Due their extreme accuracy, LiDAR drone surveys are fast becoming recognised the most cost-effective methods for mapping habitats.

LiDAR, Light Detection and Ranging, drones collect terrain data by bouncing hundreds of thousands of lasers per second off the ground and converting them into 3D point clouds.

They are especially suited to topographical and vegetation surveys of sites that are difficult to access such as saltmarsh, seagrass beds, upland heath, raised bog and blanket bog. LIDAR is also great for mapping linear features such as creeks, drainage ditches and watercourses.