UgCS — Drone Flight Planning Software for Professional UAV Missions
UgCS (Universal Ground Control Software) is the desktop drone flight-planning software trusted by more than 5,000 drone teams worldwide for survey-grade work. Built for surveyors, geophysicists, energy companies and research institutions, it plans LiDAR surveys, magnetometry and GPR missions, and 3D mapping and photogrammetry from one interface — so you get survey-grade data on the first flight instead of re-flying, re-training and re-planning.
Desktop mission planning with full 3D preview
UgCS runs on your desktop, not a 7-inch controller screen, so you can catch overlap gaps, altitude drift and missed strips before you fly. Build complex multi-segment routes with full 3D preview and elevation profiles, import KML/CSV client coordinates, and auto-generate terrain-following corridors with battery-swap points — a 180 km mission can be flight-ready in 30 minutes.
One software for every drone, sensor and mission
UgCS supports DJI, Blue UAS, Freefly, Autel, ArduPilot and PX4 — 100+ platforms — so a mixed fleet keeps the same workflow and no retraining. It is the only planner with dedicated geophysical survey tools and True Terrain Following through SkyHub, plus a full LiDAR toolset (IMU calibration legs, automated loop turns, custom DEM import, smart AGL down to 8 m). Area scans, corridor and façade scanning, circlegrammetry and 3D mapping are all planned from the same interface, online or fully offline.
Applications
LiDAR surveys, drone geophysics (magnetometry, GPR, gamma-ray spectrometry, bathymetry), 3D mapping and photogrammetry, corridor and utility inspection, mining and stockpile volumetrics, and academic and research workflows.
Service & Licensing
Supplied by GulfNet Emirates Drone & Robotic Systems with UAE-based support and guidance. UgCS is available as a free Open edition, paid tiers with the full LiDAR toolset, and an Enterprise licence for custom sensor integration and larger fleets — as a subscription or a perpetual licence. Request a quote and our team will recommend the right edition for your drones, sensors and projects.
Key Specifications
| Software type | Desktop drone flight-planning & mission-planning software (UgCS — Universal Ground Control Software) |
| Editions | UgCS Open (free), paid tiers with full LiDAR toolset, and Enterprise |
| Licensing | Subscription or perpetual (one-time) — every paid licence includes long-term updates and support |
| Operating systems | Windows, macOS, Linux (Ubuntu) |
| Offline use | Full offline mission planning and flight; cache maps and DEMs in advance |
| Supported drones | DJI, Blue UAS, Freefly, Autel, ArduPilot, PX4 — 100+ platforms |
| Supported sensors | DJI L1/L2/L3, YellowScan, RockRobotic, Riegl and more |
| Key tools | 3D mission preview, custom DEM/DSM import, True Terrain Following (with SkyHub), dedicated LiDAR toolset, corridor/area/façade scanning, automatic battery resume, DJI Pilot 2 cloud sync |
| Applications | LiDAR surveys, geophysics (magnetometry, GPR, gamma-ray), 3D mapping & photogrammetry, mining and corridor inspection |
| Data processing | Plans and flies missions; survey data is processed in your own software (DroneGIS for sharing and viewing results) |
| SKU | SW-UGCS |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free version?
Yes — UgCS Open is free and runs the same desktop planning workflow, capped at two saved missions per day and 250 m between the two furthest route points. Paid licences unlock larger areas, more missions, and tools like corridor mapping and façade scanning.
Subscription or one-time purchase?
Both. You can subscribe or buy a perpetual licence you own outright. Perpetual licences include a first year of updates and support; subscriptions include updates while active.
What computer does it need?
UgCS installs on Windows, macOS and Linux (Ubuntu) and runs fully offline once installed. A modern laptop handles most work; large DEMs and heavy 3D scenes benefit from more RAM and a dedicated GPU.
Which drones and sensors are supported?
DJI, Blue UAS, Freefly, Autel, ArduPilot and PX4 — 100+ platforms — plus payloads from YellowScan, Riegl, RockRobotic and the DJI L-series out of the box. Custom Pixhawk profiles and Enterprise sensor integration are supported.
Does UgCS process survey data?
No — it plans, follows terrain and flies the mission. You process the collected LiDAR, imagery or geophysical data in your usual software; SPH Engineering also offers DroneGIS for sharing flight plans and viewing results on an interactive map.
