At present, LiDAR is one of the most advanced and reliable optical remote sensing technology. It has the advantages of Higher Accuracy, Fast acquisition, and processing, Weather/light independence, canopy penetration, Higher data density, and many more.

What is LiDAR?

When the laser points the target area of land or any object, the light reflects by the surface it encounters. These indicators are captured as a point cloud, a replica of matter in the digital platform. It is a collation of a vast number of single spatial measurements into the dataset. The single points represent in X, Y, and Z geometric coordinates.

In the study of disaster response, the points clouds are used to create digital elevation models, vegetation- canopy models, Building-city models, etc. LiDar helps in mapping the smallest details each of the events and offers an unparalleled and incisive view. The main advantage is the large mapping area in less time concern for the disaster studies. Lidar is used in disaster studies such as flood mapping, earthquakes, landslides, Coastal disasters, and Forest Fire.

LiDAR In Disaster Response

LiDar is used to create DTM, DEM, DSM. LiDar data is merged with other remote sensing techniques such as Satellite Interferometry, Photogrammetry for reliable data.

Digital Surface Model ( DSM ) captures the natural and built features on the Earth’s surface. High-resolution satellite imagery is combined with LiDar raster data is used for building, public utilities damage detection in Earthquake studies to improve the relief operation.

The 3D model of the urban area helps to identify and rectify the exact damage concerning the precise location on every aspect in public utilities say, for example, the electric pole damages due to the storm or any disaster.

#lidar #geographic information system #disaster response