Laseraltimetriä

Laseraltimetriä, often referred to as laser altimetry or laser ranging, is a remote sensing technique used to measure the elevation of a surface from a distance. It typically employs a laser beam emitted from an aircraft, satellite, or ground-based platform. The time it takes for the laser pulse to travel to the surface and return to the sensor is precisely measured. Knowing the speed of light, this time-of-flight data can be converted into a distance measurement. By taking numerous such measurements over an area, a detailed three-dimensional topographic map can be created.

This technology has a wide range of applications. In environmental science, it is used for monitoring changes in forest canopy height, glacier melt, and sea level rise. It plays a crucial role in hydrology for mapping riverbeds and flood plains, and in geology for studying landforms and fault lines. Urban planning and infrastructure development also benefit from laser altimetry for creating precise digital elevation models for site analysis and construction.

The accuracy of laseraltimetriä depends on factors such as the wavelength of the laser, the atmospheric conditions, the stability of the platform, and the sophistication of the processing algorithms. Different types of laser altimeters exist, including scanning LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) systems that provide dense point clouds of the surface, and profiling systems that collect data along a linear track. The data generated is invaluable for scientific research, resource management, and various engineering projects.