LIDAR TECHNOLOGY AND ITS

APPLICATIONS IN HIGHWAY
DEVELOPMENT

TRADITIONAL METHODS OF TERRAIN DATA

COLLECTION
Conventional ground
surveys (transits and
theodolites)
Electronic Distance
Measurement (EDM)
Devices
Global Positioning
Systems
Photogrammetric
Mapping

PROBLEMS WITH TRADITIONAL METHODS

Labor

Intensive
Time-consuming
Costly
Dictated by conditions (time of year, sun angle,
weather, etc.)
May require data collectors to locate in-field

ANTICIPATED BENEFITS OF LIDAR IN

LOCATION PROCESS

Reduced time to collect and produce terrain data

Less

constraints on when collection can occur (ex.

certain sun angles, etc.)

Reduced backlog of work for photogrammetry

personnel
Smaller, focused

areas can be more efficiently mapped

with high accuracy

Projects completed in a more timely fashion

WHAT IS LIDAR?
LiDAR is an acronym for Light Detection And
Ranging but it is also referred to as laser scanning.
Integration of three technologies into a single
system namely

lasers
the Global Positioning System (GPS),
inertial navigation systems (INS)

To produce accurate digital elevation models

(DEMs).

BASIC PRINCIPLE
The laser source which is mounted on a pod
below the helicopter or an aircraft emits laser
light pulses.
The pulses are returned to a receiver in the
sensor after reflecting back from both the
ground surface and objects above ground.

BASIC PRINCIPLE
Pulse travel times are recorded and the distance
from the sensor to the scanned object or ground
surface can then be determined using speed of
light calculations.
As the exact position of the sensor is known
from dGPS and inertial data the xyz co-ordinates
of each point of reflection can be derived.

Multiple returns system

Helicopter LiDAR 100m above highway

GPS base reference station

FACTORS AFFECTING DENSITY OF LASER

POINT DATA
Pulse frequency
Flying speed and height
Scanning pattern
Nature of reflecting surface
Number of returns per pulse

FACTORS AFFECTING ACCURACY OF THE

LASER POINT
Flying height
Pulse divergence
GPS satellite availability

MEASURE OF ACCURACY
Difference between absolute and relative
accuracy and these are usually quoted in terms of
RMSE .
+/- 50mm RMSE horizontal, +/- 30mm RMSE
vertical

+1M

-1M

TRUE ELEVATION

PLATFORMS TYPES

Airbourne
Fixed wing

Rotary wing

Terrestial

COMPARISON
Fixed
Fly higher (800m) and faster
but.

Rotatory

Terrestial

Fly lower (100 to 400m) and

slower than fixed wing
aircraft

Scanners can be mounted on

static or moving platforms
and with the.

survey a wider corridor .. The survey a narrower corridor

data swath width ranges from having swath width ranges
600 to 800m
from 60 to 100m

Can merge airborne laser

lower point density,

commonly 0.5 - 1 point /
sq.m.

higher point density,

commonly 5 - 25 points /
sq.m.

provide the highest point

densities

Accuracy is typically around

+/-80 mm RMSE vertical

Accuracy is typically around

+/-30 to 40 mm RMSE
vertical.

highest accuracy

LIDAR DATASETS

Point Cloud : The xyz data can be viewed as a 3D

image using point cloud visualisation software which can
be panned though and rotated in space. The point cloud
can be shown in grey scale (see below), coloured by
elevation of the points or as a surface reflectance
intensity image.

LIDAR DATASETS

Cross-sections : This 2D section is taken through a

point cloud and shows how LiDAR captures details of
the terrain and above ground features. Sections at
regular intervals along the survey route can be set to
run sequentially within a movie file.

LIDAR DATASETS

Digital Terrain Model : 3D surfaces can be created

from the laser point data from which a Digital Terrain
Model can be derived in grid, TIN or contour format.
The accuracy of the DTM depends on the accuracy of
the laser points.

LIDAR DATASETS

Contour models : One of the most useful formats for

engineering purposes is the laser data output as a 2D or 3D
contour model in CAD or GIS format. The contour interval can
be set to suit the terrain and the usual range is 0.25m, 0.5m, 1m
and 5m sets. Here (see right) the contour model has been
draped over digital aerial photography.

Contour data with digital imagery

3D contour data

LIDAR DATASETS

3D surface : Using image processing software such as ERMapper

the 3D surface can be shown as a shaded relief model to highlight
ground surface features or elevation coloured to show ground
level changes. The surface can be viewed as a bare earth model
(Digital Terrain Model) or with above ground features (Digital
Elevation Model).

LIDAR DATASETS

Fly / drive through movie files : Movie files playable in

Windows Media Player or similar can be generated for point
clouds, cross sections or 3D surfaces. Aerial photography can be
draped over the 3D surface.

LIDAR IMAGERY

Most helicopter mounted LiDAR systems have a

digital camera within the sensor pod which
captures synchronous imagery with the laser
data.

LIDAR APPLICATIONS IN HIGHWAY

DEVELOPMENT

TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY
LiDAR point data and high
resolution aerial imagery can be
used together to produce 1:500
mapping for highway schemes.
The horizontal or positional
alignment (x,y) of the derived
3D line-strings are extracted
from the imagery and the
vertical or elevation (z)
alignment provided by the
LiDAR point cloud data.

DRAINAGE ANALYSIS

By overlapping the
digital imagery
with the lidar
contour data
synchronized with
its lattitude and
longitude, the
critical region
where the water
will be drained off
can be located
easily.

EARTHWORK ESTIMATION
Using DEMs and 2d cross
section point data created from
LiDAR, cut and fill quantities can
be more precisely estimated
during planning stages when
compared to ground survey or
photogrammetric techniques.
The DEM can also be used in
conjunction with GIS and CAD
software to enable planners and
engineers to model various
scenarios in choosing the best
route or location for future
construction.

In many cases, time saved on surveying and

mapping translates into huge downstream
economic gains.

GEOTECHNICAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

Airborne LiDAR is able
to provide detailed
mapping of natural
slopes and can detect
slope failures to a high
resolution
This enables good
definition of the trees
and other vegetation in
addition to ground
profile data.

1m interval
contour dataset
for very high steep
natural slope.
Good definition of
gulleys, rock
slopes, river
alignment.

Slope instability features

detected and delineated
on steep inaccessible
slope below tree canopy.
Outputs here are point
cloud cross section and
3D shaded relief surface
with contour overlay.

SIGHT DISTANCE ANALYSIS

CONCLUSION
One of the inherent features of lidar data is that
it is acquired, processed, and delivered in a digital
format which enables the data files to import
into various software packages, especially GIS.
The data manipulation can create a wealth of
products, and augmenting or fusing with other
types of data with lidar can produce valuable
results.

REFERENCES

U K, Highways Agency Guidance Note

on use of LiDAR
Berg. R., and Ferguson. J. Airborne Laser Mapping for
Highway Engineering Applications ASPRS AGM 2001, St.
Louis MS, April, 20
Smith, R.A., West, G.R. Airborne LiDAR: A Surveying Tool
for the New Millennium Proceedings, Oceans 99
MTS/IEEE, Seattle Washington, September 1999.1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
7. 8.
www.lidar.com
www.gisdevelopment.net/technology/gis/mi03129.htm
www.lidarmap.org/

THANK YOU