LiDAR

(Light Detection And Ranging)

LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging)

What is LiDAR
LiDAR, or 3D laser scanning, in the 1960s was originally designed for the detection of ships
on the sea floor of the aircraft and was first used successfully enough in the 1970s in the
United States, Canada and Australia. Over the last ten years has been a shift in the use of
LiDAR sensors, especially in some developed countries, especially the use of the survey both
Airborne (air) and ground (land). It is also accompanied by increased awareness and
understanding of the LiDAR to the other fields of expertise that were not initially related.

How LiDAR Work

From scientific perspective the principle of LiDAR is quite simple, light shining from the
sensor to the surface, reflected from the surface and measuring the time required to return to
the source of the initial light. When the torch or light in a room shine, exactly what our eyes
see ? ie the reflected light to the eyes retina.
Light travels very fast around 300.000 kilometer per second or 186.000 miles per second or
0,3 meters per nano-second, so light on his way to the naked eye can not be seen, but it can
feel a difference from the dark into the light. Instrument that can measure and detect light
movement operates very fast as well. Advances of modern computing technology makes it
possible to measure the speed of light.
Actual calculation to measure how far a photon of light has to travel back to and from the
object simple enough: Distance (s) = (Speed of light x time of light) / 2

By using the term Airborne LiDAR and Ground LiDAR. Airborne LiDAR with LiDAR
sensor mounted and fired from the aircraft to the ground. While Ground LiDAR with LiDAR
sensor mounted and fired from the ground.

Airborne LIDAR
Airborne LiDAR systems generally consist of:
1. Laser sensor
2. Camera sensor
3. GPS receiver
4. Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)
5. Computer and data Storage.

Fig.1 Airborne LIDAR

LiDAR is the latest technology in providing a spatial data quickly and accurately. In simple
terms how LiDAR work is an active waveform fired from the aircraft to the surface of the
earth, the wave will be reflected back after hitting an objects on the surface of the earth. Each
objects that reflect the wave will be obtained the coordinates by x, y and z.

Airborne LiDAR Data Deliver:

1. LiDAR Raw Data & Single Frame Aerial Photo
2. DSM (Digital Surface Model)
3. DTM (Digital Terrain Model)
4. Intensity Image
5. Contour Map, with intervals of 0.5 m or 1 m
6. Orthophoto Map, with 15 cm pixel resolution
7. Thematic Map
8. BM (Bench Mark) / Ground Control Point

Fig.2 Aerial LIDAR

The use of LiDAR data, among other are:

1. Mining Design
2. Drainage Design
3. High Voltage Wires Line Monitoring
4. Freeway Design
5. Railway Track Design
6. Urban Planning and Design
7. Forest Monitoring
8. Eligible Cutting Trees Monitoring
9. Cut and Fill Planning
10. Flood Management (inundation areas, evacuation areas and so on)

Nowadays, topographic services with LiDAR technology is widely used within the mining,
plantation, forestry, as well as planning and civil.

Ground LiDAR Laser

Ground LiDAR is a LiDAR sensor mounted and fired from the ground, could be static or
mobile. Conceptually ground LiDAR and aerial LiDAR almost equal in terms of its output
data. LiDAR tool rotates while firing a laser beam into the surrounding, in 360 rotation. the
ability of laser range also varies depending on the type of the appliance, there are 2 km and
there is also to 3 km.
All objects reflect the light and bring the coordinate information of each of the reflective
object. The set of coordinates known as cloud point, with coordinates data x, y and z.

Fig.3 Ground LiDAR Operational

Ground LiDAR Data Deliver:

1. Raw LiDAR Data
2. DTM (Digital Terrain Model)
3. Contour Map
The use of LIDAR data among other:
1. Mapping Progress
2. Deformation Monitoring
3. Land Slide Monitoring
This service is widely used within the mining, plantation, forestry and civil / engineering.

Fig.4 Example of Ground LiDAR Sensing

In the past decade, because of the advantages of LiDAR, it has largely displaced
Photogrammetry as the process for development of large scale topographic maps.
.

LiDAR Advantages in Topographic Mapping:

LiDAR sensors can be operated in any weather (not so with cameras- the clouds get
in the way)
LiDAR sensors are not affected by low sun angles - which would prevent useful
photos
IN FACT LiDAR can actually operate at night!
More hours of useful flying per day means LiDAR offers greater efficiency, faster
results, and can cover more ground than photogrammetry
Rural and remote areas are easier and quicker to survey with LiDAR because each
point has geo - referenced location and elevation no orthorectification of image no
network of photo panels required
Photogrammetry needs to be able to see the ground to create contours
LiDAR returns come from every object illuminated the lowest being the ground
wherever the sunlight hits LiDAR will return XYZ
LiDAR creates a 3D model directly from the returns
Photogrammetry requires contrast to see ground surfaces desert, wetlands, beaches,
coasts are difficult or impossible, LiDAR results come directly from the returned
signal contrast not required

Fig.5 LiDAR Technology create more detail 3D map

LIDAR in civil/ Surveying firm:

Terrestrial LiDAR (Scanning) can rapidly map complex sites in much more detail than
is possible with conventional means this makes a better base sheet for design

And even if not complex, it covers areas that are large (but too small to fly)- quickly

For larger areas, site specific aerial LiDAR provides base sheets for all types of project
specific civil engineering design such as:
Master Plan, Grading, Utilities, Drainage Analysis, Erosion Control, Stormwater
Treatment and Roadway Design.

Fig.6 highway ramp pavement cross-slope data collecting using LiDAR sensing

Appendix:

DTM (Digital Terrain Model ) of Railway track section with LiDAR

DTM and Contour of Railway track section with LiDAR

Contour Map create from LiDAR sensing data

Railway Track Alignment profile with LiDAR

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LiDAR
- LiDAR Applications in Surveying and Engineering 2013 NC GIS Conference Raleigh, NC - Frank A.
Alex Rankin, III PE, PLS
- http://www.LiDARindonesia.com
- http://www.karvak.co.id