LiDAR Mapping: A Remote Sensing Technology

LiDAR stands for Light Detection And Ranging (or for Laser Imaging Detection And Ranging). It is an airborne optical remote-sensing technology which measures scattered light to find out range and other information on a distant target. This technology allows the direct measurement of three-dimensional structures and the underlying terrain. Depending on the methodology used to capture the data, the resultant data can be very dense. Lidar uses ultraviolet, visible, or near infrared light to capture object images. Also it can target a wide range of materials, including non-metallic objects, rocks, rain, chemical compounds, aerosols, clouds and even single molecules. A narrow laser-beam can map physical features with very high resolution.