Field Data Capture: Turning Real-World Environments into Digital Asset Data

Germany, Sep 7, 2026

In the first part of our series on drone technology, digital infrastructure and new use cases, we showed why a drone can be much more than a flying camera system. The technology itself is only one part of the equation. What matters is how different components work together to create practical solutions for real-world applications.

The next step is capturing relevant data directly in the field.

Before data can be turned into digital models, analyses or intelligent applications, the relevant information first needs to be captured reliably. This is where Field Data Capture comes in – and it is also where our approach at Logicalis begins: rather than looking at technologies in isolation, we combine them into solutions tailored to specific use cases.

Capturing the environment with precision

Whether expanding power grids, deploying fiber-optic networks or working in rail infrastructure, having an accurate understanding of the existing environment is an important foundation for planning, documentation and subsequent maintenance.

Traditional photographic documentation alone is often not enough. What is needed is accurate, structured and as-complete-as-possible data that can subsequently be processed and used digitally.

Field Data Capture therefore combines different data acquisition methods. Depending on the use case, these can include:

drones equipped with cameras and LiDAR sensors,
mobile handheld systems with LiDAR and GNSS,
conventional GNSS-based surveying systems.

These technologies can be combined to create a highly detailed digital representation of the captured environment – from individual objects to larger areas and facilities.

Drone or Handheld? It depends on the Use Case

One of the key strengths of Field Data Capture lies precisely in combining different technologies.

Drones enable large areas to be captured quickly from the air and can also document areas that are difficult or costly to access. With the right sensors, they can capture not only imagery but also precise spatial data.

Handheld systems complement this perspective from the ground. They are particularly well suited to detailed surveys of buildings, facilities or trenches in civil engineering projects, where capturing data at ground level is more practical.

The different datasets can then be used to generate 3D point clouds. These digitally represent the spatial environment and provide a basis for further processing – for example, as part of Scan-to-BIM workflows.

The result is therefore more than a collection of individual images: it is a digital representation of the real-world environment.

Documenting existing infrastructure where it matters

The relevance of this approach becomes particularly clear in infrastructure projects.

When expanding fiber-optic or power networks, existing conditions need to be captured and documented. In rail infrastructure, for example, platforms, track systems and adjacent areas can be digitally surveyed.

These types of use cases were also at the heart of a multi-day field test at the Rescue Campus of FBI GmbH in Amstetten. Under real-world conditions, different data acquisition methods and systems were tested and compared for creating georeferenced 3D point clouds.

Among other scenarios, a platform inspection was simulated to demonstrate how such an approach could be used for infrastructure asset documentation. Different areas of the campus were captured using various systems, allowing the capabilities of the individual technologies to be assessed and compared.

For us at Logicalis, one thing is particularly important: there is no single technology that is the right fit for every scenario. Together with our partners, we therefore look at the specific use case and assess which combination of drone technology, sensors and surveying technologies best meets the requirements.

Above all, the field test demonstrated one key point: the right data acquisition technology always depends on the specific use case.

From individual sensors to an end-to-end process

Field Data Capture therefore does not begin when a drone takes off. Reliable asset documentation requires an end-to-end process – from selecting the right sensors and capturing the data to processing the information collected.

This involves questions such as:

What needs to be captured?

Which objects, areas or infrastructure assets need to be documented?

Which technology is best suited to the task?

Is a camera-based survey sufficient, or are additional LiDAR and GNSS data required?

How can different data sources be combined?

Drones, handheld systems and surveying equipment each provide different perspectives and types of information.

How will the results be used?

A point cloud is initially just a dataset. Its real value emerges when it can be integrated into downstream processes and applications.

It is precisely this connection between data capture, processing and use that turns individual measurements into a reliable digital asset documentation process.

Technology for critical infrastructure

For critical infrastructure in particular, data quality is only part of the equation. The technology itself must also meet the requirements of the environment in which it is deployed.

As part of our joint project with FBI GmbH and Emqopter, we are therefore using, among other technologies, a drone platform developed and manufactured in Germany. Emqopter’s modular approach allows the drone to be adapted to different requirements and use cases.

This opens up opportunities for applications where robust and flexible systems are required – for example, for infrastructure documentation and inspection.

From technology components to solutions

This is where the value of our approach at Logicalis becomes clear: we do not view Field Data Capture as an isolated drone application, but as part of a broader solution process.

From selecting the right sensors and capturing and processing the data to integrating the results into existing IT and infrastructure environments, we consider the individual components as part of a connected solution.

The field test at the Rescue Campus demonstrated just how much requirements can vary depending on the deployment environment. For us, this kind of practical testing is essential for turning individual technologies into solutions that can be applied to real customer requirements.

But the process doesn’t stop there

Creating a 3D point cloud is not the end of the process. On the contrary, it provides the starting point for the next steps.

How can captured data be stored and further processed to make it usable for AI applications? How can it be transformed into digital models and new applications? And what value can the information provide for planning, analysis and other processes?

At the same time, it becomes clear that a solution like this involves more than data capture and processing. Reliable connectivity and the long-term operation of the systems involved also play a critical role.

This highlights an important point: Field Data Capture is about much more than simply collecting data. It is an important building block for creating a digital representation of real-world environments – and, in doing so, laying the foundation for the next steps.

Topic

Telecommunications

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