Comparison · Construction drone analytics
SkyeBrowse vs Propeller
The short answer
SkyeBrowse is the better fit for public safety scenes: video in, a measurable 3D model in minutes, survey-grade accuracy without ground control points, and CJIS compliance. Propeller fits construction and earthworks teams managing surveys and design surfaces across a project.
Last checked October 13, 2026.
SkyeBrowse vs Propeller at a glance
| Category | SkyeBrowse | Propeller |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Hardware agnostic: upload surface data from the capture or survey tool that matches your accuracy needs. Source: propelleraero.com |
| Where it runs | 100% cloud, in the browser at app.skyebrowse.com. The SkyeBrowse Flight App automates Orbit and WideBrowse grid flights on supported DJI and Autel drones. | Cloud-based hub to map, measure, and manage projects with your team. Source: propelleraero.com |
| Exports and integrations | LAZ, GLB, OBJ, USDZ, GeoTIFF, and CAD (DXF or GeoJSON) on Pro and Public Safety & Enterprise models. Axon Evidence.com integration on Public Safety & Enterprise. | Brings geospatial data, from PDF design plans to TIN surfaces, together in a shared workspace. Source: propelleraero.com |
Vendor pricing and features change often. Confirm current terms with Propeller Aero before you buy.
Who should pick which
Pick SkyeBrowse if
- You document crashes, crime scenes, fires, or disasters.
- You need CJIS compliance, chain of custody, and court-ready diagrams.
- You want stockpile and earthwork volumes measured directly on a model from one video.
Pick Propeller if
- You manage construction earthworks against design surfaces over a project's life.
- Your team works from TIN surfaces and design plans in one construction workspace.
Switching from Propeller
Propeller surveys stay in Propeller. SkyeBrowse adds video-based capture: fly a video, upload it, and measure distance, area, and volume on the model.
- 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 Propeller FAQ
Can SkyeBrowse measure stockpile volumes?
Yes. Volume measurement for stockpile and earthwork quantities is available on paid plans and is calculated directly from the 3D model.
Do I need ground control targets with SkyeBrowse?
No. SkyeBrowse reaches survey-grade relative and absolute accuracy without ground control points. RTK drones and known-size objects in the scene add verification but are optional.
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.
