Looking at the image of the underside of a bridge derived from data collected by a boat-mounted LiDAR system, engineers can detect spalling, a type of deterioration in concrete. Surveyors can collect data at a few centimeter accuracy while driving in traffic with a LiDAR system mounted on their truck, at much less risk than by standing with a tripod on the side of a busy freeway, where sub-centimeter is achievable. By scanning facades with LiDAR and fusing this data with aerial digital imagery, companies are creating detailed 3D building models that will soon be commonplace in digital maps on smart phones and car navigation systems. These are just a few of the rapidly increasing number of applications made possible by continuing improvements in LiDAR technology. “LiDAR systems are getting more sophisticated and standardized. The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) is considering a proposal to establish a LiDAR division,” says Jim Van Rens, President of Riegl USA.

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