iDAR technology has been one of the most expedient and cost effective improvements in mapping technology today. 

 

LiDAR allows the collection of elevation data from a laser in an aircraft flying across the project limits.  This technology captures both horizontal and vertical data that can produce highly accurate elevations on the ground.

LiDAR uses laser ranging and enertial altitude technologies to collect ground surfaces, as well as both natural and manmade features.  The elevations collected from this extremely dense data (LiDAR point cloud) is then filtered to create a DEM without using any substantial ground control. 

 

Before LiDAR, ground control was typically a manual process that was very expensive and took months to complete.  Now, using LiDAR, aircraft can collect the same survey data in just a few days. 

The difference in cost and “accuracy” is a result of the type of equipment, aircraft, operator’s ability to filter LiDAR data accurately, and company overhead.

In this picture you will see a perfect example of LiDAR blanketed a top Ground Zero, New York.