Photo: COWI A/S

Laser scanning 

Laser scanning (LiDAR) from aircraft is an efficient technology for the acquisition of elevation data of the landscape.

By laser scanning from aircraft or helicopters, also known as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), you can determine the height of the landscape with great accuracy.

COWI normally operates with a Leica ALS50II system. This system is the most effective on the market since it is fully upgraded to use MPiA - multiple Pulse in Air. The system can reach up til 150,000 pulses per second, producing a dense cloud of 3-dimensional points. The generated data can reach a high resolution with considerable detail.

COWI has experience with laser scanning (LiDAR) projects since 2000 with different technologies and specifications.

Photo: COWI

Advantages of LiDAR

The laser scanning technique can produce height models more cost-effective than photogrammetric mapping.

Furthermore, it offers the following options:

  • Large data density (up to 30 points per sq.m).
  • Extended season, as the scanning can be made under all light conditions, also in cloudy weather and at night if there is no clouds between aircraft and terrain.  
  • Possibility of surveying terrain heights in dense woods. 
  • Better accuracy.
  • Faster and cheaper production.

Applications for laser scanning


Applications for laser scanning include:

  • Corridor mapping (roads, rivers and railways)
  • Floodplains
  • Monitoring in the telecom sector
  • Forestry inventory
  • Engineering design
  • Planning and modelling
  • 3D visualising and simulation
  • Electrical transmission and distribution lines
  • Topographic mapping
  • Calculating noise