Equipment Rental
Survey, laser scanning, and UAS kits for Institute of Environment faculty and graduate students — rates, eligibility, and how to request a checkout.
Rates are per unit, per day and apply to Institute of Environment faculty and graduate students. Pickup day counts as a rental day. Weekly rate = 4 × the per-unit daily rate.
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Contact: gisrs@fiu.edu
1. Rate card
GNSS survey
Rental of any GNSS receiver includes controller, batteries, chargers, and tripods. All Trimble checkouts include access to Trimble Business Center. Trimble R980 includes Trimble RTX service for the checkout period.
| Kit | Qty | Daily (per unit) | Weekly (per unit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trimble R8 GNSS receiver | 2 | $40 | $160 |
| Trimble R10 GNSS receiver | 1 | $70 | $280 |
| Trimble R980 GNSS receiver (includes RTX)¹ | 1 | $150 | $600 |
| Trimble TDL450H UHF radio (add-on; includes lithium battery) | 1 | $20 | $80 |
- ¹ Trimble R980 comes preloaded with Trimble RTX subscription included with rental.
- A base-and-rover checkout is billed per receiver (for example, two R8s = $80/day). The TDL450H is billed only when the high-power base radio is checked out.
Total station
Includes access to Trimble Business Center.
| Kit | Qty | Daily (per unit) | Weekly (per unit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trimble S9 total station | 1 | $125 | $500 |
Terrestrial laser scanning
| Kit | Qty | Daily (per unit) | Weekly (per unit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leica BLK360 G1¹ | 1 | $90 | $360 |
| FARO FocusS 150² | 1 | $170 | $680 |
| Riegl VZ-1000 with GIS Center operator³ | 1 | $750 (equipment + operator) | Please inquire for pricing |
- ¹ Leica BLK360 requires an active subscription to Leica Cyclone to convert scans to a usable (non-proprietary) format. This is not included in the daily rental rate but can be negotiated for long-term rentals.
- ² FIU CED GIS Center retains a software license for FARO SCENE to register, process, and offload scans. Rentals include access to the software.
- ³ Use of the Riegl VZ-1000 requires a certified operator provided by the CED GIS Center, which is reflected in the quoted rate. There is no without-operator checkout.
Unmanned aircraft
CED GIS Center has access to Pix4D Mapper and ArcGIS Drone2Map for drone photogrammetry. Access to these licenses is included with UAS rentals.
| Kit | Qty | Daily (per unit) | Weekly (per unit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draganflyer Commander | 1 | $65 | $260 |
| MicaSense RedEdge payload (add-on) | 1 | $35 | $140 |
| Commander + RedEdge | — | $100 | $400 |
Staff support
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| Advanced setup designs, post-processing training, data processing (offloading, conversions, pre-processing), and/or consultation on data analysis | $100/hour |
2. What is included
- GNSS receiver kits: controller (including TSC510 when assigned to the checkout), batteries, chargers, tripod or rover pole, and Trimble Business Center access.
- R980: Trimble RTX subscription for the checkout period.
- TDL450H: billed separately when needed for a long-range radio base; includes lithium battery.
- TLS: tripod, batteries, chargers, and transport case as issued. FARO FocusS 150 includes FARO SCENE software access.
- All Trimble-capable kits: Trimble Business Center access.
3. Eligibility and training
Eligible renters are Institute of Environment faculty and graduate students. A faculty sponsor is required for all rentals.
The GIS Center hosts two workshops per year on unit usage. Topics rotate and may include GNSS styles (RTK, PPK, RTX), terrestrial laser scanning, total station, and drone operations. Workshop schedule and materials will be linked here when published. Online recordings, when available, are supplemental to in-person training.
Checkout requires attendance at one of these trainings and passing a proficiency exam, unless previous experience and proficiency have already been demonstrated.
Riegl VZ-1000
The Riegl VZ-1000 is rented only with a GIS Center operator at $750/day. There is no without-operator checkout.
Drones — first rental
In addition to the workshop/exam (or prior demonstrated proficiency), the first drone checkout requires a practicum: the user must take off and land successfully. Check-in and drop-off include a complete process showing that the user has followed all FAA procedures for flight missions (authorizations, logs, and mission paperwork as applicable). Subsequent rentals keep the FAA check-in/drop-off. The practicum is required on the first rental unless proficiency has lapsed. UAS use also requires FAA Part 107 and authorization under FIU Policy 500.001 ( drones@fiu.edu) before checkout.
4. Duration, travel, and off-campus use
The charge is the number of calendar days the kit is out, at the per-unit daily rate.
- Off-campus documents must be filed for use greater than 7 consecutive days, or for travel outside of South Florida.
- International use is not offered through the standard checkout process and is considered only case by case when a request arises.
5. How to request a checkout
Email gisrs@fiu.edu during office hours (Monday–Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.). Include:
- Training / proficiency status
- Destination (campus, South Florida, or domestic travel)
- Whether a drone practicum timeslot needs to be booked
- Project Activity number for SmartBilling (required for invoicing)
Billing is typically monthly for recurring use, or a one-time invoice when the kit is returned for single rentals.
6. Damage and maintenance
The GIS Center is responsible for regular maintenance, normal wear, and malfunctions.
Occasional field accidents (wind, unstable terrain) happen. Those repairs are budgeted into the rental rates and are not billed as extra damage. Accidents must still be reported immediately.
The renter is responsible for damage resulting from negligence, including:
- abandoning equipment or accessories;
- dropping equipment or exposing it to water;
- damage that results from unreported incidents.
Always report any concern regarding damage immediately.
Questions? gisrs@fiu.edu · Office hours Monday–Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.