What is LiDAR and how does it work?
LiDAR is an acronym for ‘light detection and ranging’. It is a method of 3D scanning that uses a laser to measure distances and create 3D models of landscapes and large objects (like buildings and cars).
LiDAR works on the principle of reflection and bounce-back. When light rays are shone on a surface, there will be a reflection once the ray bounces off the surface. The LiDAR measures the time it takes to bounce off a surface and return to the scanner. This time value is used to calculate the position of the point the laser bounced off in relation to the scanner. This is repeated as the scanner rotates to capture a bubble of data, a point cloud. The scanner is then moved to another position and the process repeated to build up a point cloud of the whole project.