TOPVIEW SRL

Their core work

TOPVIEW SRL is an Italian SME specializing in drone-based geospatial services, combining GNSS/EGNSS high-accuracy positioning with remote sensing technologies such as optical cameras, thermal imaging, and LiDAR. They develop and apply drone (RPAS/UAV) solutions for infrastructure inspection, asset mapping, search and rescue, and unmanned traffic management (UTM). Their work spans photovoltaic plant maintenance, port surveillance, electrification mapping in emerging countries, and altitude reference systems for drone airspace integration.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

TOPVIEW started with precision GNSS applications for specific infrastructure tasks — notably using EGNSS/RTK and computer vision for photovoltaic plant maintenance (EASY Pv, 2016). From 2018 onward, their focus broadened significantly toward autonomous drone platforms, multi-sensor remote sensing (optical, thermal, LiDAR), and drone airspace integration for safety-critical applications like search and rescue, port surveillance, and U-Space. The shift reflects a move from single-application drone services to becoming a versatile drone technology integrator across security, environment, and transport domains.

TOPVIEW is evolving from a GNSS-focused drone operator toward a full-stack autonomous drone solutions provider, increasingly targeting safety-critical and security applications — a strong fit for future U-Space, civil protection, and smart infrastructure projects.

How they like to work

TOPVIEW operates exclusively as a consortium participant, never as coordinator, which is typical for a specialized SME contributing specific technical capabilities to larger projects. With 96 unique partners across 14 countries in just 7 projects, they work in large, diverse consortia and do not appear tied to a fixed set of repeat partners. This makes them an adaptable team player — easy to integrate into new consortia where drone/GNSS expertise is needed.

TOPVIEW has built a broad European network of 96 unique partners spanning 14 countries through 7 H2020 projects. Their reach is wide for an SME of their size, reflecting the multi-national nature of the space, transport, and security consortia they join.

What sets them apart

TOPVIEW combines deep GNSS/EGNSS positioning expertise with hands-on drone operations and multi-sensor payloads (optical, thermal, LiDAR), a combination that is relatively rare among European SMEs. While many companies offer either satellite positioning or drone services, TOPVIEW integrates both — making them particularly valuable for projects requiring centimeter-accurate airborne surveys. Their experience across space, transport, environment, and security pillars means they can bridge domains that typically operate in silos.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SARA
  Largest funding (EUR 382,703) — applied high-accuracy EGNSS to search and rescue operations, combining their core GNSS and drone capabilities for life-saving applications.
• COMP4DRONES
  Ambitious ECSEL-style framework project on safe autonomous drones covering composition, autonomy, interoperability, and security — positioned TOPVIEW within the European drone ecosystem's key players.
• AMPERE
  Expanded their geographic and thematic reach into electrification mapping for emerging countries, combining optical, thermal, and LiDAR sensors for asset inventory — a distinctive application of their core skills.