Education & Training

RGIS - Educational Modules, Pacific Northwest

Airborne Laser Mapping with LiDAR

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About This Module

This module focuses primarily on LiDAR specifications - what the potential buyer of this data needs to be aware of when searching for potential vendors. Some of the methods and issues associated with producing these products are also discussed and their applications highlighted.

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is a scanning and ranging laser system that produces highly accurate, high-resolution topographic maps. While the technology has been in existence for 20 years, the commercial application for topographic mapping has only developed within the last five years. Today, the entire process of airborne laser mapping is highly automated from flight planning to data acquisition to the generation of digital terrain models. This module introduces the technology and typical industry deliverables from airborne laser mapping missions. These include point files, bare-earth terrain models, and intensity images.

Module Audience

This module is for local government officials and technicians, state agencies, and federal agencies that are interesting in obtaining LiDAR data for specific study regions.

Module Materials & Tools

  • PowerPoint presentation with an accompanying ‘notes’ document containing text information for individual slides

Module Software & Hardware Needs

  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Internet access via a internet browser
  • Data projector to display the presentation to an audience if they do not have individual monitors

For More Information Contact:

Anthony Gabriel , Central Washington University
CSI - Central Washington University
400 E University Way
Ellensburg, Washington 98926
Email: gabriela@cwu.edu