3Dsurvey

3Dsurvey is a survey-focused photogrammetry platform for turning mixed field data into measured 3D deliverables. It suits construction, land-surveying, and surface-mining teams that need extraction tools as well as reconstruction. Its strongest case is an all-in-one desktop workflow; buyers should weigh the substantial license cost and hardware requirements against that breadth.

Overview

Founded in 2011 by land surveyors Tomaž Izak, Marko Mesarič, and Vid Peterman, the Ljubljana-based company positions 3Dsurvey around processing and classifying surveying data. Inputs include drone and camera imagery, GNSS, LiDAR, SONAR, geospatial data, and real-time telemetry. That scope makes it more suitable for professional survey projects than for occasional object capture.

Projects can produce 3D models, orthophotos, digital elevation models, point clouds, and reports. Construction estimators, surveyors, and mining teams can therefore keep reconstruction and downstream measurement in one application instead of handing outputs to separate tools.

Key features

Integrated CAD drawing, volume calculation, contour lines, profile lines, and cross sections turn processed data into practical survey work. Ground control points are supported, and orthophoto, point-cloud, and GIS exports are available. These tools matter when the deliverable is a measured plan, terrain quantity, or engineering section rather than a visually impressive model alone.

Import coverage is broad: TIFF, JPG, PNG, KMZ, OBJ, PLY, E57, LAS, DXF, PDF, TXT, XYZ, DOC, XML, and MP4 are listed. The mix spans imagery, point clouds, geospatial files, documents, and video, reducing format friction on mixed-source projects. 3Dsurvey Cloud Viewer lets teams upload results and share a viewing link that works from any device, useful for clients and collaborators who do not run the desktop software.

3Dsurvey Pilot is offered for iOS and Android, while the RTK Videogrammetry module uses the Android SiteScan app. Those mobile components extend field capture, but the main product remains a desktop deployment.

Pricing

The Monthly Subscription License costs €225.00 per month, billed monthly, excluding taxes. It includes a floating license, unlimited desktop processing, and premium support. This is the flexible choice for short-lived projects or teams unwilling to make a larger upfront commitment, but it is the most expensive recurring term.

The Yearly Subscription License is €187.50 per month, billed yearly at €2,250 excluding taxes. It keeps the floating license, unlimited desktop processing, and premium support, making it the better subscription fit for teams expecting continuous use.

The Perpetual License costs €3,399.00 once, excluding taxes. It includes a floating license, unlimited desktop processing, and first-year premium support and upgrades. It can suit established operations planning to keep the software beyond several subscription years; ongoing support and upgrades after year one are not included in that stated package.

A 14-day trial provides full functionality with no data limitations, allowing a serious workflow and hardware check before purchase. A free standalone student license is available for individual, non-commercial use and includes add-on modules. The commercial free option is therefore for education, not production work.

Platforms

The listed platform coverage includes Android, iOS, Linux, web, and Windows, but the primary deployment is desktop. Minimum desktop requirements include 64-bit Windows 7, 8, or 10, or Ubuntu 22.04, 16 GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GTX 1050 or better. Organizations with newer Windows versions or different graphics hardware should confirm compatibility before standardizing, while the memory and GPU floor may rule out ordinary office laptops.

Who it's for

3Dsurvey is aimed at professional surveyors and project teams in construction, land surveying, and surface mining. It is a strong fit when one license must handle varied sensors, controlled survey data, terrain outputs, CAD-style extraction, and shareable review links. Casual photographers, hobbyists, and teams needing only lightweight mobile capture are likely paying for capabilities they will not use.

Pros and cons

Pro: Wide input support covers drones, cameras, GNSS, LiDAR, SONAR, geospatial data, and telemetry.

Pro: CAD, volumes, contours, profiles, and sections connect processing directly to measurement work.

Pro: Unlimited desktop processing and floating licensing support shared professional use.

Pro: Full-featured 14-day trial and a non-commercial student license lower evaluation and education barriers.

Con: Commercial pricing starts at €225 monthly, with €2,250 yearly billing or a €3,399 perpetual purchase.

Con: The perpetual package includes premium support and upgrades for only the first year.

Con: A 16 GB RAM and GTX 1050 minimum makes suitable desktop hardware a prerequisite.

Alternatives

Choose PIX4Dcatch instead for freemium mobile capture on Android and iOS with GPS georeferencing, LiDAR capture, measurements, and GCP creation.

Polycam is the better fit for web-and-mobile capture with a free tier, though its free plan limits space, objects, and AI captures.

Pick RealityScan for a freemium option spanning Android, iOS, Linux, and Windows.

WebODM suits buyers prioritizing free, local, offline processing, with optional paid plans.

3DF Zephyr is a Windows-only alternative with a personal-use free edition limited to 50 photos or video frames.

COLMAP is a free alternative.

OpenMVG is a free open-source library under MPL-2.0.

PhotoCatch is a freemium option for iOS and macOS.

Verdict

Choose 3Dsurvey if your work demands broad survey-data ingestion, measured terrain and CAD outputs, unlimited desktop processing, and link-based project sharing in one workflow. Look elsewhere if your priority is low-cost or mobile-first photogrammetry, or if your available computers fall below its stated requirements.