Laseretäisyysmittaus

Laseretäisyysmittaus, often referred to as laser scanning or LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), is a remote sensing method that uses pulsed laser light to measure distances to the Earth's surface or other objects. The system measures the time it takes for a laser pulse to travel from the sensor to the object and back, and then calculates the distance based on the speed of light.

These measurements result in a dense point cloud, a collection of millions or billions of 3D coordinates that represent the scanned environment. This data can be used to create highly accurate digital elevation models (DEMs), digital surface models (DSMs), and 3D models of terrain, buildings, and vegetation. The technology is employed in a wide range of applications, including topographic mapping, urban planning, forestry, archaeology, environmental monitoring, and autonomous vehicle navigation.

LiDAR systems can be mounted on various platforms, such as aircraft, drones, terrestrial vehicles, or even carried by individuals. The choice of platform depends on the desired range, resolution, and survey area. The accuracy of laseretäisyysmittaus is generally very high, often achieving centimeter-level precision. Environmental factors like atmospheric conditions can influence the performance of LiDAR, but advancements in sensor technology and processing techniques continue to improve its reliability and efficiency.