Leica introduces new compact airborne aerial mapping system

Leica MultiMapper is a new compact hybrid airborne system from Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon. Combining imaging and LiDAR in one easy-to-deploy solution, it is designed to fit all helicopter sizes and light fixed-wing aircraft.

The company claims that the system delivers efficient, high-performance data capture across multiple mapping applications. Weighing less than 25 kilogrammes, the MultiMapper is easy to handle, transport, and install. It enables pilot-only operations and reduces operational complexity. Its lightweight design supports rapid mobilisation, allowing deployment, flight, and demobilisation within a single day.

This flexibility lets organisations respond quickly to diverse mission requirements, including operations in hard-to-reach areas and challenging environments.

Built on Leica Geosystems’ long-standing expertise in airborne hybrid data collection, MultiMapper integrates a multi-view nadir and oblique camera with a high-density LiDAR in one single platform. This configuration enables the simultaneous collection of imagery and LiDAR data, seamlessly supporting applications ranging from city modelling and corridor mapping to infrastructure inspection, and post-event assessment.

The MultiMapper is fully supported by Leica Geosystems’ streamlined workflow suite. The new Leica AirPro FIELD app provides a tablet-based interface that allows the operator to control sensors in-flight, manage mission settings, and review flight parameters on the go, ensuring confidence in the data and efficiency throughout the mission.

Werner Kirchhofer, vice president of product development at Leica Geosystems, Scanning & Mapping Division, said: “Leica MultiMapper builds on a decade of leadership in hybrid imaging and LiDAR technology, re-engineered into a compact, highly portable format.

“More than a new system, MultiMapper marks a shift in how airborne mapping can be deployed and scaled.

“By enabling faster, more agile execution across diverse mission profiles, it opens the door for new users while empowering existing customers to expand their capabilities and service portfolios.”