Geodetic imaging with airborne LiDAR: the Earth's surface revealed

摘要: The past decade has seen an explosive increase in the number of peer reviewed papers reporting new scientific findings geomorphology (including fans, channels, floodplains and landscape evolution), geologic mapping, tectonics faulting, coastal processes, lava flows, hydrology (especially snow runoff routing), glaciers geo-archaeology. A common genesis such is often newly available decimeter resolution 'bare Earth' geodetic images, derived from airborne laser swath a.k.a. LiDAR, observations. In this paper we trace nearly a half century advances science made possible by space age technology, as invention short-pulse-length high-pulse-rate lasers, solid state inertial measurement units, chip-based high speed electronics GPS satellite navigation system, that today make it to map hundreds square kilometers terrain hours, even areas covered with dense vegetation or shallow water. To illustrate impact LiDAR observations present examples images are not only stunning eye, but help researchers develop quantitative models explaining how evolved its form, will likely change time. Airborne technology continues quickly, promising ever more discoveries years ahead.