GeoCue
GeoCue TrueView 515
$61,000.00
Price shown is list. Your quote confirms configuration, lead time and freight.
Lead time confirmed with your quote
This one is configured rather than shelved. Tell us the drone and what you are surveying and we will price it properly, including the mount and the processing service.
Purchase orders accepted
W-9 and vendor pack with every quote
Shipped direct from the manufacturer
W-9 and vendor pack with every quote
Shipped direct from the manufacturer
Usable range
80m
at 20 per cent reflectivity
Point rate
640K/sec
points per second
Accuracy
20.0mm
scanner accuracy
LiDAR channels
32
2 returns per pulse
Procurement
TAA: ask us
A 32-beam, two-return drone LiDAR payload whose two 26 MP cameras put color on every point. GeoCue publishes a 515 and a 515APX, and names neither as what an order buys, so that is settled on the quote.
Jump to
01
GeoCue publishes two configurations of the 515 and does not say which one an order buys
GeoCue's product page describes two things: the TrueView 515, and the TrueView 515APX, with the no-base-station option activated, unlimited PP-RTX post-processing and mobile mapping capability. GeoCue's own footnote adds a mandatory yearly maintenance fee from the second year. GeoCue does not state which of the two an order buys. Not on that product page, not on its sensor rental page, not in the Version C datasheet. Its own mobile mapping page does not list the 515 among its compatible sensors. The build is the second question: GeoCue sells Version C now, while its own support articles name vA, vB, vC and vD builds. Call us and get the configuration and the build written into the quote.
80 m @ 20% reflectivity
Usable LiDAR range
GeoCue's own figure, with GeoCue's own condition: usable range is quoted against a 20 percent reflective target. GeoCue's Version C datasheet gives the same sensor a maximum of 120 m and states 80 m as typical at 20 percent
32/2
LiDAR beams and returns
32 laser beams, 2 returns per outgoing pulse. GeoCue's Version C datasheet describes the 32 channels as spread over 31 degrees in track, from minus 16 to plus 15 degrees
640 kHz
Pulse repetition rate
GeoCue's Version C datasheet states this as 640,000 points per second on a single return, rising to 1,280,000 points per second when two returns are recorded
3 cm RMSE
Typical system accuracy
GeoCue's own condition travels with the figure: typical 3 cm RMSE and better than 5 cm 3D RMSE, depending on GNSS conditions, the accuracy of the control points and the coordinate system in use
02
This is a PPK sensor, so how a flight gets corrected is decided before you fly it
PPK is post-processed kinematic. The payload records raw GNSS signals in the air and corrects them afterward in LP360, rather than live over a radio link like an RTK rover. GeoCue's hardware users guide calls the correction route a planning decision, and publishes three. Single base needs your own static base station, or a CORS reference station, within 12 miles of the flight area. SmartBase computes from several CORS stations and tolerates longer baselines, but still needs a network nearby. PP-RTX needs neither. GeoCue's own surfaces then disagree on what PP-RTX costs in accuracy: the product page calls the APX route survey-grade with less complexity in the field. The hardware users guide says accuracy is reduced, and treats it as a last resort.
03
Two calibrated 26 MP cameras put color on each LiDAR point, which a plain scanner cannot do
GeoCue's own FAQ lists what a standard LiDAR point cloud carries: position, GPS time, intensity, return number, scan angle and flight line, and no color. The 515 pairs its scanner with two synchronized 26 MP cameras sharing a coincident field of view. Ray tracing then assigns red, green and blue values to each individual point, which GeoCue calls direct colorization. The Version C datasheet states a 113 degree camera field of view. The same datasheet gives motion blur as 0.27 pixel at 5 m/s ground speed and 80 m flying height. Fly lower or faster and the blur figure moves.
04
Usable range is 80 m against a 20 percent reflective target, and 3 cm RMSE depends on your GNSS and control points
Every headline figure here carries a condition. Usable range is 80 m at 20 percent reflectivity, meaning a target returning a fifth of the light that hits it. Darker surfaces return less and the range shortens. System accuracy is typical 3 cm RMSE, root mean square error, and better than 5 cm in 3D. GeoCue attaches the condition itself: depending on GNSS conditions, control point accuracy and the coordinate system. Precision on one strip is typically 20 mm, and under 15 mm at 1 sigma observed at 75 m on concrete.
05
The 535 adds a third return, a third camera and more usable range, and dense vegetation is what usually decides it
GeoCue states on the 535's own page that the 535 builds on the 515. It adds a third LiDAR return to improve vegetation capture detail, and a third 26 MP nadir camera to improve photogrammetry deliverables. The 535's own specification block gives 32 beams and 3 returns, with 120 m usable range at 20 percent reflectivity. This sensor gives 32 and 2, at 80 m against the same target. If dense canopy is the problem you keep hitting, that third return is what changes. If your work already sits inside what this sensor publishes, the extra is better spent on the aircraft, the mount and the correction route. GeoCue's 535 page calls the 515 its best-selling sensor.
06
GeoCue publishes a 515 setup for several aircraft, and the mount kit follows both the aircraft and the build
GeoCue's payload profiles pair the Version C build with the DJI M300 and M350, and the Freefly Alta X in both generations. The Inspired Flight IF800 and IF1200 are on the same list. Separate mounting guides cover the DJI Matrice 400, the Freefly Astro Max and the older DJI M600. The Matrice 400 needs a Skyport payload adapter, and its original shock-absorbing balls replaced, because they are rated below 1 kg. The Astro Max and the Alta X Gen 2 need a 50A vibration isolator cartridge for the vD build, within a 3.0 kg payload limit. The Astro Max needs extended landing gear too, for ground clearance. On the M300, mounting the payload disrupts obstacle avoidance, which GeoCue says must then be turned off. Mounting hardware is not included.
07
GeoCue publishes no NDAA position, no IP rating and no warranty terms for this sensor
GeoCue states no NDAA compliance position for the 515. Not on its product page, in that page's specification block or FAQ, in the Version C datasheet, or in either hardware users guide. If a contract requires an NDAA-compliant sensor, get that in writing first. No IP rating appears on those same surfaces, and the hardware users guide says plainly not to expose the payload to rain or water. The only warranty statement on those surfaces is that taking the payload apart voids it. Call +1 888 850 6533, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 Mountain Time, and we will confirm the configuration, the build and the mount kit.
FOR UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
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Card and financing
Checkout above. Financing available with Affirm.
Purchase orders
Institutions only: universities, colleges and government agencies.
W-9 on every quote
Attached automatically.
Tax exemption
Send the certificate once, we hold it on file.
Sole source letters
On request, for committee approval.
A named contact
One person, from quote to delivery.
REFERENCE
Specifications
What this sensor is
| Type | A drone LiDAR and camera payload that GeoCue calls a 3D Imaging Sensor. It pairs one laser scanner with two synchronized photogrammetric cameras sharing a coincident field of view, so post-processing software can color each LiDAR point from the camera imagery rather than delivering a monochrome point cloud. Data collection is recorded by GeoCue as LiDAR + Imagery |
| Where it is built | GeoCue states that TrueView 3D imaging sensors are designed and manufactured in its Huntsville, Alabama facilities |
| How GeoCue positions it | GeoCue describes the TrueView 515 as its best performing LiDAR and camera system in the mid price range, and on its sensor rental page labels it MOST POPULAR, All-Purpose Sensor. The 535 page separately describes the 515 as GeoCue's best-selling sensor |
| Applications GeoCue names for it | Densely vegetated topography for precise ground-point extraction, coal pile inventory for volumetric stockpile management, and vertical structures for detailed 3D modeling. The same three appear on GeoCue's Version C datasheet |
| Two configurations, on GeoCue's own dealer sheet | GeoCue's dealer payload sheet lists this sensor twice: once with the TrueNav position and orientation system, and once as TrueView 515 vD Complete Kit incl. Software (APX v4), whose position and orientation system is an Applanix APX v4 carrying mandatory maintenance from the second year.The two are different products with different ongoing costs. Call +1 888 850 6533 and we will confirm in writing which configuration your order carries before anything is placed. |
The laser scanner
| Scanner | Hesai Pandar XT32M1X. GeoCue's Version C datasheet describes it as a 905 nm Class 1 eye-safe unit, and the hardware users guide repeats the Class 1 classification with the caution that the lasers are infrared, invisible to the eye, and should never be looked into directly or aimed at people |
| Beams and returns | 32/2, meaning 32 beams and 2 returns per outgoing pulse. GeoCue's Version C datasheet states the 32 channels are spread over 31 degrees in track, from minus 16 to plus 15 degrees |
| Usable range | 80 m @ 20% reflectivity. This is a conditioned figure and the condition is GeoCue's own: range is quoted against a target reflecting 20 percent of the light that hits it, so a darker surface returns less. GeoCue's Version C datasheet states a maximum of 120 m for the same scanner alongside the 80 m typical figure at 20 percent, and the earlier product brochure states range of up to 100 m with no reflectivity stated |
| Pulse repetition rate | 640 kHz. GeoCue's Version C datasheet expresses the same figure as 640,000 points per second for a single return and up to 1,280,000 points per second with two returns, and gives a scanner rotation speed range of 5 to 20 HzGeoCue's dealer payload sheet states the same rate for this model. |
| Beam spot size | GeoCue's Version C datasheet states 0.087 by 0.131 degrees, which it works out to 12 cm by 18 cm on the ground at 80 m. Beam spot grows with distance, so the figure only means anything with its range attached |
| Cross-track field of view | 120 degrees combined. GeoCue's Version C datasheet separately states 31 degrees of in-track LiDAR field of view, which is what lets the sensor see vertical surfaces in the direction of flight |
Cameras and colorization
| Cameras | 2 * 26 MP Sony mechanical leaf shutter, calibrated. GeoCue describes the Version C build as upgraded with two new oblique 26 MP cameras, and its FAQ on the same page states the TrueView 515 includes two red-green-blue photogrammetric cameras |
| Camera field of view | GeoCue's Version C datasheet states a 113 degree field of view configuration for the camera pair, and describes the two calibrated cameras as providing true colorization across that 113 degrees |
| Motion blur | GeoCue's Version C datasheet states 0.27 pixel, and states the condition with it: at 5 m/s ground speed and 80 m flying height. Fly faster or lower and the figure moves |
| How the color gets onto the points | GeoCue calls this direct colorization: the dual cameras are integrated with the LiDAR so that ray tracing assigns red, green and blue values to each individual LiDAR point, rather than draping an image over a surface. GeoCue's own FAQ sets this against a plain LiDAR system, whose point cloud carries position, GPS time, intensity, return number, scan angle and flight line but no color information at all |
Accuracy, precision and the conditions on them
| System accuracy | Typical 3 cm RMSE, better than 5 cm 3D RMSE, and GeoCue attaches the condition itself: depending on GNSS conditions, accuracy of control points and coordinate system |
| System precision on one strip | Typical 20 mm, and less than 15 mm at 1 sigma observed at 75 m on concrete. The 15 mm figure only holds under that stated condition, a hard flat surface at that height |
| Scanner performance | Precision 10 mm and accuracy 20 mm for the scanner itself, as distinct from the system figures above. GeoCue's Version C datasheet states different scanner numbers, plus or minus 1 cm accuracy with 0.5 cm typical precision at 1 sigma, and the two GeoCue surfaces are not reconciled with each other |
| GNSS and inertial performance | Position 20 to 50 mm, angular 0.025 degrees roll and pitch, 0.08 degrees heading. GeoCue's Version C datasheet gives post-processed kinematic performance as 0.03 to 0.05 RMSE with better than 0.08 degrees heading and 0.025 degrees pitch and roll |
| Point density | GeoCue publishes point density and area covered as a curve against flying height rather than as a single number, and states the conditions on the curve: density in points per square meter at 5 m/s, 20 percent overlap and an 80 degree field of view, with area covered calculated for a 40 minute flight |
Positioning, base stations and post-processing
| Positioning system | GeoCue's Version C datasheet names the inertial navigation unit as a Trimble Applanix APX15EI. The earlier hardware users guide lists the payload's radio components as an Applanix APX-15/20, a Hesai PandarXT-32 and a Raspberry Pi 4 model B |
| This is a PPK sensor, not an RTK one | GeoCue's hardware users guide states the sensor records raw GNSS signals during flight and corrects them afterwards in LP360, and that how you intend to correct the flight has to be decided during planning rather than after collection |
| The three correction routes GeoCue supports | Single base, using one static base station or a CORS station within 12 miles of the flight area recording both L1 and L2 at 1 Hz during the flight; SmartBase, a cloud option that computes corrections from multiple CORS stations and tolerates longer baselines but still needs a CORS network in the area; and PP-RTX, a cloud option that needs neither a base station nor a CORS network. Single base is the only route if you plan to process with the local option selected |
| What GeoCue says about PP-RTX accuracy | GeoCue's two surfaces do not agree. The hardware users guide states that accuracy is reduced with PP-RTX and presents it as a last-resort option for base station failure or a missing CORS network. The product page states that the TrueView 515APX has the no-base-station option activated, providing unlimited PP-RTX post-processing and delivering survey-grade accuracy with less complexity in the field. Both statements are GeoCue's own and the difference is worth settling before you buy |
| Base station requirements | GeoCue's own FAQ in the hardware users guide states the base should sit within 20 kilometers, 12 miles, of the flight area, in an open flat spot away from buildings, trees and vertical relief, recording at 1 Hz. The minimum base specification is static observations recorded to media, dual frequency L1 and L2, and the ability to export to RINEX |
| Satellite constellations | GeoCue states the positioning system and supplied GNSS antenna simultaneously support GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo |
| The 515APX configuration | GeoCue's product page describes a TrueView 515APX with the no-base-station option activated, unlimited PP-RTX post-processing and mobile mapping capability, and states in its own footnote that a mandatory yearly maintenance fee applies from the second year. GeoCue does not state which of the two configurations an order buys, on that product page, on its sensor rental page or in the Version C datasheet, so the configuration is confirmed on the quote rather than read off a page |
Which build this is, and why it matters
| GeoCue's current published build | Version C. GeoCue's product page states the Version C system is upgraded with two new oblique 26 MP cameras, and GeoCue's own datasheet for this build is headed TrueView 515 VC Specifications and dated March 2024 |
| What changed between builds | The camera is the moving part. GeoCue's hardware users guide for the earlier vB build states a camera sensor of dual 1 inch mechanical shutter, hardware mid-exposure pulse, 20 MP, RGB, against the Version C figure of two calibrated 26 MP Sony units. The scanner, the 32/2 beams and returns, the 80 m @ 20% reflectivity usable range, the 120 degree combined field of view and the 640 kHz pulse rate are the same in both |
| How many builds GeoCue names | At least four. GeoCue's mounting guide for the DJI M400 publishes a different upgrade kit part number for each of the vA, vC and vD builds, and its published payload-profile list carries a separate 515vB entry alongside the 515vC one. The build in a specific box is worth confirming in writing before you order, because the mount kit, the camera and the drone profile all follow from it |
| Manufacturer part number | GeoCue does not publish a part number for the TrueView 515 on its product page, in the specification block on that page, in the FAQ on that page, on its sensor rental page, in the Version C datasheet, or in either hardware users guide. Part numbers in circulation for this sensor attach to the older 20 MP build, so confirm the number against the build on the quote rather than against a catalog entry |
Size, power and operating limits
| Mass | 1.99 kg for the payload unit only, and GeoCue states what that excludes: no accessories, meaning no battery, mount, antenna or power adapter. GeoCue's Version C datasheet gives 2.47 kg for the payload with batteries and accessories.Two GeoCue documents, two definitions of what is being weighed. |
| A third mass figure, on GeoCue's dealer sheet | GeoCue's dealer payload sheet gives 2.25 kg for this model.Three GeoCue documents, three figures. Call +1 888 850 6533 if the mass decides your aircraft. |
| Dimensions | GeoCue's Version C datasheet states 313 mm long by 156 mm wide by 212 mm high. The earlier vB hardware users guide states 30.5 cm by 17.5 cm by 16.7 cm for that build |
| Power | GeoCue's Version C datasheet states 38 W consumption at an operating voltage of 12 to 34 V |
| Battery and endurance | GeoCue's hardware users guide states the payload runs on its own 3200 mAh removable lithium-ion battery, deliberately separate from the aircraft's power system so it cannot interfere with flight functions, and that about 90 minutes per battery is normal, with cold weather cutting that significantly. A drone-specific external power adapter can replace the battery instead; GeoCue supplies an OSDK-compatible one for the DJI M300 and states other connectors are available on request. GeoCue's Version C datasheet lists the battery as optional, available if a connection to the aircraft is not available, while the product page's included list carries a TrueView battery and charger |
| Operating temperature | GeoCue's Version C datasheet states minus 15 to 50 degrees C. The earlier vB hardware users guide states an operation range of minus 10 up to 50 degrees C and warns that operating outside it can damage the payload. The two GeoCue figures differ at the cold end |
| Water and dust | GeoCue's hardware users guide states plainly: do not expose the payload to rain or water. GeoCue publishes no IP rating for this sensor on its product page, in the specification block on that page, in the FAQ on that page, in the Version C datasheet, or in either hardware users guide. The guide also warns not to block the cooling vents on the left and right sides, and the payload has a replaceable dust filter over a cooling fan that has to be changed periodically |
| Storage and control | GeoCue's Version C datasheet states 128 GB of internal storage plus 32 GB external, with Wi-Fi and button control. The hardware users guide adds that the external media is GeoCue's own UMS flash drive and that only GeoCue-supplied UMS drives should be used, with a 64 GB version also available |
Which drones it mounts to
| What GeoCue publishes | GeoCue publishes ready-made payload profiles pairing the 515 with specific aircraft. For the vC build it lists the DJI M300 and M350, the Freefly Alta X in both first and second generation, the Inspired Flight IF800 and the Inspired Flight IF1200, all with the AV18 antenna. For the earlier vB build it lists only the DJI M300 and M350 |
| DJI Matrice 400 | Supported, with two conditions GeoCue states itself. The 515 needs a payload upgrade to a DJI Skyport adapter, and the M400's original shock-absorbing balls have to be replaced because they are rated below 1 kg. GeoCue publishes a different upgrade kit part number for the vA, vC and vD builds of the 515, so the kit follows the build |
| Inspired Flight IF800 and IF1200 | Supported. GeoCue's mounting guide sets the fixed payload mounting kit to position 4 at 50 mm for the 515, and offers two antenna routes depending on the sensor's navigation build: a GNSS mount for a 515 with APX, and a mast for a 515 with TruNAV |
| Freefly Alta X and Astro Max | Supported. GeoCue specifies a 50A vibration isolator cartridge on both, within a 3.0 kg payload limit, and keys that cartridge to the vD build of the 515 in each of the two mounting guides. GeoCue also states that the standard folding landing gear on the Astro Max does not give enough ground clearance for a 515, so an extended landing gear is required |
| Older DJI platforms | GeoCue's hardware users guide documents complete hardware integration kits for the DJI M600 and the DJI M300, and carries a specific M300 warning: mounting the sensor disrupts the M300's obstacle avoidance sensors, and they must be turned off in the flight app or the aircraft can behave erratically and control can be lost |
| Other platforms | GeoCue states its TrueView sensors were designed as a lightweight payload for flexible integration across numerous drone platforms and that it has worked with several drone providers, and invites custom integrations for aircraft not already listed. That statement is written about the TrueView sensor family rather than about the 515 specifically |
Software and support included
| Processing software | GeoCue's included list gives LP360 Drone processing software with the Strip Align and Photo add-ons. Strip Align detects and corrects the small geometric inconsistencies that show up when data from several flights is combined, and GeoCue states it runs without project-specific tuning parameters. LP360 Photo produces backdrop orthophotos inside the same workflow |
| What LP360 produces | GeoCue's own FAQ lists the derived products: classified bare-earth ground models, automatically derived planar surfaces such as building roof prints, topographic contours, stockpile boundaries, volumetric analysis including cut and fill, profiles and cross sections, automatic rail extraction, automatic power line extraction with vectorized catenaries, and gridded elevation models. It also supports breakline-enforced modeling constrained by features such as water bodies, edge of pavement and retaining walls |
| Optional software | GeoCue's Version C datasheet lists Business Intelligence, Unlimited Project and Metashape Console as optional add-ons, and LP360 Cloud as optional on top, in an Access tier and a Starter tier |
| Support and training | GeoCue's included list gives one year of hardware and software support, and two days of training at its Huntsville, Alabama office |
| What the dealer sheet says the software includes | A perpetual LP360 Drone license, perpetual TrueView strip adjustment, perpetual photo for LP360 Drone, 12 months of LP360 Cloud Access and 3 months of LP360 Cloud Collaborate. Agisoft photogrammetry, unlimited project size, the 3D photo engine and business intelligence are all marked optional. |
Sample data you can inspect before you buy
| Published datasets | GeoCue publishes three TrueView 515 sample datasets from the same Leeds site, each labeled with the flight parameters used: 50 m at 5 m/s, 75 m at 5 m/s, and 75 m at 10 m/s. Comparing the three is the closest thing to seeing the sensor's output before committing to it |
When the 535 is the sensor instead
| GeoCue's own comparison | GeoCue states on the 535's page that the 535 builds on the 515 and adds a third LiDAR beam return to improve vegetation capture detail, plus a third 26 MP nadir camera alongside the two oblique ones. The 535's own specification block states 32/3 beams and returns and 120 m usable range at 20 percent reflectivity, against the 515's 32/2 and 80 m. Where dense canopy is the problem, that third return is what changes |
What GeoCue does not publish for this sensor
| NDAA compliance | GeoCue does not state an NDAA compliance position for the TrueView 515 on its product page, in the specification block on that page, in the FAQ on that page, in the Version C datasheet, or in either hardware users guide. In the sensor menu on its own site GeoCue groups the 515 under Standard rather than under NDAA, where it places the 641, 651, 655/660, 680/680LR and 720. If a contract requires an NDAA-compliant sensor, get the position in writing before ordering |
| Warranty terms | GeoCue does not publish warranty terms for this sensor on its product page, in the specification block on that page, in the FAQ on that page, or in the Version C datasheet. The hardware users guide's only warranty statement is that taking the payload apart, reassembling it or altering it voids the warranty, and that only qualified personnel may service it |
| Mobile mapping | GeoCue's own surfaces are not aligned here. The product page states the 515APX is mobile mapping capable and describes an optional mobile vehicle mount. GeoCue's Mobile Mapping Solutions page lists its mobile mapping compatible sensors in its own body as the 680/680LR, the 655/660 and the 535, and the sensor menu on that page groups only the 535 under Standard, with the 655/660 and 680/680LR under NDAA. The 515 appears in neither list. Worth settling before you order if vehicle work is part of the plan |
| Datasheet | GeoCue's TrueView 515 product page links to no datasheet, manual or brochure of any kind, and GeoCue's own sitemap carries no downloads or datasheets section. The Version C datasheet and both hardware users guides exist, and every copy read for this page came from a dealer or from GeoCue's support site rather than from the product page. |
| What GeoCue's dealer sheet states | GeoCue's own dealer payload sheet lists this model as No in its NDAA compliant row, against the entry TrueView 515 vD Complete Kit incl. Software.That sheet is dealer documentation rather than a page a buyer can open, and it carries no date of its own. If your procurement rules turn on it, call +1 888 850 6533 and we will get GeoCue's position in writing for your file. |
| Software business model, on the same sheet | GeoCue's dealer sheet marks this model's software business model as traditional, perpetual, with basic maintenance available from the second year and a comprehensive maintenance option alongside it.Maintenance covers support, firmware and software updates. The figures sit on your quote. |
Ordering
| Inspired Flight IF800 Tomcat | One of the aircraft GeoCue publishes a 515 payload profile for, and carried here as its own listing |
| Inspired Flight IF1200 | Also named in GeoCue's 515 payload profile list, and carried here as its own listing |
| DJI Matrice 400 | Covered by GeoCue's own 515 mounting guide, with a Skyport upgrade kit and replacement shock-absorbing balls required, and carried here as its own listing |
| Renting before buying | GeoCue runs a rental program that includes the TrueView 515, with periods as short as one month, and states that a rental can be converted to a purchase later |
| Speak to us | Call +1 888 850 6533, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 Mountain Time, and a specialist will confirm the build, the navigation configuration, the drone mount kit and what ships in the box before anything is ordered. Universities, colleges and government agencies can buy on a purchase order, with the W-9 and vendor pack attached to the quote |
| What the dealer sheet says ships, and what does not | GeoCue's dealer payload sheet marks no battery and no battery charger against every payload in the range, including this one, and marks a GNSS antenna and a carrying case as included.Batteries and a charger are a separate line on your quote. We will spell them out before you order. |
GeoCue TrueView 515