Surveying the land is a common practice among civil engineers and planners. The ways in which this surveying has been conducted over the years have changed significantly. There was once a time when it would take days or even weeks to take measurements of an area, and it would be nearly impossible for one person to take these measurements without help from another party. Nowadays, lidar surveys can take place within hours and provide accurate measurements that can be used as a basis for replicating landscapes or comparing before-and-after images easily.
Lidar (light detection and ranging) is a technique that uses light pulses from lasers to measure ranges (the distance between objects) by illuminating those surfaces with laser beams, enabling highly accurate data collection of terrain features. This technique is most commonly associated with the lidar sensor system, which makes it possible to create lidar maps in a relatively short period of time
Lidar surveys are not just used in the field, but they can also be used for aerial mapping and 3D modeling of landscapes, geological formations, or even individual buildings. Lidar surveys help users obtain geographical data about various surfaces on Earth by collecting enough information so that digital elevation models (DEMs) can be created. The lidar sensor system emits laser pulses, allowing the lidar maps to show various features of the Earth’s surface in extreme detail
Lidar sensors are now affordable enough that they can be added to aerial mapping tools like planes or drones, making it possible for lidar surveys to take place almost anywhere there is access to the skies. Aerial lidar surveys provide more detailed data since they work at higher speeds than terrestrial lidar systems do and cover larger areas with less difficulty than traditional surveying techniques would.
The amount of time taken for lidar surveys depends on several factors including the type of project being done, the size of the area under study, and how frequently ground checking must occur. When lidar is used as part of an aerial mapping project, lidar surveys can take place in a matter of hours or days. For lidar ground checking that must occur onsite, lidar survey times are significantly slower due to the fact that these measurements cannot be done from above.
These lidar survey advantages are just a few of the reasons why lidar surveys have become so popular recently. In fact, lidar surveys can be used in many different ways to provide accurate data measurements that benefit various projects from aerial mapping to 3D modeling and more.
With lidar surveys being faster and less costly than they were in the past, lidar technology is moving forward quickly, providing a wide array of possibilities for anyone wishing to use this data collection method. It’s not hard to see why lidar has become so popular given how detailed lidar maps are and how fast lidar systems operate when completing their tasks.
Lidar surveys have more advantages than simply being faster and cheaper than other surveying techniques. The lidar survey technique takes little time if it includes aerial measurements, does not require advanced equipment for operation, provides highly detailed information about landscapes or surfaces, has few limitations when it comes to terrain, is affordable even by small businesses or homeowners who want to map their property, and is safe because lidar beams do not create any harmful radiation.
