(Light Detection and Ranging) or LIDAR is a topographic remote sensing technology that works by sending laser pulses into a multitude of accurately defined directions in an extremely fast repetition mode. Measuring the time it takes for each laser pulse to be reflected and returned to the LIDAR sensor allows obtaining geo-referenced points also known as point cloud and reconstructing of all surfaces hit by laser pulses fusing the returned pulse information with GPS and IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit).

LIDAR data can be processed to filter vegetation and man-made features and produce a DEM (Digital Elevation Model) that can be used to create topographic contours or topographic mapping files. LIDAR systems can be deployed on different platforms. Surveyors use “Scanners” which are really just static LIDAR systems. These systems are fixed when operating and can collect 1000 of points per meter.