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How Do LiDARs Work: A Technical Guide Explained

  • Writer: Anvita Shrivastava
    Anvita Shrivastava
  • 4 days ago
  • 3 min read

LiDAR technology is quickly becoming the backbone of modern mapping, autonomous vehicles, robotics, and geospatial analytics. But how exactly does LiDAR work, and what makes it so precise and strong? This technical paper describes LiDAR mechanics, applications, and technical functionality.


LiDAR Technologies
LiDAR Technologies


What is LiDAR?


LiDAR, or Light Detection and Ranging, is a remotely-sensed technology that detects distance to a target using laser light. The system emits laser pulses, measures the time it takes for the light to reflect from the target back to the system, and computes the distance to create high-precision 3D maps of the surrounding environment.


Essentially, LiDAR works like an echolocation system, except that instead of sound, it uses light.


How Does LiDAR Work? The Technical Breakdown


LiDAR systems work in coordination with the emissions of lasers, sensors, and temporal precision. The following is a step-by-step technical explanation:


  1. Laser Emission


LiDAR systems send fast pulses of laser light. Because of the rapid emission of laser light pulses, the pulses can range from hundreds of thousands to millions of laser emissions a second. The wavelength of the laser can also vary, such that systems can emit wavelengths at 905 nm or 1550 nm, which is a result of having an application focus on eye-safe and long-range detection.


  1. Reflection and Detection


When a laser pulse strikes an item, it bounces back to the LiDAR sensor, where the sensor picks up the reflection and determines the time of flight (ToF), which is the time it took for the pulse to travel to the item and return.


  1. Distance Calculation


Fundamentally, LiDAR is based on the speed of light equation:


Distance=2Speed of Light×Time of Flight​

​

Dividing by two accounts for the time the laser pulse took there and back. This is how LiDAR can determine distances down to around a millimeter in modern systems.


  1. Point Cloud Generation


Each laser pulse has a distance measurement tied to it, and when millions of such pulses are released by the LiDAR, a dense point cloud is developed. Each point in the point cloud is an exact three-dimensional (3D) point in space, and once fully assembled, it creates a digital replica of the scanned environment.


  1. Data Processing


Raw LiDAR data is often algorithmically processed for noise reduction, object segmentation, and 3D modeling. This converted the point cloud into maps for action or kept it for navigational inputs for autonomous systems.


Types of LiDAR Systems


LiDAR systems can be grouped according to the scanning principle and utilization:

  • Terrestrial LiDAR: Ground-based systems may be used to survey buildings, landscapes, settlements, and infrastructure.

  • Airborne LiDAR: Mounted on drones or aircraft for high-density, large area coverage mapping of the topography.

  • Mobile LiDAR: Fixed on ground vehicles for passageway and road traffic conditions.

  • Solid-state LiDAR: Smaller, cost-effective, and increasingly viable for use in autonomous vehicles.


Applications of LiDAR Technology

LiDAR technology has revolutionized multiple industries thanks to coverage density, precision, and efficiency:

  • Autonomous Vehicles: Provides real-time detections of obstacles to aid in vehicle control and 3D mapping of the surrounding environment.

  • Forestry/Agriculture: Provides data about canopy heights, biomass, and features within the terrain.

  • Urban Planning: Provides geo-spatial data to build accurate 3D models of cities for the construction process or as a part of a smart city initiative.

  • Archaeology: A Set of tools that make use of LiDAR to discover structures even while under a dense forest canopy.

  • Geospatial Mapping: Provides high-density data regarding the terrain and features that lie underneath the canopy.


Advantages of LiDAR


  • High accuracy: It produces millimeter-level accuracy of distance measurement.

  • Speed of Data Collection: Obtain millions of data points in seconds.

  • Utility in Conditions: LiDAR can operate in low-light and penetrate vegetation.

  • 3D Rendering Capabilities: It can create highly detailed 3D maps for analysis.


Disadvantages of LiDAR


  • Costs: High-tech LiDAR systems are still expensive compared to other devices.

  • Sensitivity to Weather: Heavy rain, fog, and dust can degrade accuracy.

  • Data Sizes: LiDAR generates a tremendous amount of data and requires data processing capabilities.


LiDAR employs principles of physics, optics, and very sophisticated computing to generate high-accuracy 3D spatial information. It is now essential in all fields, due to its capability to quickly and accurately map any environment. Understanding how LiDAR works, therefore, demonstrates its incredible sophistication and lays the groundwork for identifying potential applications in the future.


For more information or any questions regarding LiDAR technology, please don't hesitate to contact us at:



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