In the December issue of Point of Beginning, Aerotas co-founders Logan Campbell and Daniel Katz explore a key issue faced by the land survey community: how to keep up with rapidly growing demand despite a shrinking workforce.
On November 4th, 2025, DJI announced the latest upgrade in their aerial lidar sensors, the Zenmuse L3. But will it be a good sensor for surveyors? And should US surveyors even consider investing in a DJI product given all of the regulatory uncertainties in the world right now? Let’s dive into the details to find out.
Here is the uncomfortable truth: no true peer competitor exists today. Dollar for dollar, DJI remains the best overall platform for most commercial applications. There is no close second. This post explains why, how to think about the current regulatory environment, and what that means for surveyors, civil engineers, or really anyone who cares about safety, turnaround time, and profit.
