Description
The DJI Zenmuse L3 is DJI’s most advanced aerial LiDAR payload to date, combining a 1535nm long-range LiDAR module, dual 100MP RGB mapping cameras, a highly accurate position and orientation system (POS), and a 3-axis gimbal—all within a compact, fully integrated sensor package.
Purpose-built for demanding geospatial and engineering survey missions, the Zenmuse L3 captures dense, high-accuracy point clouds while simultaneously acquiring photogrammetry-grade imagery over large areas in a single flight.
L3 features a maximum detection range of 950 meters, supports up to 16 returns per pulse, and offers multiple scanning modes including Linear, Star-Shaped, and Non-Repetitive patterns to meet a wide range of mission types. Paired with the DJI Matrice 400 platform, Zenmuse L3 can collect up to 100 km² of data per day, transforming long-duration survey projects into efficient, single-day operations.
Zenmuse L3 integrates a 1535nm long-range LiDAR sensor, dual 100MP RGB mapping cameras, a high-precision position and orientation system (POS), and a 3-axis gimbal into a single compact payload. This streamlined design delivers exceptional accuracy, range, and efficiency, enabling faster data collection and reduced system complexity in the field.
Zenmuse L3 delivers a detection range of up to 950 meters at 100 kHz pulse rate, even on surfaces with just 10% reflectivity under 100 klx lighting. With adjustable pulse frequencies, it provides flexibility in power output to suit different mission types. Typical flight altitudes between 300 and 500 meters expand single-flight coverage and increase mapping throughput.
The system uses a laser beam with a divergence of only 0.25 mrad (1/e²), producing a spot size approximately one-fifth that of the Zenmuse L2 at equivalent range. This enables reliable detection of small features like cables and thin branches. The higher energy density enhances vegetation penetration, improving ground point density and structure detail in complex terrain.
Zenmuse L3 supports pulse rates up to 2 million pulses per second and captures up to 16 returns from each pulse. This level of return flexibility allows operators to tune data density and penetration depth for applications ranging from fine-detail terrain modeling to dense forest canopy analysis.
Operators can choose from three scanning patterns tailored to specific use cases:
- Linear: Delivers consistent point cloud distribution, ideal for precise elevation and topographic models.
- Star-Shaped: Offers varied scan angles to balance density and penetration—suited for forests and urban zones.
- Non-Repetitive: Maximizes coverage and structure detail in corridor inspections, such as power lines and towers.
Zenmuse L3 features two 100MP RGB cameras, each equipped with a 4/3 CMOS sensor and mechanical shutter. The system supports pixel binning for a 25MP effective resolution, allowing for improved light sensitivity and enhanced color accuracy even in low-light conditions. This dual-camera design captures high-resolution imagery suitable for photogrammetry and colorizing point clouds in a single flight.
With a combined horizontal field of view of 107°, the dual RGB cameras cover a wide area per capture. Even with a LiDAR side overlap of just 20%, operators can collect RGB data for both digital orthophoto maps (DOM) and digital elevation models (DEM) simultaneously, increasing coverage and reducing the number of required flights.
Zenmuse L3 improves both point cloud and photogrammetric accuracy while enabling faster workflows. Paired with the DJI Matrice 400, a single flight can cover up to 10 km², supporting high-precision mapping over as much as 100 km² per day. This level of efficiency allows teams to complete large-area survey projects with fewer flights and faster turnaround times.
Zenmuse L3 features an advanced high-precision POS system that delivers post-processed heading accuracy of 0.02° and pitch accuracy of 0.01° (1σ). Its self-developed LiDAR system achieves a ranging repeatability of 5 mm at 150 meters and supports microsecond-level time synchronization. Each unit is calibrated at the factory to ensure consistent, survey-grade results across different environments and mission profiles.
Vertical accuracy is better than 3 cm at 120 meters, better than 5 cm at 300 meters, and better than 10 cm at 500 meters. This enables support for mapping projects at 1:500, 1:1000, and 1:2000 scales. Compared to previous-generation systems, the L3 produces thinner point clouds, making it better suited for applications requiring precise elevation models or surface reconstruction.
The dual 100MP RGB mapping cameras maintain a ground sample distance (GSD) of just 3 cm even at 300 meters altitude. Real-time synchronization between the LiDAR and RGB data enables precise mapping without the need for ground control points (GCPs), supporting both rapid deployment and high-resolution deliverables.
With a smaller laser spot size and higher single-pulse energy, Zenmuse L3 delivers superior vegetation penetration. This allows the system to capture more complete ground returns, even beneath dense canopy, increasing the accuracy of digital elevation models and improving the quality of surface reconstruction in terrain mapping applications.
Mounted on the DJI Matrice 400, Zenmuse L3 enables coverage of up to 10 km² in a single flight. This translates to as much as 100 km² of high-resolution mapping per day, making it well-suited for large-area survey projects where both speed and data quality are critical.
Zenmuse L3 captures both LiDAR and RGB data simultaneously, allowing operators to generate multiple deliverables—such as digital elevation models (DEM), digital orthophoto maps (DOM), and more—from a single flight. This integrated workflow reduces time in the field and simplifies data processing.
Zenmuse L3 is fully integrated into DJI’s enterprise ecosystem, delivering a unified mapping solution from data capture to final output. Its seamless compatibility with DJI platforms—including the Matrice 400, DJI Pilot 2, DJI Terra, and FlightHub 2—simplifies mission planning, flight operations, and post-processing, reducing the complexity typically associated with multi-platform workflows.
This streamlined approach enables teams to complete large-scale mapping tasks more efficiently, with less setup time and fewer handoffs between systems.
Before takeoff, DJI Pilot 2 automatically generates recommended flight parameters based on the planned route. It also displays a Density Profile Chart and point cloud distribution chart, allowing users to preview expected data coverage and quality in advance.
Zenmuse L3 enhances the Power Line Follow feature, enabling operations at altitudes up to 130 meters. In most cases, operators can fly a single straight path without detours or obstacle avoidance while capturing complete corridor data for electrical infrastructure.
DJI Pilot 2 supports split-screen viewing of any two data feeds—including point cloud, RGB, or Vision Assist—allowing users to configure displays to fit mission needs. During power line inspections or nadir-facing RGB capture, Vision Assist provides real-time forward-facing visuals to reduce flight risk and improve situational awareness.
Zenmuse L3 supports real-time SLAM-based point cloud reconstruction with live 2D and 3D previews during flight. Operators can monitor data collection, assess coverage in real time, and take in-field measurements. Collected point cloud data can also be synced directly to the cloud through DJI FlightHub 2 for rapid analysis and emergency response.
Point cloud outputs from Zenmuse L3 are fully compatible with DJI FlightHub 2. Users can view, annotate, and measure point cloud data in real time, create flight routes, highlight areas of interest, and perform line and area measurements—directly from the cloud platform.
DJI Terra includes built-in support for PPK (Post-Processed Kinematic) workflows, compatible with DJI’s D-RTK 3 base stations and standard GNSS base station data. Both RGB imagery and LiDAR data benefit from centimeter-level positioning accuracy, even in areas with limited network connectivity or where RTK is unavailable during flight.
Using data collected by Zenmuse L3, DJI Terra supports advanced Gaussian Splatting techniques to fuse LiDAR and RGB information into more realistic and detailed 3D models. This improves visual fidelity and extends the value of LiDAR datasets across a wider range of mapping and visualization use cases.
DJI Terra enables full integration of LiDAR and RGB data from a single flight, producing high-accuracy point clouds, 2D maps, and 3D mesh models in one workflow. This fusion approach is especially effective for environments with structural complexity—such as substations, bridges, or urban corridors—meeting the demands of industries including infrastructure, utilities, and transportation.
DJI Modify supports semantic classification of point clouds collected by Zenmuse L3, automatically identifying ground, vegetation, buildings, wires, towers, and more. Users can refine classifications using tools like Quick Selection and Structure Selection, improving the accuracy and efficiency of large-scale data cleanup.
With the Profile tool in DJI Modify, users can select custom cross-sections of point cloud data to analyze elevation changes, structural geometry, and terrain contours. This functionality supports more intuitive interpretation of complex site features.
Zenmuse L3 supports a wide range of deliverables when processed through DJI Modify, including semantic point clouds, digital elevation models (DEM), triangulated irregular networks (TIN), point grids, and contour lines. These outputs are compatible with CAD and GIS workflows and support multi-layer visualization for engineering, planning, and design applications.
Zenmuse L3 supports a fully streamlined workflow—from field deployment to data processing and final output—across DJI's enterprise ecosystem. This integration eliminates the need for third-party platforms or complex file transfers, allowing mapping teams to work faster, more securely, and with greater consistency across diverse mission profiles.
