For now they cannot do that, nor in the foreseeable future.

Why not? It isn't exactly a secret technology nor are LIDAR-equipped RC aircrafts/drones particularly out of reach in terms of cost either. What would stop them exactly?

	▲	jcattle a day ago \| parent \| next [-]
		With this you are searching for a needle in a haystack. There's a whole bunch of jungle to cover. With a drone you would spend ages not finding anything due to their limited range. That Would be pretty bad ROI. Also, drone mounted LiDAR is often not powerful enough to go through dense foliage which you have in these tropical climates.
	▲	paganel a day ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		> nor are LIDAR-equipped RC aircrafts/drones particularl Here in Romania it can be quite illegal to LIDAR map the local terrain without an official approval, and I'm not quite sure if that approval is ever given to individual persons/groups of persons that do not have any official status. So, no, I cannot just go out and LIDAR map my surroundings, even though the technology is available, I'd risk going to prison.