Buyer's Guide
Quiz + overview of technologies.
OpenExplore
Topics & Glossary
Jump to a guide or scan definitions of common terms. Every page is written for clarity—start with the buyer’s guide if you are new to hardware choices.
Guides
All topic pages
Equipment catalog
All products with approximate price ranges.
OpenPhotogrammetry
SfM, orthos, drone mapping.
OpenLiDAR
TLS, drone, mobile, SLAM.
OpenPPK vs RTK
Corrections compared.
OpenGNSS / RTK
Rovers, bases, antennas.
OpenTotal stations
Optical layout & prisms.
OpenDrones
Platforms & payloads.
OpenMobile mapping & SLAM
Vehicles & GPS-denied.
OpenPoint cloud processing
Classify, DTM, deliver.
OpenAI & ML
Automation in geospatial.
OpenSurveying accuracy
Error, tolerances, QA.
OpenUS licensing overview
Professional surveyor path.
OpenSensors, trucks, computers
Hardware categories.
Sensors · Trucks · ComputersFinancing & start a firm
Business topics.
Financing · Start a firmDefinitions
Quick terms
- DTM / DSM
- Digital terrain model (bare earth) vs digital surface model (includes tops of objects).
- GSD
- Ground sample distance—pixel size on the ground for imagery or orthos.
- RMSE
- Root mean square error; common statistic for checking control accuracy.
- Multipath
- GNSS signal reflections that degrade position—common near buildings and metal.
- PPK / RTK
- Post-processed vs real-time kinematic corrections—see PPK vs RTK.
- Point cloud
- Large set of XYZ points with optional attributes—from LiDAR or dense matching.