LiDAR

Current Context : Recently, Scientists discovered an ancient Mayan city hidden in the dense Mexican jungle using LiDAR technology, which helped reveal buried structures beneath the thick vegetation.

What is LiDAR?: A remote sensing method using laser pulses to measure distances, typically from an aircraft to Earth’s surface.

Data Precision: Creates 3D ground models with up to 10 cm accuracy in elevation.

How LiDAR Works

• Components : Includes a laser, scanner, and GPS receiver.
• Process : Emits laser pulses that reflect off surfaces. Return time helps calculate distance, creating elevation maps.
• Point Cloud : Initial data is a “point cloud” with all reflections; refined to “bare earth” models to exclude vegetation and structures.

Applications

• Geography & Conservation: Used to study Earth’s surface details for environmental and engineering projects.
• Archaeology: Useful in discovering ancient sites hidden under dense landscapes, as with the Mayan city.