The collection of lidar data from the air has continued to improve steadily as new technologies are implemented. New sensors and features are also enabling large-scale and urban data collection in more detail and with less noise than previously possible. The presentations in this session will focus on some high-profile and large-scale data collection projects that new technologies have enabled, as well as the tools that are making the data easier to analyze once the collection has been completed.
Current Advancements in Airborne Lidar Systems and their Market Drivers
Lidar technologies continued its upward stride to provide users of the technology with data that is rich with information yet making it easier to collect data over entire state or country. In 2016 the USGS published a report entitled “Evaluation of Single Photon and Geiger Mode Lidar for the 3D Elevation Program.” Since then, there have been notable advancements in commercial lidar systems including those using linear, Geiger, and other single photon sensitive detectors. This presentation will provide an updated overview of today’s commercial lidar systems, a comparison of their capabilities. In addition, the presentation will address several key applications and market drivers requiring higher sampling rates, accuracies, spectra, and more. The presentation will lay groundwork for a future comparative study, possibly a refresh of the 2016 USGS report, that will quantify some of these performance criteria based on the latest commercially available lidar systems.
Qassim Abdullah, Woolpert
Digital Infrastructure – Roadway + Property Inventories and Conditions From The Sky – AI/ML Based Insights From High-Resolution Aerial Data
Digitizing transportation infrastructure is a major challenge, not to mention extracting actionable insights for improving road safety and risk analysis across entire cities, counties, or states. The expanding use of high resolution, aerial data services is enabling rapid assessment of as-built conditions for safety, mobility, and roadway planning use-cases, plus offering a means to maintain and sustain efforts cost effectively. Use of advanced analytics on highly accurate visual data allows the pinpointing of issues, validation of results and easy integration to existing tools. The audience will learn about the differences in emerging technologies, while gaining a new understanding of the trends in deployment ready solutions. Real world examples from the field will show the power and performance of this information across multiple use-cases, each with a tie back to safety and risk management.
Mark Davis, Vexcel Imaging, Inc
Crossing the Digital Divide: Multiscale 3D Data, Game Engines and Enabling GIS Communications
A key challenge for the GIS industry is finding effective and compelling ways to communicate complex ideas to the people it affects, to enable better decision making. The emergence of game engines in the geospatial industry leads to a powerful opportunity to replicate the real world in a compelling way. Presenting 3D spatial data with a high degree of photorealism enables everyone to understand proposed scenarios and make meaningful decisions based on accurate information.
Starting with high-resolution street-level photogrammetry gives the most relatable sense of space currently possible – we can recognize details and connect with it. However, this level of fidelity is not always needed or wanted when working at city-scale, which is where multiscale data comes in.
Capturing imagery at different resolutions, from different platforms, can maximize efficiency and best address the actual needs. These imagery sets can be combined using photogrammetric techniques to produce a seamless 3D mesh optimized for project needs.
Using such multiscale 3D models in game engines allows the creation of experiences adapted to the stories we want to tell. “Bird’s eye” overviews of entire cities provide context, while a seamless transition into street-level exploration of key focus areas creates an immersive environment in which to focus on details and make better decisions.
Jeremy Pollard, Aerometrex
The Lightness of Airborne Laser Scanning: Technical & Legal Aspects Using General Aviation Aircraft With Special Consideration Of External Payloads
This presentation will address the technical and legal aspects of using general aviation aircraft for Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) missions, focusing on the use of external payloads for manned helicopters and airplanes. General aviation aircraft, with their world-wide availability, versatility and cost-effectiveness, offer an ideal platform for ALS operations.
We examine the possibility to mount compact high-performance ALS systems including cameras and IMU/GNSS in payloads like fully equipped wing pods, emphasizing their compatibility with general aviation aircraft and their potential for enhancing data acquisition capabilities. Furthermore, legal considerations related to the use of such external payloads are addressed, including regulatory frameworks and permits required for operating ALS-equipped aircraft. Understanding and adhering to aviation and remote sensing regulations is crucial to ensure the safe and lawful operation of ALS missions.
These considerations serve as a valuable resource for practitioners and decision makers involved in geospatial data collection and analysis in order to facilitate cost-effective airborne surveying.
Peter Rieger, RIEGL
