Aerial LiDAR Survey

Aerial LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) Survey is an advanced remote sensing technology that utilizes laser pulses to capture highly precise and dense 3D data of the Earth’s surface. This method is particularly effective for generating accurate terrain models, even in areas with dense vegetation or complex landscapes where traditional surveying and photogrammetry may have limitations.

In this process, a LiDAR sensor mounted on an aircraft or drone emits thousands to millions of laser pulses per second toward the ground. Each pulse travels to the surface and reflects back to the sensor, where the time taken for its return is measured. Using this time-of-flight data, the system calculates exact distances, resulting in a highly detailed “point cloud” dataset composed of millions of georeferenced points.

One of the key strengths of LiDAR technology is its ability to penetrate vegetation. Multiple returns from a single laser pulse allow the system to distinguish between tree canopies, understory, and the ground surface, making it ideal for creating accurate bare-earth models.