The term LiDAR is an acronym for Light Detection And Ranging. LiDAR is an active remote sensing system that incorporates a laser scanner, GPS, and Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and can be further integrated with high resolution digital cameras and video. 

LiDAR has been adopted by many industry sectors to respond to the growing need for rapid, cost effective and accurate geospatial information. LiDAR can be used in conjunction with traditional imagery for orthorectification, but can also stand alone for vertical 3-D surface modeling. The application and requirements for this technology are as varied as the clients’ industry, experience and imagination.

LiDAR is a tool that offers

• Rapid delivery of x, y, z terrain data
• High accuracy full feature and bare earth models, even under canopy

Project Applications

Power Line Transmission Corridors

• Non-intrusive new route surveys
• Geospatial inventory acquisition
• Terrain elevation model
• Line maintenance vegetation encroachment and danger trees
• Transmission line thermal rating

Floodplain Mapping and Dam Safety

• Bare earth surface modeling
• High-risk flood zone determination
• Evacuation route planning
• Diversionary remediation planning
• Flood plain maps
• Reservoir LiDAR mapping
• GIS mapping

Mining

• Vegetation canopy and bare earth modeling, 3D Maps, ASCII x, y, z data sets
• Mine site digital elevation model (DEM)
• Hill shade relief maps
• Contour overlay, slope analysis
• Full project life cycle planning using LiDAR derived bare earth models from exploration to remediation

Oil & Gas Exploration

• Topographic map
• Environmental modeling

Other Applications

• Georeferencing
• Fault line maps
• Terrain elevation map

LSI has been involved in a wide variety of projects that span two decades and five continents. The need to customize or adapt specialized sensors for each project has been a prime goal. LSI’s fifth generation and latest LiDAR system, MATRIX, addresses these needs by incorporating a modular approach to both the hardware and software used in the data acquisition phase.  The appropriate sensors are mounted into a helicopter or aircraft and the data streams are time correlated with high accuracy to GPS time, position and aircraft attitude. This essentially produces a three-dimensional database for any sensor installed for the data collection. The typical hardware configuration of the MATRIX system includes a Digital Waveform scanning laser, an Inertial Measurement Unit for real time attitude determination, and a downward pointing high resolution digital camera for surface feature mapping and generation of orthorectified images. Additional sensors can be interfaced with MATRIX on an as needed basis to meet the client’s required data collection requirements. 

LSI’s success in a wide range of industry applications owes itself to the fully-customizable nature of its MATRIX LiDAR systems. Each project comes with its own challenges, requirements, and specifications, resulting in a cost effective, custom tailored solution for each project. To maximize the effectiveness of these enhanced services, LSI has established relationships in many industries beyond simple mapping services, providing our clients with access to additional insight into their specific industry and enhanced relevant processing techniques. LSI is currently active in full-waveform laser scanning technology.

A Novel Application of LiDAR Data for Surface Geologic Studies

A topographic surface evolves from a number of processes including, but not limited to, geologic factors. Topographic features such as outcrops, faults, etc., provide direct evidence of the underlying geologic structures.

LiDAR terrain models contain a great deal of information, including the elevation of these topographic features. However, if the irregularities related to these features have very small vertical changes, they are unlikely to become visible using currently available software.

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