EAASI at Intergeo 2025: innovation takes flight in Europe’s aerial surveying community

For the European Association of Aerial Surveying Industries (EAASI), the annual pilgrimage to Intergeo – Europe’s most significant geospatial gathering, where cutting-edge technologies meet industry veterans and emerging professionals alike – represents far more than a showcase of capabilities. It embodies the transformation of an industry into a technological powerhouse driving Europe’s digital future. As delegates examine the latest sensor fusion platforms, AI-driven processing systems and miniaturized equipment, they bear witness to an industry that has shattered preconceptions about traditional aerial surveying. The innovations on display – from simultaneous multi-sensor capture to real-time cloud integration – position crewed aerial surveying at the forefront of geospatial innovation.

The past five years have witnessed a remarkable technological renaissance in crewed aerial surveying that has redefined the industry’s capabilities and market position. Multi-sensor fusion now allows crews to simultaneously deploy advanced Lidar, high-resolution optical, multispectral and thermal cameras on single flights, creating unprecedented data richness for applications ranging from digital twins to urban heat mapping and infrastructure inspection. Artificial intelligence has revolutionized data processing, with deep learning algorithms automatically extracting features, quantifying change and classifying objects at scale. This automation dramatically accelerates workflows from flight to deliverable while reducing reliance on manual review – transforming what was once a labour-intensive process into streamlined, efficient operations.

Sensor miniaturization represents another breakthrough, with lightweight, high-performance equipment enabling longer missions and greater mounting flexibility. Modular multi-sensor pods can now be swapped faster, maximizing aircraft performance while delivering mapping-grade quality that supports centimetre-level precision across large-scale surveys. These advances culminate in the industry’s growing role in digital twin development, where high-precision, repeatable data from crewed platforms provides the foundation for detailed, dynamic 3D models of cities and infrastructure. The consistent high-resolution coverage of vast areas, combined with unmatched capacity for simultaneous multi-sensor capture, positions crewed aerial surveying as indispensable for digital transformation initiatives across Europe.

Technological revolution in the skies

This technological revolution has been paralleled by remarkable organizational development through EAASI, which has unified what was historically a fragmented landscape. Founded in 2019 by seven founding member companies (OPEGIEKA, COWI, Bluesky International, CGR SPA, Vermessung AVT, Eurosense and GeoFly) following a crucial industry gathering in Denmark, EAASI elected Simon Musäus as its inaugural president to lead the newly established association. Under the current president, Florian Romanowski, who assumed leadership in June 2023, the association has grown significantly: from 48 member companies in 2023 to 56 by 2024, representing over 20 countries with more than 80 aircraft and accounting for approximately 80% of European survey capacity.

EAASI has evolved from an advocacy organization to a strategic industry platform, focusing on economic stability and consolidation of communication activities. The association established four Industry Challenges Committees as proactive working groups where industry professionals collaborate to discuss and address their own challenges and opportunities. These committees tackle university engagement, technical standards, air traffic control and new business models. Meanwhile, EAASI has formalized partnerships with international organizations like the Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS) to bridge transatlantic expertise.

Addressing industry challenges through collaborative action

Among these proactive working groups, EAASI’s University and Students Engagement Committee has emerged as a response to one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: the chronic deficit of skilled professionals affecting both the broader geospatial sector and the highly specialized aerial surveying industry. This committee exemplifies how industry professionals are taking direct action to secure their sector’s future by cultivating the multidisciplinary talent essential for continued innovation. The committee’s ‘Spatial Business Bridge’ Outstanding Thesis Award, which has received 17 applications for its second edition, challenges students to demonstrate how aerial survey technology creates business value – an essential skill as the industry focuses on smart city applications and data-driven decision-making.

The Young Ambassador Programme empowers early-career professionals from member companies to serve as industry advocates, showcasing diverse career paths in aerial surveying through their experiences. Complementing this youth-focused initiative, the newly launched Mentoring Programme connects aspiring professionals with experienced industry leaders, providing seasoned professionals with opportunities to share their expertise while guiding the next generation. These initiatives complement EAASI’s enhanced presence at universities and job fairs across Europe, creating direct pathways between academic institutions and industry opportunities.

Student Tour at Intergeo

Recognizing that many students attend Intergeo as part of their academic programmes, EAASI identified an excellent opportunity to demonstrate directly how aerial surveying technology works in practice. Building on last year’s successful debut, this year’s Student Tour promises an immersive, hands-on experience. Scheduled for Wednesday, 8 October at 10:30h, the tour will be led by Patrik Meixner, chair of the EAASI Students Committee, alongside Secretary-General Marcos Martínez-Fernández.

Rather than theoretical presentations, the tour offers practical demonstrations of sensors, processing workflows and real-world applications. Students can register online to experience cutting-edge aerial surveying technologies first-hand through direct interactions with industry professionals and live equipment demonstrations that showcase the sophistication and innovation driving modern aerial surveying operations.

Building networks, strengthening bonds

The technical tours and educational initiatives set the stage for EAASI’s signature Intergeo tradition: the annual networking session, which is scheduled for Wednesday, 8 October at 15:30h. This informal gathering across the Geofly and OPEGIEKA booths brings together members, partners and industry peers, creating momentum for the association’s flagship Partner Summit in Dubrovnik from 18-21 November.

This year’s Intergeo showcases the breadth of EAASI’s membership through an impressive array of participating companies across the entire aerial surveying value chain. Aerial survey operators, including BSF Swissphoto, Geofly, MILAN Geoservice, OPEGIEKA, Woolpert and Bluesky, demonstrate the operational capabilities that deliver high-precision geodata across Europe. Sensor manufacturers – Hexagon, Phase One, Vexcel, IGI, ITRES, RIEGL, SOMAG and Teledyne – showcase the cutting-edge hardware innovations driving technological advancement. The ecosystem extends to specialized service providers. Diamond Aircraft represents aircraft manufacturing, while software and data processing companies – including Esri, Flai, Pointly, Xeos and Sim Active – illustrate the digital infrastructure supporting modern workflows. Aerial services operator Zeusch and data processing specialist Dielmo 3D complete this comprehensive representation of Europe’s aerial surveying capabilities.

As Intergeo 2025 unfolds, these organizations collectively demonstrate that European aerial surveying has evolved far beyond its traditional image. The innovations on display and the collaborative spirit fostered through EAASI’s initiatives position the industry not as practitioners of outdated methods, but as pioneers of precision geospatial technology essential for Europe’s digital transformation.