Abstract

Capturing and Deploying Challenging Aerial and Mobile LiDAR Data in Asia
AAM has recently deployed LiDAR sensors in diverse configurations ranging from aircraft above the Indian Himalayas, to boats and tunnels in Hong Kong. This presentation will describe several case studies from Asia which resulted in (successfully) stretching the capabilities and applications of LiDAR technology. The first project presented is a high altitude LiDAR project in the Indian Himalayas. This project was conducted in a remote location with 3000m terrain variations, within an emerging aerial-survey industry. Aviation safety and planning in such complex terrain combined to make this one of the most challenging LiDAR projects undertaken in AAM’s 15 years of LiDAR experience. (Note that the author will seek the client’s permission to discuss this project prior to the Conference). The Second Project involved a series of Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS) sites captured around Hong Kong. The project aimed to test the suitability of MLS on a wide range of site characteristics. It set out to challenge the traditional deployment of MLS to determine where it can and cannot be utilised in Hong Kong’s diverse landscape. The various projects required mounting the MLS unit on a van, quad bike, push trolley and boat, for capturing data along country roads, urban streets, country paths, tunnels and coastline. Asia is (overall) less experienced in its utilisation of spatial data than the US or Europe, but development demands are driving a rapid growth path. Because of the vast amount of unmapped areas, LiDAR point clouds are being recognised as an efficient source of data to populate the required data layers.