Client
Total Energies & APRIL
WHAT WE DID
3D LiDAR topography, photogrammetry, digitalisation
This landmark initiative, led through the joint venture Singa Renewables, has received a conditional licence from Singapore’s Energy Market Authority to export up to 1 GW of renewable electricity to Singapore, directly contributing to ASEAN’s regional energy transition and Singapore’s net-zero objectives.
High-Precision LiDAR and Photogrammetry for Solar Farm Engineering
To support the engineering design and environmental assessment of the solar power infrastructure, MSDI conducted an extensive airborne LiDAR and photogrammetry survey over the project area. The objective was to accurately characterize terrain elevation, surface features, utilities, and existing assets to enable engineering-grade planning for large-scale solar panel installation and associated infrastructure.
The project site, located in Riau Province, Indonesia, spans approximately 12,000 hectares of highly diverse terrain dominated by dense acacia forest. Field operations were carried out by MSDI engineers and UAV pilots, working in close coordination with TotalEnergies supervisors to ensure operational efficiency, data quality, and strict safety compliance.
Advanced UAV LiDAR Acquisition at Scale
Data acquisition leveraged a combination of state-of-the-art LiDAR and UAV platforms, including the Yellowscan Voyager LiDAR sensor, integrated with JOUAV CW-25E VTOL and Quantum Trinity F90+ UAVs. This configuration enabled long-range, high-precision LiDAR and RGB data capture across the full project extent.
Remarkably, 12,000 hectares of LiDAR data were successfully acquired in just four days, primarily using the JOUAV CW-25E platform—demonstrating exceptional operational efficiency for a project of this scale.
Despite the presence of dense and mature acacia forest canopy, which typically limits ground detection, the Yellowscan Voyager’s high-performance capabilities delivered an average ground point density of approximately 200 points per square meter, ensuring reliable terrain modeling beneath vegetation.
Advanced UAV LiDAR Acquisition at Scale
Thanks to high-density LiDAR point-cloud penetration and high-precision measurements, the final dataset successfully resolved fine-scale terrain and hydrological features, including small drainage gutters, watercourses, and irrigation networks—even beneath dense forest canopy.
The survey enabled the production of a comprehensive CAD digitization of assets and land features, providing accurate topographic and geospatial datasets to support:
Solar farm layout optimization
Civil and electrical engineering design
Drainage and flood risk assessment
Future master planning and infrastructure development
In addition, high-resolution photogrammetry supplied a complementary data layer, enhancing surface detail, visual interpretation, and cross-validation of the LiDAR-derived terrain models.
Comprehensive Deliverables for Renewable Energy Planning
The project generated a complete suite of engineering-grade geospatial deliverables, including:
Digital Terrain Models (DTM)
Digital Surface Models (DSM)
High-resolution contour maps
Orthomosaics with centimeter-level accuracy
GIS datasets compliant with the Land Survey Data Model (LSDM) international and European standards
These outputs ensure precision, consistency, and interoperability across engineering, GIS, and design workflows for large-scale renewable energy projects.
Operating in Challenging and High-Risk Environments
The vast and remote project area posed significant logistical and safety challenges, including limited access zones and the presence of dangerous wildlife such as tigers and crocodiles. Comprehensive safety protocols were implemented by the TotalEnergies and MSDI teams, enabling secure and efficient operations without compromising data quality or project timelines.The vast and remote project area posed significant logistical and safety challenges, including limited access zones and the presence of dangerous wildlife such as tigers and crocodiles. Comprehensive safety protocols were implemented by the TotalEnergies and MSDI teams, enabling secure and efficient operations without compromising data quality or project timelines.
Operating in Challenging and High-Risk Environments
This project illustrates how advanced geospatial technologies—LiDAR, UAV mapping, photogrammetry, and GIS—play a critical role in enabling large-scale renewable energy infrastructure. By delivering precise, reliable, and actionable terrain intelligence, MSDI directly supports the engineering foundations of solar power generation and cross-border clean energy transmission between Indonesia and Singapore.
It stands as a strong example of how innovation, technical expertise, and international collaboration can accelerate the transition toward sustainable, low-carbon energy systems in Southeast Asia.
