extra returns and tighter published accuracy. Contact us to discuss your LiDAR mapping requirements—our team can recommend the optimal payload for your terrain and vegetation conditions.