The map is changing faster than most businesses can. We sit down with Aerometrex CEO Robert Veitch to unpack how a leaner operating model, smarter products, and disciplined sales are turning a complex geospatial portfolio into a growth engine with real operating leverage.
Robert breaks down the three pillars: MetroMap, a high‑resolution aerial imagery subscription updated up to six times a year in major cities; LIDAR, delivering precision terrain and asset intelligence for sectors like environment, energy, mining, and infrastructure; and hyper‑realistic 3D meshes that power digital twins and scenario planning. We explore why MetroMap’s ACV now has outsized margin impact, how oblique imagery, elevation profiles, contours, and hillshade reduce site visits and accelerate approvals, and what a cleaner interface means for enterprise adoption. On the LIDAR side, we go inside recent wins with the Queensland Government and Shell QGC, the 52% revenue lift, and the importance of asset utilisation without extra capex. For 3D, we dig into international momentum, practical use cases that justify spend, and the path to scale as digital twins move mainstream.
The strategy pivots on “One Aerometrex”: a unified organisation where product, production, PMO, and sales work as one, breaking silos so customers get solutions rather than isolated services. That shift, paired with more than $2 million in cost reductions and two quarters of zero cash burn, sets the stage for profitable growth. Robert also shares highlights from the Q1 trading update, the renewed Landchecker partnership with a multi‑year commitment, and a measured stance on M&A, partnerships, and licensing to maximise shareholder value.
If you care about spatial data that actually changes outcomes, this conversation delivers clarity and numbers you can trust. Subscribe, share with a colleague who lives in maps, and leave a quick review to tell us which feature you want to see next.
Episode Transcript
Welcome again to ASX Briefs, the podcast that
brings Australia's mostinnovative listed companies into
focus.
And today we're joined byRobert Veitch, the CEO of
Aerometrex Limited, a geospatialtechnology leader delivering
high-resolution aerial imagery,LIDAR and 3D visualisation
services across Australia andoffshore.
Robert, it's great to have youwith me today and welcome to the
(00:27):
ASX Briefs podcast.
Robert Veitch (00:29):
Thanks, Andrew.
Andrew Musgrave (00:30):
Now Robert, for listeners that may be
unfamiliar with Aerometrex, canyou provide a brief overview of
the company?
Robert Veitch (00:36):
Sure.
So we offer locationintelligence that gives insights
to customers and that help themmake better business decisions.
Our MetroMap image subscriptionproduct allows users to get
frequently updated andaccurately imagery throughout
Australia.
We update the major cities upto six times a year, out of
metro areas up to twice a year,and regional areas once a year.
(00:59):
It's high-resolution accurateimagery that customers use for
planning, avoiding site visits,change detection, and many other
purposes.
Our LIDAR offering allowscustomers to analyse terrain,
vegetation, buildings, pileheight, pit depth, and tree
canopy heights for manydifferent industries, including
environmental management, miningand resources, energy and
(01:22):
infrastructure, and growing agrowing market in renewables and
carbon farming.
And our world-leading 3Dproduct offers hyper-realistic
3D meshes delivered as eitherstandalone projects or
off-the-shelf products.
We're the largest Australianowned company operating in all
three areas.
Andrew Musgrave (01:39):
Okay, Robert.
And earlier this year youcompleted a major strategic
review.
So what prompted the reset andwhat changes have been made and
made the biggest impact so far?
Robert Veitch (01:50):
Yeah, so two things.
I think when I came in as CEOin February, I thought it
prudent to review all aspects ofthe business and how we
operate, the cost structure, oursales and marketing, our
aviation functions, how weinteract with customers and
partners, basically everything.
But I think the main reason wasthat the board and I believe
that Aerometrex as a company issignificantly undervalued based
(02:13):
on the strength of our threebusiness units.
Metro Map has more than $11million in annual contract value
and a fixed cost base that'saround that number as well.
So it's a business withtremendous upside.
Now that we're at around aboutthat break-even point, it's
become a very strong businessand additional annual contract
value, or ACV will go about 80%to the bottom line.
(02:37):
Our LIDAR business is a highmargin, consistent business, and
our 3D business represents ablue sky opportunity.
In terms of the biggest impactof the review, I think reducing
our cost base was crucial and Ithink has showed immediate
benefits.
Looking forward, I'm also veryoptimistic about investments we
made in our product and also ourrevamp sales function.
Andrew Musgrave (03:00):
Okay, and you've cut over $2 million in
costs, improved assetutilization, and consolidated
your operating model.
So, how have those changespositioned the company for
profitability in FY26?
Robert Veitch (03:12):
Sure.
So the cost reductions weredifficult, but I felt
necessary with a largely fixedcost base in aviation production
software, those sort of things,improved utilization will help
us do more with less.
So I think there's a there'sefficiency there.
And our organizationalstructure's been simplified to
break down the silos, and we nowoperate as one highly
(03:35):
integrated company.
We we did this for two reasons.
One one is we want it to bemore customer focused, so we
think our customers come to usto solve real problems and not
for specific product or service.
By integrating our teams, wecan come up with the best
solution from our suite ofofferings, and we're unique in
Australia in offering all ofthese different solutions.
(03:56):
I think the second reason fordoing this was to take advantage
of the talent that we had inindividual business units and
apply that across the wholecompany.
So we now have one productfunction, one production team,
one PMO team, and our sales teamcan sell all products.
We call this integratedstructure One Aerometrex.
We're all in it together andwe're all trying to drive
(04:17):
Aerometrex to the success thatits shareholders and employees
deserve.
Andrew Musgrave (04:22):
Okay, in your recent released Q1 trading
update to the market, what werethe highlights and key messages
from this update?
Robert Veitch (04:29):
Yeah, so growth in MetroMap annual contract
value accelerated further.
So we added another milliondollars in quarter one, so
represents it annualized about42% for the quarter. This
continues on the growth that wehad in the second half of FY25.
And ACV now in calendar year25's grown about 32%, which is
(04:51):
very positive.
Our LIDAR revenue was up 52%for the same period last year,
and we have a an unsecuredpipeline around $19 million.
Importantly, we maintained ourcash position from June 2025,
and so we've now had twoquarters where we haven't burnt
any cash and I think alsofinally we've got some positive
momentum in internationalmarkets with our 3D business.
(05:14):
So, in every way, this was anexcellent result for us.
Andrew Musgrave (05:17):
Okay, and you've had several large wins
this year.
So, can you just um outlinethem in a bit more detail?
Robert Veitch (05:23):
Sure.
So we renewed our partnershipwith Landchecker, which is a
minimum commitment of threemillion dollars over the next
two years, and an option for twomore.
Our partner model's been agreat way for us to enter new
markets, and as our partnersgrow, we grow with them.
So we're very positive aboutthat.
We also won major LIDARcontracts in 2025 with the
(05:45):
Queensland government for$875,000 and with Shell QGC for
over a million dollars.
Andrew Musgrave (05:51):
Okay, and recently there was a major
update of your MetroMapplatform.
So can you tell us about that?
Robert Veitch (05:56):
Sure.
So we continue to invest in ourMetroMap product, adding extra
capabilities and features thatwe think will make it more
compelling in the market.
We've added oblique imagerythat allow users to see imagery
from every angle, and a profileor elevation tool where we can
measure the heights of terrainas well as natural and built
objects.
We added dynamic contour lines,hillshade, and a totally
(06:18):
updated user interface.
We spend a lot of timelistening to our customers and
develop the products that theywant and need.
Andrew Musgrave (06:25):
Okay, and you've mentioned strategic
approaches under considerationlocally and abroad.
So can you share what types ofopportunities you're evaluating?
M&A, partnerships or technologylicensing?
Robert Veitch (06:36):
Sure.
So we we continue to evaluatevalue accretive opportunities
that will continue, quickcontribute towards maximising
shareholder value.
I can't really say a lot morethan that at this stage, but we
will certainly update the marketif there is something to
report.
I will say that there areindustry players out there who
clearly understand our businessand the real value.
I think as as was evidenced bythe Nearmap acquisition by US
(07:00):
private equity in 2022.
Andrew Musgrave (07:02):
Okay, now just to wrap things up with 2.2
million in new ACV added in 2025and strong recurring revenue
streams, what are your keypriorities for the remainder of
financial year 26?
Robert Veitch (07:14):
Yeah, we're we're definitely very focused on the
recurring revenue or theMetroMap ACV.
We believe that with verystrong growth so far this year,
with significant productenhancements just launched and a
completely re-revamped salesteam and strategy that we're in
a position to take Metromap toanother level. And since we're
also now covering the cost ofpublishing MetroMap as a
(07:36):
business, we'll start to addreal value to our company
overall.
We intend to grow our LIDARbusiness through improved
efficiency and competitivenessand improved utilization of our
assets.
We have a large upside in thisbusiness with existing assets
and without requiring anyfurther capex.
And we're continuing to developour 3D offering, working with
(07:59):
customers on new use cases andalso potentially in new
geographies.
We think as the world is movingtowards 3D and digital twins
are becoming mainstream, thatwe're very well placed to
capitalise on this.
Andrew Musgrave (08:11):
Okay, Robert.
Well, it's been great to chattoday, so thanks for your time
on giving us an update on wherethe company is at, and we look
forward to further updatesfrom Aerometre x in the upcoming
months.
Robert Veitch (08:19):
Thanks, Andrew.
I appreciate it.
Andrew Musgrave (08:21):
That concludes this episode of ASX Briefs.
Don't forget to subscribe, andwe look forward to catching you
on our next episode.
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