Scanning, Multibeam, Single Photon Lidars for Rapid, Large Scale, High Resolution, Topographic and Bathymetric Mapping

Several scanning, single photon sensitive, 3D imaging lidars are herein described that operate at aircraft above ground levels (AGLs) between 1 and 11 km, and speeds in excess of 200 knots. With 100 beamlets and laser fire rates up to 60 kHz, we, at the Sigma Space Corporation (Lanham, MD, USA), hav...

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Main Author: John J. Degnan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2016-11-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/8/11/958
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spelling doaj-7da07915cd944f46b02f2acd7daf62432020-11-24T22:59:53ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922016-11-0181195810.3390/rs8110958rs8110958Scanning, Multibeam, Single Photon Lidars for Rapid, Large Scale, High Resolution, Topographic and Bathymetric MappingJohn J. Degnan0Sigma Space Corporation, 4600 Forbes Blvd., Lanham, MD 20706, USASeveral scanning, single photon sensitive, 3D imaging lidars are herein described that operate at aircraft above ground levels (AGLs) between 1 and 11 km, and speeds in excess of 200 knots. With 100 beamlets and laser fire rates up to 60 kHz, we, at the Sigma Space Corporation (Lanham, MD, USA), have interrogated up to 6 million ground pixels per second, all of which can record multiple returns from volumetric scatterers such as tree canopies. High range resolution has been achieved through the use of subnanosecond laser pulsewidths, detectors and timing receivers. The systems are presently being deployed on a variety of aircraft to demonstrate their utility in multiple applications including large scale surveying, bathymetry, forestry, etc. Efficient noise filters, suitable for near realtime imaging, have been shown to effectively eliminate the solar background during daytime operations. Geolocation elevation errors measured to date are at the subdecimeter level. Key differences between our Single Photon Lidars, and competing Geiger Mode lidars are also discussed.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/8/11/958airborne multibeam lidarsingle photon lidar3D imagingphoton-countingsurveyingforestrybathymetrycryosphere
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author John J. Degnan
spellingShingle John J. Degnan
Scanning, Multibeam, Single Photon Lidars for Rapid, Large Scale, High Resolution, Topographic and Bathymetric Mapping
Remote Sensing
airborne multibeam lidar
single photon lidar
3D imaging
photon-counting
surveying
forestry
bathymetry
cryosphere
author_facet John J. Degnan
author_sort John J. Degnan
title Scanning, Multibeam, Single Photon Lidars for Rapid, Large Scale, High Resolution, Topographic and Bathymetric Mapping
title_short Scanning, Multibeam, Single Photon Lidars for Rapid, Large Scale, High Resolution, Topographic and Bathymetric Mapping
title_full Scanning, Multibeam, Single Photon Lidars for Rapid, Large Scale, High Resolution, Topographic and Bathymetric Mapping
title_fullStr Scanning, Multibeam, Single Photon Lidars for Rapid, Large Scale, High Resolution, Topographic and Bathymetric Mapping
title_full_unstemmed Scanning, Multibeam, Single Photon Lidars for Rapid, Large Scale, High Resolution, Topographic and Bathymetric Mapping
title_sort scanning, multibeam, single photon lidars for rapid, large scale, high resolution, topographic and bathymetric mapping
publisher MDPI AG
series Remote Sensing
issn 2072-4292
publishDate 2016-11-01
description Several scanning, single photon sensitive, 3D imaging lidars are herein described that operate at aircraft above ground levels (AGLs) between 1 and 11 km, and speeds in excess of 200 knots. With 100 beamlets and laser fire rates up to 60 kHz, we, at the Sigma Space Corporation (Lanham, MD, USA), have interrogated up to 6 million ground pixels per second, all of which can record multiple returns from volumetric scatterers such as tree canopies. High range resolution has been achieved through the use of subnanosecond laser pulsewidths, detectors and timing receivers. The systems are presently being deployed on a variety of aircraft to demonstrate their utility in multiple applications including large scale surveying, bathymetry, forestry, etc. Efficient noise filters, suitable for near realtime imaging, have been shown to effectively eliminate the solar background during daytime operations. Geolocation elevation errors measured to date are at the subdecimeter level. Key differences between our Single Photon Lidars, and competing Geiger Mode lidars are also discussed.
topic airborne multibeam lidar
single photon lidar
3D imaging
photon-counting
surveying
forestry
bathymetry
cryosphere
url http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/8/11/958
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