LiDAR: What is it and how is it used?
LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging.
It is a remote sensing technology that uses
light pulses emitted from a laser to measure
distances between the earth and a sensor.
Thousands of these light pulses are collected
into a “Point Cloud” that provides precise,
three-dimensional information about the
surface of the earth and its surface
characteristics. The “Point Cloud” itself is not a
photograph, but a representation of the
earth’s surface.
Fig. 1 A LiDAR “Point Cloud” of a mountainous region.
In practice, a LiDAR instrument consists of a laser, a sensor and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver mounted to
an aircraft. As the aircraft flies over the ground, laser pulses are shot at the earth’s surface. These pulses are reflected
off the earth’s surface and return to the aircraft mounted sensor.
Fig 2. An aircraft gathering LiDAR Information.
LiDAR has many applications. Common applications of LiDAR include:
 Creation of accurate shoreline maps and monitoring of lake levels.
 Floodplain and flood-risk maps.
 Modeling the flow of run-off, floods or chemical spills.
 Creation of accurate topographic maps and contour lines for construction or engineering purposes.
 Disaster management/mitigation and emergency response.
Fig 3. A LiDAR “Point Cloud” of a bridge and a comparison photograph of the same structure.
Additional Information
ArcNews, “Discovering and Mapping Natural Hazards with Lidar,” Winter 2012/2013.
http://www.esri.com/esri-news/arcnews/winter1213articles/discovering-and-mapping-natural-hazards-withlidar
ESRI, “What is lidar data?” 2013.
http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.1/index.html#//015w00000041000000
Jones, J.L., “Mapping a Flood… Before It Happens,” U.S. Department of the Interior Fact Sheet 2004-3060, 2004.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2004/3060/
Kwan, M. and D. Ransberger, “LiDAR assisted emergency response: Detection of transport network obstructions caused
by major disasters ,” Computers, Environment and Urban Systems 34 (2010) 179-188.
http://www.meipokwan.org/Paper/CEUS_2010.pdf
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “What is LIDAR?” 2015.
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/lidar.html
Reutebuch et al., “Light Detection and Ranging: An Emerging Tool for Multiple Resource Inventory,” Journal of Forestry
(2005), 286-292.
http://forsys.cfr.washington.edu/JFSP06/publications/Reutebuch_et_al_2005_PR.pdf
State of Michigan LiDAR Acquisition Program, “Program Overview.” 2015
http://www.michigan.gov/cgi/0,4548,7-158-52927_53037_12699_63834---,00.html
United States Geological Survey, “Light Detection and Ranging.” 2012.
https://lta.cr.usgs.gov/LIDAR
United States Geological Survey, “What is LIDAR and where can I get more information?” 2015.
http://www.usgs.gov/faq/categories/9804/3738