RIEGL is proud to present a groundbreaking LiDAR case study in Hallstatt, Austria, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for its outstanding cultural and natural significance. Launched in 2025, the project highlights how RIEGL’s advanced 3D laser scanning technology delivers powerful insights across diverse environments and scales, revealing new dimensions of one of Europe’s most iconic landscapes.

The Hallstatt project was designed to push the limits of LiDAR technology. From steep, hard-to-reach valleys and retreating glaciers to ancient salt mines, archaeological sites, and evolving vegetation, the region presents a diverse array of features for observation. These conditions make Hallstatt an ideal testbed for demonstrating the flexibility and precision of RIEGL’s sensor portfolio.

To meet the project’s ambitious goals, RIEGL deployed a combination of airborne and terrestrial LiDAR systems. The RIEGL VQ-840-GE Airborne Bathymetric LiDAR system was utilized to capture high-resolution bathymetric data in Hallstatt’s lakes and shallow water bodies. Its green laser technology enabled precise mapping of underwater terrain, even in areas with dense vegetation or low water clarity, providing critical insights into submerged archaeological features and hydrological dynamics.

On land, the RIEGL VZ-4000i²⁵ and VZ-600i Terrestrial Laser Scanners were deployed to document the region’s complex topography and cultural landmarks. The VZ-4000i²⁵, with its extended range and high accuracy, was ideal for scanning expansive mountainous terrain and glacial features from a distance. Meanwhile, the VZ-600i offered ultra-high-speed data acquisition and fine detail resolution, making it perfect for capturing intricate architectural and archaeological structures within the historic village and surrounding sites. In this project, the VZ-600i was utilized in both static and kinematic modes, allowing the team to seamlessly transition between tripod-based scanning and mobile mapping workflows to efficiently cover diverse terrain and environments.

RIEGL’s systems were deployed in both static and kinematic modes, operating on the ground and in the air to capture high-resolution data across a diverse range of survey scenarios. This project not only demonstrated the impressive capabilities of each individual sensor but also underscored the strength of RIEGL’s integrated processing strategies. Leveraging precise georeferencing, these workflows enabled smooth data fusion and delivered comprehensive, multi-scale results that supported detailed analysis and visualization.

In today’s fast-paced world, timely access to reliable data is essential. RIEGL’s software tools support streamlined and high-performance processing and analysis, enabling users to generate actionable 3D insights even during field operations. This capability enhances decision-making and ensures that data is readily available for interpretation and long-term archiving

Experience how RIEGL LiDAR is redefining cultural heritage exploration, one scan at a time, with the first results from the Hallstatt project now available.

Explore the interactive reports from completed sub-projects through the ESRI ArcGIS Map: Case Study Hallstatt

Also, stay tuned for updates on further surveys happening at this historic location!

Special thanks to Dr. Matthias Kucera, RIEGL Manager of Sales & Support Services, whose initiative and leadership were instrumental in launching this project. His collaboration on the creation of the Esri ArcGIS Map brought the data to life in a compelling and accessible format. We also extend our appreciation to Bernhard Groiss, RIEGL Senior Technical Expert for LiDAR Applications, for his valuable technical support throughout the project. Additionally, we are grateful to Welterbe Salzkammergut and the Municipality of Hallstatt for their valued collaboration, which helped make this initiative a true success.