How DJI drone systems cut ski resort snow costs

A major Austrian ski resort is turning to DJI drone technology to tackle one of its biggest operational headaches: snowmaking.

Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen has partnered with Austrian tech firm KIONIQ to deploy an automated drone system built around the DJI Dock 3 and DJI Matrice 4TD. The goal: modernize technical snowmaking and cut waste in a business where energy costs can spiral fast.

If you’ve ever wondered why lift tickets aren’t cheap, snowmaking is part of the answer. Artificial snow production can account for roughly half of a resort’s high winter energy budget. And when wind pushes freshly made snow off target, that’s expensive water and electricity quite literally blown away.

Until now, solving that problem meant boots on the ground. Staff had to ride up the mountain, check each snow gun, and manually adjust it. It’s time-consuming, labor-intensive, and not exactly efficient during rapidly changing weather conditions.

That’s where DJI’s automated drone system comes in.

Using thermal imaging sensors, the Matrice 4TD autonomously flies inspection routes from Dock 3, capturing real-time data on where the artificial snow is actually landing. The thermal view makes it easy to see snow distribution patterns, especially in low-visibility winter conditions.

If wind is pushing snow off-course, operators can recalibrate the snow guns almost immediately. No waiting. No manual slope-by-slope inspections.

KIONIQ, which purchased the DJI hardware through local reseller spektakulAIR, has integrated the drones into its SPECT inspection service. The system enables automated data capture and structured evaluation of piste areas, infrastructure, and safety zones. Flights are automated but supervised remotely by certified pilots.

Andre Petrovic, CEO of KIONIQ, says the company spent 2 years working with Alpine infrastructure manufacturers to develop a drone service that integrates seamlessly into ski resort operations. At the push of a button, relevant condition data is delivered, allowing faster decisions and long-term cost reductions.

For Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen, this isn’t just about cutting energy waste. It’s also about digital transformation.

CEO Peter Weichbold describes the collaboration as a practical way to test future-oriented technologies that can improve both operational safety and sustainability. In an industry heavily dependent on weather and infrastructure reliability, real-time aerial data offers a clear edge.

And snowmaking is just the beginning.

The same DJI Dock infrastructure can be used to inspect cable cars and lift systems, perform precision snow depth measurements, pre-check slopes for hazards, support artificial avalanche forecasting, and even assist search and rescue operations in difficult alpine terrain. In other words, what starts as a snow optimization project could evolve into a broader safety and monitoring ecosystem.

DJI Enterprise has released a case study video highlighting how Dock 3 and the Matrice 4TD are reshaping slope management at Planai. The system integrates with DJI’s FlightHub software, giving operators what KIONIQ calls “a completely new perspective” on resort operations.

The implications go beyond Austria. As climate variability increases and resorts face mounting sustainability pressures, efficient snow production becomes critical to keeping operations viable — and potentially keeping vacation costs in check.

One thing is clear: DJI drones aren’t just capturing cinematic ski footage anymore. They’re helping decide where the snow lands, and how much it costs to make it.

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