Airborne LiDAR is a new technology that is revolutionizing the way we collect LiDAR data. With Airborne LiDAR, you can collect data faster, with higher resolution, and in a much more cost-effective manner.
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Aircraft and helicopters are the most often used platforms for collecting LiDAR data over
vast areas. The two types of LiDAR are topographic and bathymetric. Topographic LiDAR
normally maps the surface using a near-infrared laser, but bathymetric LiDAR also
estimates heights of the seafloor and riverbeds using water-penetrating green light. A
drone or a helicopter fitted with airborne LiDAR is utilized to collect data. When Airborne
LiDAR is turned on, light is sent in the direction of the ground, and when it reaches an
object, it immediately bounces back to the sensor, giving an accurate distance reading.
Topological and bathymetric LiDAR are the two types of airborne LiDAR.
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A pulsed laser is used in the distant sensing technique known as LiDAR, which stands for
Light Detection and Ranging, to measure ranges (varying distances) to the Earth. These
light pulses produce precise, three-dimensional information on the shape of the Earth and
its surface features when paired with other data captured by the aerial system. A LiDAR
device’s main components are a laser, a scanner, and an advanced GPS receiver. The most
popular platforms for gathering LiDAR data over large areas are aircraft and helicopters.
Topographic and bathymetric LiDAR are two different types. While bathymetric LiDAR
also measures elevations of the seafloor and riverbeds using water-penetrating green
light, topographic LiDAR typically maps the land using a near-infrared laser. For data
collection, a drone or a helicopter equipped with airborne LiDAR is used. As soon as it is
turned on, Airborne LiDAR sends light toward the ground, and when that light strikes an
item, it immediately bounces back to the sensor, providing an accurate distance
measurement. The two types of airborne LiDAR are Topological LiDAR and Bathymetric
LiDAR.
Major factors driving the growth of the market
Demand for Lidar drones is constantly increasing. UAVs frequently carry visible-
wavelength video cameras, as well as sometimes long-wavelength IR cameras. However, it
can be challenging to find dangers using these imaging techniques if they are concealed in
the background, in the shadows, or behind a window that blocks out such wavelengths. To
improve the likelihood of completely surveying these kinds of landscapes, active 3D
imaging techniques can be applied. Additionally, the 3D data can be used to aid in the
detection of dangers and obstructions (such as masts and cables) in low-light situations.
Trends influencing the growth of the market
The main drivers of the increase in demand for airborne LiDAR for military
applications include the requirement for unmanned aerial vehicles to reduce casualties
in combat, high precision LiDAR-based monitoring, protection of perimeters, and
continuous aerial surveillance of areas.
System integration, the creation of 3D data processing methods, the combination of 3D
data with information from visual and thermal cameras, and experimentation.
Commercial off-the-shelf UAVs, allows quick deployment and get high-resolution data. A
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manned airborne sensor system often costs substantially more than UAV systems. Multi-
rotor UAVs also have the benefit of being able to hover in one place if a particularly high-
density data point is required.
Market Dynamics
The increase in defense spending will encourage procurement of airborne LiDAR
systems and related systems to step up their production volumes and improve their
quality, thereby enhancing competition in the global markets. Procurement will also be
driven by prevailing geo political conditions in Europe and the Asia Pacific and increasing
use of submarines for surveillance and intelligence gathering.
Developments
YellowScan, one of the top manufacturers of UAV lidar, unveiled Explorer, a new flagship
long-range lidar system, at the commercial UAV Americans expo. Less than a year later,
they released Voyager, their newest product, adding to their lineup of lidar systems. The
long-range lidar technology can effectively cover intricate and vertical targets and is
compatible with both human and unmanned aircraft. The Voyager can fly up to 440
meters above ground level (AGL), which is over 100 meters higher than the Explorer
variant. It weighs only 3.5 kilos, not including the weight of the battery, and boasts a
system precision of 0.5 centimeters and a system accuracy of one centimeter. The best
users of YellowScan’s newest product are those entrusted with surveying some of the most
difficult terrains, particularly those with dense vegetation. Additionally, it can function in
a variety of temperatures between -10 and 40 degrees Celsius (14 to 104 degrees
Fahrenheit). The scanner, which may be integrated with manned aircraft, multirotor
UAVs, and fixed-wing UAVs, has a variety of possible users.
The AlphaAir 1400 (AA1400) and AlphaAir 2400 (AA2400) Lidar systems have been
made available via HC Navigation (CHCNAV). Both options are lightweight airborne laser
scanners that can be quickly and simply mounted on a variety of UAV platforms, as well
as on small survey planes and helicopters. They are perfectly suited to high-density point
corridor mapping applications, whether it is day or night, leaf-on or leaf-off, or whether
there is a lot of vegetation present. For the AlphaAir, CHCNAV offers a number of
external camera accessories. For data acquisition, users can select from 42, 100, or 150MP
fully calibrated sensors. Additionally, setups can include Sony or Phase One nadir or nadir
and oblique cameras. More applications that aim to boost the client’s return on
investment can be helped by collecting high-resolution georeferenced and oblique
imagery.