GeoFly

What GeoFly does

GeoFly GmbH is a privately held German aerial surveying and geodata company, founded in 2008 and headquartered at Magdeburg Business Airport (Ottersleber Chaussee 91, 39120 Magdeburg). The company delivers airborne data acquisition and processing services combining photogrammetry, LiDAR (Airborne Laserscanning), and thermal infrared imaging, processed through an end-to-end in-house pipeline that produces True Orthophotos, 3D meshes, digital terrain and surface models, and thermal maps for downstream GIS, CAD, and BIM workflows. Its hardware stack comprises a fleet of three DA62 MPP survey aircraft equipped with a gyro-stabilized sensor suite including Vexcel UltraCam Osprey 4.1, two UltraCam Eagle M3 cameras, a Riegl VQ780II-S LiDAR scanner, and an Infratec IR8800 LWIR thermal sensor. Computational infrastructure includes roughly 6,546 TB of storage and more than 1,300 CPU cores, running tools such as UltraMap, Trimble Match-AT/DTMaster/Orthovista, TerraSolid, RiProcess, Global Mapper, FME, and QGIS under ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and TÜV ProfiCert certified processes.

GeoFly serves a primarily public-sector and regulated-industry customer base across German municipalities, federal states (Landesämter), utilities, and energy companies, with reference projects for clients including Bezirksregierung Köln, Stadt Stuttgart, Senat von Berlin, Hessisches Landesamt für Bodenmanagement und Geoinformation, Landesamt für Vermessung und Geoinformation Schleswig-Holstein, Mainova AG, Stadtwerke Leipzig, Munich Re, and the Danish Agency for Climate Data. Service lines include digital aerial photography, True Orthophoto generation, oblique aerial imagery, mining and quarry surveys, topographic analysis, lighting cadastre, and thermal imaging for district heating leak detection, building heat-loss analysis, and urban climate studies.

The business model combines project-based professional surveying services with a recurring geodata platform component delivered through the proprietary ObViewSly web viewer (Cesium-based 3D visualization, solar potential tool, routing, CityGML import/export, IFC support) and the Geoshop e-commerce storefront for standardized deliverables. The company has expanded internationally to more than 20 countries across four continents, was founded by and remains under managing director Aicke Damrau (Dipl.-Ing., Dipl.-Inf.), and reported 752 tonnes of CO₂ offset under GHG Protocol Scope 1, 2, and 3 in its most recent carbon disclosure.

Name

GeoFly

Legal name

GeoFly GmbH

Website

https://geofly.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GeoFly is a German aerial surveying company that captures, processes, and delivers high-resolution geodata — True Orthophotos, LiDAR point clouds, 3D meshes, and thermal imagery — for municipalities, government agencies, utilities, and industrial clients via its own aircraft fleet and ObViewSly viewer platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Magdeburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Project-Based Aerial Surveying Services: GeoFly conducts bespoke aerial surveying campaigns for government agencies, municipalities, energy companies, and planning firms. Projects range from municipal orthophoto programs (e.g., Stadt Stuttgart 910 km², Stadt Berlin LiDAR campaign) to industrial mining surveys and infrastructure monitoring. Revenue is generated per project based on survey area, sensor configuration, and deliverable complexity.
2. Geodata Products & Digital Deliverables: Processed geodata products including Orthophotos, True Orthophotos, oblique imagery, 3D-Meshes, digital surface/terrain models, and thermal maps are sold as data packages. Products are delivered in standard formats (e.g., CityGML, IFC, WMS/WFS) and via the ObViewSly web viewer and GeoShop platform.
3. ObViewSly SaaS Platform: ObViewSly, GeoFly's proprietary web-based oblique imagery and 3D geospatial viewer, is offered as a platform for visualizing geodata products. The platform includes routing, measurement, annotation, and solar potential analysis tools, with custom integration options.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GeoFly conducts airborne aerial surveys using its own fleet of DA62 MPP survey aircraft equipped with high-resolution cameras (UltraCam Osprey 4.1, UltraCam Eagle M3), Riegl VQ780II-S LiDAR scanners, and Infratec IR8800 thermal sensors. The company processes the captured data in-house to produce True Orthophotos, Orthophotos, Oblique Aerial Images, 3D-Meshes, digital terrain/surface models, thermal maps, and lighting cadastres, then delivers them as data packages or via the proprietary ObViewSly web viewer and Geoshop online storefront.

Product overview

GeoFly operates as an aerial surveying and geodata company offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for aerial data capture and processing. The core portfolio includes digital aerial photography (Bildflug), True Orthophotos/Orthophotos, oblique aerial images (Oblique-Luftbilder), airborne LiDAR scanning (Airborne Laserscanning), 3D-Mesh city models, mining survey flights (Tagebau/Bergbau), topographic analysis (Topografieauswertung), thermal imaging surveys (Thermografiebefliegung), and lighting cadastre (Beleuchtungskataster). Supporting infrastructure includes the ObViewSly web-based oblique/3D viewer platform with solar potential analysis, the Geoshop e-commerce platform for geodata sales, and proprietary DA62 MPP survey aircraft with integrated sensor systems (UltraCam cameras, Riegl LiDAR, thermal sensors). The company provides complete end-to-end solutions from flight planning through data processing to web delivery, serving municipalities, government agencies, utilities, and planning offices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ObViewSly: GeoFly's proprietary web-based oblique image viewer and 3D visualization platform for geodata presentation and analysis.
• Geoshop

Products and services

• Digitaler Bildflug (Digital Aerial Photography) High-resolution aerial photography missions providing a geodata foundation for planning, 3D analyses, and applications across urban planning, environment, and energy sectors.
• True Orthophoto / Orthophoto Scale-accurate aerial images; True Orthophotos additionally avoid blind spots and show buildings realistically without distortion, supporting planning and digital twin use cases.
• Oblique-Luftbilder (Oblique Aerial Images) Oblique aerial images showing cities and landscapes from angled perspectives, conveying spatial depth; used for planning, real estate, marketing, and environmental applications.
• Airborne Laserscanning (LiDAR) Airborne laser scanning precisely captures the Earth's surface with laser beams, producing detailed surface models and terrain data with up to 2.5 million points per second, accuracy up to 5 cm, and density up to 60 points/m².
• 3D-Mesh Three-dimensional representation of the Earth's surface including objects via textured triangle mesh, derived from nadir and oblique images using a fully automated process from pixel-sharp 3D point clouds.
• Befliegungen für Tagebau/Bergbau (Mining Survey Flights) Aerial surveying for mining operations providing terrain data without production interruption, enabling volume calculations, 3D analyses, settlement visualization, and mine surveying support.
• Topografieauswertung (Topographic Analysis) Creation of high-resolution digital terrain models (DGM) and CAD analyses with change detection through repeated surveys, integration into GIS, CAD, and BIM systems.
• Thermografiebefliegung (Thermal Imaging Surveys) Thermal flights with infrared cameras capturing thermal signatures of the Earth's surface, producing thermal emission maps and heat loss class definitions for climate analysis, building energy assessment, and infrastructure inspection.
• Fernwärme-Thermografie (District Heating Thermal Imaging) Thermal inspection of district heating networks from the air that precisely detects damage and heat loss at district heating pipes with surface temperatures measured to 1/10 degree accuracy.
• Wärmeemissionen Gebäude (Building Thermal Emissions) Detailed thermal mapping of buildings from the air to identify heat loss sources, insulation behavior, and building envelope integrity for energy efficiency assessments.
• Stadtklima (Urban Climate Analysis) Aerial thermal surveys visualizing urban heat islands and cold air corridors for climate adaptation strategies, urban planning, and environmental monitoring.
• Beleuchtungskataster (Lighting Cadastre) Digital capture of street lighting from the air during night flights, creating a basis for energy-efficient lighting planning and identifying under- or over-illuminated areas.
• Solarkataster (Solar Cadastre) Browser-based map display of solar irradiation on roof surfaces and open spaces considering shading from vegetation or buildings, enabling solar potential analysis for renewable energy planning.
• ObViewSly (Web Viewer Platform) Browser-based oblique image and 3D viewer with free layer selection, 3D model viewing, solar potential tool, routing functions, annotations, PDF exports, 2D/3D measurements, 3D building digitization, and CityGML import/export.
• Geoshop (Geodata Online Store) Web-based geodata shop for purchasing aerial imagery, orthophotos, LiDAR data, and other geodata products with digital delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• Orthophoto resolution up to 2 cm ground sampling distance
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers27 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration18 records

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Trigis GeoServices GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationTRIGIS is a growing geospatial services company with core competencies in geodesy, remote sensing, cartography, and GIS. GeoFly and Trigis collaborate on geodata projects, including a 2024 LiDAR survey of 283 km corridor (1 km width) for Trigis GeoServices.
• EAASI (European Association for Aerial Surveying)minorOthersEAASI is the European association promoting aerial surveying. GeoFly is a member, gaining industry visibility, networking, and knowledge exchange benefits.
• virtualcitySYSTEMScoreTechnology or IntegrationvirtualcitySYSTEMS specializes in 3D geodata systems for capture, management, distribution, and use of 3D geodata. Partnership enables integration of GeoFly's 3D mesh products with virtualcitySYSTEMS platform for city modeling applications.
• SCANDAT GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCANDAT specializes in innovative remote sensing technology and projects. In 2022, GeoFly took over SCANDAT's thermography business operations, combining SCANDAT's thermal expertise with GeoFly's surveying capabilities. This represents a significant strategic acquisition of thermal survey know-how.
• Otto-von-Guericke-Universität MagdeburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with the University of Magdeburg. Includes joint software development projects (e.g., interactive 3D geodata product derivation from aerial imagery with the Software Engineering department) and student recruitment.
• DLR Berlin (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLR Berlin focuses on space and transport research. Partnership enables knowledge exchange and potential collaborative research in remote sensing and geospatial technology.
• netzwerk | GIS Sachsen-AnhaltminorOthersThe GIS Network Saxony-Anhalt is an association promoting the use of GIS and geodata infrastructure development. GeoFly's membership supports regional GIS ecosystem development and industry visibility.
• OPEN DAY PHOTOGRAMMETRY (ODP) ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeoFly co-hosts the Open Day Photogrammetry with partners including Geoplana, AVT, BSF Swissphoto, and Aerowest. The 7th edition takes place in Dessau in September 2026, bringing together aerial survey companies, aircraft and sensor manufacturers, and major software vendors.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems: Austrian manufacturer of airborne and terrestrial LiDAR scanners (including the VQ-780 series used by GeoFly). Functions as a key technology supplier rather than a competitor, but also operates RIEGL Airborne Scanning Services, giving it partial overlap.
• IGI mbH (IGI Systems): German provider of airborne sensor systems (lidar, cameras, GNSS/IMU) and integrated flight management systems for aerial surveying. Comparable as a technology supplier/partner within the same ecosystem rather than a service-side competitor.

Direct peers

• BSF Swissphoto: Swiss/German aerial survey company providing photogrammetric flights, LiDAR, and image-based geodata products to public-sector and enterprise clients. Direct peer with overlapping sensor stack (large-format cameras + airborne laser scanning) and similar public-sector customer mix.
• Aerowest: German aerial survey provider offering photogrammetry, LiDAR, and orthophoto services for municipalities, federal agencies, and industry. Co-hosts the Open Day Photogrammetry with GeoFly and is one of its closest direct competitors in the DACH aerial surveying market.
• Geoplana: German aerial surveying and photogrammetry specialist serving municipal, state, and private-sector customers with orthophotos, LiDAR, and derived geodata. Co-host of the Open Day Photogrammetry alongside GeoFly, making it a tightly comparable regional peer.
• AVT (Airborne Video Technology / AVT Luftbild GmbH): German provider of aerial imaging, orthophotos, LiDAR, and 3D city models for municipalities and utilities. Co-host of the Open Day Photogrammetry and a direct competitor for German municipal aerial survey tenders.

Broad incumbents

• Trimble: Global provider of geospatial hardware, software (Trimble Inpho/Match-AT/DTMaster — used inside GeoFly's pipeline), and positioning services. Adjacent/competing as an end-to-end aerial surveying solutions provider rather than a niche specialist.
• Hexagon (Leica Geosystems / Hexagon Geosystems): Global geospatial technology leader offering airborne sensors, software (HxGN), and survey services that overlap with GeoFly's photogrammetry, LiDAR, and digital-twin offerings. Much larger and broader; competes indirectly for large enterprise and public-sector geospatial tenders.
• Vexcel Imaging / Vexcel Survey Services: Austrian manufacturer of UltraCam aerial imaging systems (used by GeoFly) that also operates its own aerial survey and cloud-imagery services (Vexcel Survey Services / OSM). Comparable on technology stack and end-market (urban aerial geodata) but broader in geographic scope and product portfolio.

Emerging players

• Nearmap: Aerial imagery SaaS provider selling subscription access to high-resolution orthophotos and 3D content. Represents the recurring-revenue, cloud-delivered model that traditional aerial survey firms (including GeoFly) are partly moving toward via platforms like ObViewSly.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GeoFly