Comparison · Forensic diagramming software
SkyeBrowse vs FARO Zone 3D
The short answer
FARO Zone 3D and SkyeBrowse sit at different steps. Zone 3D is diagramming and analysis software that works with data from drones, laser scanners, and photos. SkyeBrowse turns drone or phone video into a measurable 3D model in minutes and includes its own factual diagrams, Line of Sight, and Crush & Claims Analysis, with LAZ, GLB, and OBJ exports for forensics software.
Last checked October 13, 2026.
SkyeBrowse vs FARO Zone 3D at a glance
| Category | SkyeBrowse | FARO Zone 3D |
|---|---|---|
| What you capture | One continuous video (MP4, MOV, INSV, or OSV) from any drone, phone, 360 camera, or body worn camera. Photos attach to a model as annotations. | Works with data from drones, 3D laser scanners, 2D photos, and traditional measurement devices. Source: FARO Zone 3D webinar page |
| Public safety tools | Factual diagrams, Line of Sight, NAPSG public safety icons, Crush & Claims Analysis, and unlimited users on Public Safety & Enterprise. | Capture-device agnostic software for crime, crash, fire, and security professionals to diagram, document, and analyze forensic scenes, including 2D and 3D crash diagramming. Source: FARO Zone 3D webinar page |
Vendor pricing and features change often. Confirm current terms with FARO before you buy.
Who should pick which
Pick SkyeBrowse if
- You need the 3D scene itself, captured from one video and ready in minutes.
- You want measurements, factual diagrams, and Line of Sight in the browser with no desktop install.
- You need CJIS-compliant storage, chain of custody, and Axon Evidence.com integration.
Pick FARO Zone 3D if
- Your reconstructionists already build crash and crime diagrams in Zone 3D.
- You combine laser scanner, total station, and drone data in one diagram.
Switching from FARO Zone 3D
Many agencies keep their diagramming tool and use SkyeBrowse for capture. Export the model as LAZ, GLB, or OBJ from a Pro or Public Safety & Enterprise model and bring it into your forensics software.
- Create a free account at app.skyebrowse.com and use Universal Upload for any MP4, MOV, INSV, or OSV file you already have, including archived drone flights, phone video, and 360 footage.
- Upload the drone's GPS subtitle file (.SRT for DJI, .ASS for Autel) with the video to georeference the model. Video without GPS can be scaled with the Scale tool against a known measurement.
- Upload limits: 2GB per file on Freemium, up to 3 videos of 10GB each on Commercial and Pro, and up to 10 videos of 100GB each on Public Safety & Enterprise.
- SkyeBrowse builds models from video only, so photo-only datasets stay in the tool that made them. Existing meshes saved as GLB or STL can be imported as layers inside a SkyeBrowse model on Pro (3 layers) and Public Safety & Enterprise (5 layers).
- Keep your downstream software: export LAZ point clouds, GLB, OBJ, USDZ, GeoTIFF, and DXF or GeoJSON CAD files into GIS, CAD, and forensics tools. SkyeBrowse produces a DSM, so DTM ground classification still happens in third-party software on the exported LAZ.
- Agencies can apply for the Pilot Program, about two weeks of Public Safety & Enterprise access, to run real scenes side by side before buying. Eligible free accounts can process their first full Commercial model for $5.
Check your aircraft and controller on the supported drones list and see plan details on the pricing page.
Do still photos beat video for 3D mapping?
A common claim is that still photos always produce better 3D models than video. Here is what the validation behind SkyeBrowse videogrammetry shows.
- Photogrammetry uses hundreds or thousands of overlapping still photos. Capture is slower, processing takes hours or days, and survey-grade results usually depend on ground control points, a trained specialist, and post-processing.
- SkyeBrowse videogrammetry uses the frames of one continuous video. It delivers laser-scanner-level accuracy: in an independent QC study by AirBorne Works, SkyeBrowse video models came closest to Leica BLK360 laser-scan ground truth on 8 of 9 measurements, outperforming photo-based Pix4D Mapper and Leica BLK3D. Results are survey-grade and court-admissible without ground control points.
- Cloud processing runs about one minute per minute of video, so a scene flown at the incident can be measured before the road reopens.
Read the method and results in the independent accuracy study.
SkyeBrowse vs FARO Zone 3D FAQ
Does SkyeBrowse replace FARO Zone 3D?
SkyeBrowse covers capture, modeling, measurement, and court-ready factual diagrams in one browser tool. Agencies that rely on Zone 3D for diagramming can export LAZ, GLB, or OBJ from SkyeBrowse and keep that workflow.
Does SkyeBrowse do crush analysis?
Yes. Crush & Claims Analysis aligns an undamaged reference vehicle with the damaged scan and reports station depths, CDC classification, and derived delta-V with assumptions and uncertainty. It is free on every plan through October 31, 2026, then included with Public Safety & Enterprise.
Do still photos beat video for drone mapping accuracy?
No. In an independent QC study by AirBorne Works, SkyeBrowse video models came closest to Leica BLK360 laser-scan ground truth on 8 of 9 measurements, outperforming photo-based Pix4D Mapper and Leica BLK3D. SkyeBrowse reaches survey-grade, court-admissible results without ground control points. Photo-based workflows usually need ground control points, a specialist, and hours of processing to reach survey grade.
More comparisons
Map your first site today
Create a free account, upload one drone or phone video, and open a measurable 3D model in minutes. Agencies that need CJIS compliance and 0.1 inch accuracy can request a quote for Public Safety & Enterprise.
