OPEN DAY PHOTOGRAMMETRY 2026: When new perspectives emerge from professional exchange

New technologies, new questions, and above all, many discussions about what photogrammetry must achieve today.
On September 29th and 30th, 2026, companies, users, technology partners, and interested parties came together in Dessau for the OPEN DAY PHOTOGRAMMETRY 2026 .

 Together with our ODP partners geoplana, AVT Airborne Sensing, BSF Swissphoto and Aerowest, we spent two days not only presenting current developments in the industry, but also discussing, classifying and further developing them. 

The motto "Hands-on Photogrammetry" was a deliberate choice. The ODP isn't just about technologies and technical presentations. Crucially, it's about exchanging ideas on how methods, sensors, and data products are used in practice and what concrete added value they create for real-world applications. 

Photogrammetry meets aviation history

The venue also played a significant role in shaping ODP 2026. 

at the "Hugo Junkers" Technical Museum, a venue where aviation history can be experienced firsthand. The Ju 52 as a central focal point and the light-filled hall created an atmosphere perfectly suited to an event focused on aerial photography and photogrammetry.

At the same time, we expanded the circle of participants this year: For the first time, students from Anhalt University of Applied Sciences were also invited.

We were particularly pleased that they not only actively participated but also scored points in the quiz about the survey flights. The exchange between experienced industry representatives and young professionals is exactly the kind of connection we want to strengthen further in the future. 

Because when we talk about the future of photogrammetry, the next generation also needs to be at the table.

From Digital Twin to AI: Which topics are driving the industry

On both days, it became clear from a technical perspective how much the processes surrounding aerial surveys, data collection and geodata production are currently evolving. 

The digital twin remains a central topic. Discussions surrounding digital representations, reality mapping, and the processing of large geodata sets demonstrate how closely data acquisition, processing, and subsequent use are now intertwined.

At the same time, another theme ran through the ODP: the increasing support of artificial intelligence in the processing of geodata. AI is thus becoming an increasingly integral part of concrete workflows and applications and can contribute to making processes more efficient and enabling more targeted analysis of large data sets. 

The ODP has once again demonstrated that technological developments cannot be viewed in isolation. What matters is how well they integrate into existing processes and what added value they create in the actual workflow.

An industry that thrives on exchange

The discussions between program items were at least as important to us as the technical input. 

A key component of OPEN DAY PHOTOGRAMMETRY remains the direct exchange within the industry. It is precisely this bringing together of different perspectives that makes ODP more than just a traditional trade event.

Aicke Damrau, Managing Director of GeoFly, sums up this claim perfectly:

"For us, the ODP is far more than just a technical event: It offers a valuable platform for direct, open exchange between technology providers, aerial survey companies and users. In our joint dialogue, we discuss current topics in photogrammetry and provide crucial impetus to shape the future of the industry in partnership."

The value of this format has become evident in our discussions with our partners. We were particularly pleased by their clear commitment to participate again in the next OPEN DAY PHOTOGRAMMETRY. The fact that the ODP now has a permanent place in their calendars is a strong sign for us.

What will remain of the ODP 2026

After two intense days, many professional insights, new contacts, and further discussions remain. Above all, one important realization remains: 

The further development of our industry does not only happen through new technologies. It also arises from exchange with one another.

That is precisely where the special value of OPEN DAY PHOTOGRAMMETRY lies for us.

An industry needs places where knowledge is not only presented but shared. Places where technology meets application. Where different perspectives become visible. And where a conversation might lead to the next idea, collaboration, or shared solution.

We would like to thank our ODP partners, speakers and all participants from Germany, Austria and Switzerland who contributed their experiences, questions and perspectives to these two days.