Mapping the future with LiDAR
Everyone’s heard of RaDAR – the process of mapping a three dimensional
environment with radio waves – but what about LiDAR? The former is an acronym
referring to the practice of Radio Detection and Ranging, whereby radio waves
are bounced off objects and recorded as they return, enabling a cartographer or
mapping instrument to build up a picture of an environment, including the
distance between things and their relative heights. LiDAR uses laser pulses to
achieve the same objective: the difference being that Light Detection and
Ranging uses much shorter wavelengths than its radio wave counterpart, which
means that smaller objects can be more accurately mapped and elevations more
successfully delineated.
One of the most useful applications of LiDAR, in
the cartographic world, is its ability to return detailed information on the
“face structure” of a terrain: which is to say, the actual contours of the
ground beneath things like trees and plant growth. LiDAR technology has been
used extensively to accurately depict the location of fault lines between
tectonic plates – an immensely useful tactic for geographers trying to build
working predictive structures that can provide early warning on possible
earthquake hotspots. The laser pulses (usually emitted from aircraft carrying
portable equipment) deliver information that is cross referenced with GPS
readouts to provide a comprehensive map of ground elevation and terrain.
LiDAR is also capable of delivering intensive atmospheric information –
something its radio wave counterpart is incapable of doing. Because the laser
pulses involved have a much shorter wavelength than RaDAR imaging, they can be
calibrated to bounce back off different densities of vapour, cloud particle, and
so on. That means that the “thinness” of the air can be measured, which allows
cartographers to generate maps carrying huge amounts of atmospheric detail.
Ultimately, LiDAR is capable of producing maps that give impressive images both
of real ground topology (rather than treeline elevations or building cover) and
atmospheric characteristics. That makes the technology invaluable for scientific
and geologic mapping of an area – ideal, for example, for companies who wish to
enter into building or excavation projects in a particular location. In effect,
the laser images of that location provide a previously impossible look at the
basic geographic characteristics of the area – its rock strata, terrain
configuration and likely weather patterns.
The technology has been adopted
by civilian mapping companies, who are starting to create incredibly detailed
maps of UK cities using Light Detection and Ranging equipment. Famously, UK
cartography outfit Get Mapping has been using LiDAR for several years now to map
elevation for construction projects and environmental agencies. The Light
Detection and Ranging equipment being used by civilian outfits is normally
shared from dedicated companies or Government bodies who have the funding and
expertise to run the aircraft and equipment needed to make the maps.
On an
increasingly claustrophobic island, where space is at a premium and new building
projects seem essential to house our people and bolster our economy, the
technology represented by Light Detection and Ranging is fast becoming
indispensable. The UK can’t afford to indulge in construction projects whose
progress is halted by unforeseen difficulties of terrain: and with this
technology on its side, it doesn’t have to.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Getmapping
Plc
environment with radio waves – but what about LiDAR? The former is an acronym
referring to the practice of Radio Detection and Ranging, whereby radio waves
are bounced off objects and recorded as they return, enabling a cartographer or
mapping instrument to build up a picture of an environment, including the
distance between things and their relative heights. LiDAR uses laser pulses to
achieve the same objective: the difference being that Light Detection and
Ranging uses much shorter wavelengths than its radio wave counterpart, which
means that smaller objects can be more accurately mapped and elevations more
successfully delineated.
One of the most useful applications of LiDAR, in
the cartographic world, is its ability to return detailed information on the
“face structure” of a terrain: which is to say, the actual contours of the
ground beneath things like trees and plant growth. LiDAR technology has been
used extensively to accurately depict the location of fault lines between
tectonic plates – an immensely useful tactic for geographers trying to build
working predictive structures that can provide early warning on possible
earthquake hotspots. The laser pulses (usually emitted from aircraft carrying
portable equipment) deliver information that is cross referenced with GPS
readouts to provide a comprehensive map of ground elevation and terrain.
LiDAR is also capable of delivering intensive atmospheric information –
something its radio wave counterpart is incapable of doing. Because the laser
pulses involved have a much shorter wavelength than RaDAR imaging, they can be
calibrated to bounce back off different densities of vapour, cloud particle, and
so on. That means that the “thinness” of the air can be measured, which allows
cartographers to generate maps carrying huge amounts of atmospheric detail.
Ultimately, LiDAR is capable of producing maps that give impressive images both
of real ground topology (rather than treeline elevations or building cover) and
atmospheric characteristics. That makes the technology invaluable for scientific
and geologic mapping of an area – ideal, for example, for companies who wish to
enter into building or excavation projects in a particular location. In effect,
the laser images of that location provide a previously impossible look at the
basic geographic characteristics of the area – its rock strata, terrain
configuration and likely weather patterns.
The technology has been adopted
by civilian mapping companies, who are starting to create incredibly detailed
maps of UK cities using Light Detection and Ranging equipment. Famously, UK
cartography outfit Get Mapping has been using LiDAR for several years now to map
elevation for construction projects and environmental agencies. The Light
Detection and Ranging equipment being used by civilian outfits is normally
shared from dedicated companies or Government bodies who have the funding and
expertise to run the aircraft and equipment needed to make the maps.
On an
increasingly claustrophobic island, where space is at a premium and new building
projects seem essential to house our people and bolster our economy, the
technology represented by Light Detection and Ranging is fast becoming
indispensable. The UK can’t afford to indulge in construction projects whose
progress is halted by unforeseen difficulties of terrain: and with this
technology on its side, it doesn’t have to.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Getmapping
Plc
0 التعليقات:
Post a Comment