Tuesday 14 August 2018

What in the World is LiDAR Survey Technology?

Back in the day, people thought the eye produced invisible rays that struck objects and made them visible to the viewer. While that’s not true, it’s not a bad idea for seeing the world around us. In fact, it’s the very idea behind LiDAR survey, a digital form of imaging.

LiDAR stands for “light imaging detection and ranging.” The similarity to sonar and radar isn’t a coincidence. They all use the same echolocation principle.

Using Echoes, Waves, and Lasers to See

Just like bats use sound waves to know where they’re going, and radio waves are great for finding solid objects over long distances, LiDAR falls right in the middle. The LiDAR unit sits in the center or is carried by a drone and uses lasers to send pulses of light to its surroundings. It measures the time it takes each pulse to return and the pulse hits are recorded as a point on a 3D map or model. While some LiDAR units function differently than others, many will sweep in a circle like a radar dish while the laser moves up and down.

The World of LiDAR Technology

With today’s technology, a LiDAR unit can send and receive millions of pulses every second. The result is an incredibly detailed image of the environment and the objects within it.

LiDAR is especially suited for navigating our everyday world. With Drone LiDAR service, LiDAR is attached to drones for a survey of the land and its surroundings. LiDAR survey can produce accurate images of the ground and objects nearby. Drone LiDAR consulting services help companies combine drone and LiDAR technologies to improve survey outputs and data for their organization.

While humans have a sophisticated way of determining depth by comparing images from their two eyes, shooting lasers from the eyes and counting the nanoseconds until they return would produce far better results. At least LiDAR makes it possible for us.

LiDAR units can also be found on many autonomous cars and prototypes. They can produce a fairly detailed 3D image which enables the computer vision systems in the car’s electronic brain to tell the difference between a truck or car, motorcycle or bicycle, or an adult or child. Each of these things can act differently and require the car to slow down or make more room on the side.

LiDAR survey can’t do it all though. It can’t read flat images like words on a sign and visibility can be disrupted in fog, smoke, snow, or large objects obstructing its view. Even so, drone LiDAR service can offer a clearer picture of the immediate environment than any human being.

Are you interested in professional drone LiDAR consulting for your organization? At Insitu, we specialize in commercial and military drones and software. To learn more about our drone LiDAR service, contact us today.

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