Category Archives: Lidar/Imaging

Disparate Data for Marine Life

Remote sensing data helps to inform ocean planning for energy development around the main Hawaiian islands. Using remotely sensed imagery to map physical and biological patterns in the marine environment enhances our ability to understand how environmental conditions change over broad spatial scales (10s to 100s of kilometers) and temporal scales (years to decades). These...

Single-Photon Lidar

SPL collects massive data from the air, uses less power, and can see through semi-porous objects with green lasers. Technological advances in our industry have truly been a sight to behold. It seems like when you blink, already there’s a faster, smaller version of the instrument you just bought. Look at aerial lidar, for instance–who...

The Scanning Stalker: Who’s That In My Point Clouds?

There he is again. This is the third time today. I keep finding him in my scans–hiding behind some tree or peeking around a corner. I keep an eye out while I’m in the field, but I’ve never caught him in the act. I’ve gotten used to it over the years, but it still gives...

small micro drone with four rotors, black white and yellow

UAS Crystal Ball 2017

Four things to watch for in the UAS space next year. Regulation: I just made up an acronym—“GBVLOS”—Getting beyond visual line of sight. With the rollout of the FAA’s Rule 107 allowing sUAS into the NAS for commercial work, the profession breathed a sigh of relief. Issues still remain, though: namely exemptions for BVLOS. So...

A Geiger lidar image of downtown Charlotte, North Carolina

A Lidar That Oversamples: Geiger Lidar Imaging

Harris Corporation’s Geiger-mode lidar reaches new markets. Typical linear lidar systems repeatedly fire a single beam, each time measuring a single location on the ground. They collect data at a given resolution, which is also the processing resolution. By contrast, a Geiger-mode system is an array that illuminates a large area on the ground, capturing...

Trimble SX10

Trimble Unveils SX10 Scanning Total Station

Trimble unveiled a next-generation survey instrument—the Trimble® SX10 Scanning Total Station. It merges high-speed 3D scanning, enhanced Trimble VISION™ imaging technology and high-accuracy total station measurements into familiar field and office workflows for surveyors. The innovative solution provides surveyors and geospatial professionals with the capabilities and versatility to handle projects from traditional surveys to complex...