5. Unmanned Systems

The use of unmanned systems is becoming increasingly important in national surveying. However, to date this does not yet represent standard practice, but is primarily limited to project-based applications. The scope and frequency of UAV deployment, as well as the degree of personnel involvement, vary significantly between the individual federal states. No clear correlation can be identified between the size of a federal state and the intensity of UAV usage. In some federal states, the surveying authorities currently do not yet operate their own UAV systems. At present, no state is considering a nationwide deployment of UAV systems. What all state authorities have in common, however, is that the UAV systems in use are predominantly equipped with optical cameras and are often employed for training purposes.

Autonomous Docking Stations and Propulsion Technologies

On the product side, a variety of autonomous docking stations were presented at this year’s trade fair, automating take-off, landing, battery charging, and data offloading. These systems are already being actively integrated into operational workflows, for example in inspection, security, and emergency management applications.

With regard to carrier platforms, electrically powered propulsion systems appear to have become the dominant choice for UAVs. Alternative technologies, such as internal combustion engines or hydrogen fuel cells, which were frequently showcased in previous years, were scarcely represented this year.

Outlook and Guideline

In this context, we would also like to draw attention to the guideline “UAS and GIS” published by Runder Tisch GIS e.V., which is currently being developed in cooperation with DVW and DGPF and is scheduled for release in spring 2026.