F.A.Q.
Discover how mobile LiDAR scanning can improve your project workflow.
What is LiDAR?
LiDAR, otherwise short for Light Detection and Ranging is a remote sensing technology that uses near-infrared light rays to scan the surrounding areas. Light beams are emitted from the scanner, reflected off surrounding objects (eg. roadways, buildings, trees, bare earth, etc.), and sent back to the scanner. Properties of the reflected light beam are then used to collect 3D positional information about surrounding objects. This process creates a 3D representation of the surrounding environment which is stored as a point cloud (up to millions of closely spaced points).
What kind of LiDAR sensor do you have?
Nektar3D utilizes a Leica Pegasus: Two Ultimate mobile LiDAR scanner, equipped with two scanning heads, four external cameras, and one 360° spherical camera. This scanner collects up to 2 million points per second and delivers point clouds with a density of up to 1,500 points per square meter. For more information about our equipment, click here.
What are the components of a LiDAR Scanning System?
The LiDAR scanner itself comprises only of the sensor which sends and receives light rays. However, to accommodate uneven/rough terrain and to georeference (spatially register) collected point clouds, LiDAR sensors are combined with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver. Finally, an onboard computer collects and stores the point clouds collected by the LiDAR scanner alongside orientation and GPS information collected by the IMU and GNSS receiver.
What kind of LiDAR data does Nektar3D collect?
LiDAR data can be collected through one of three common methods: terrestrial LiDAR, mobile LiDAR, and aerial LiDAR. Each method describes how the data is collected, where terrestrial scanning is in a static location, mobile scanning is vehicle-mounted, and aerial scanning is collected by plane, helicopter, and drone. Nektar3D specializes in mobile LiDAR collection and utilizes a truck and UTV for a variety of terrains.
What kinds of environments do you collect LiDAR data in?
Nektar3D is able to collect data both on, and off-road thanks to our truck and UTV mounting platforms. To date, we have scanned in a range of environments, including busy multi-lane highways, active excavation sites, snow-capped mountain passes, and quiet residential streets.
In what kinds of conditions does Nektar3D collect LiDAR data?
Nektar3D can collect LiDAR data whenever weather conditions are clear and when temperatures are above -15°C (5°F). We have collected LiDAR data year-round, although data collection is not recommended during snowy, rainy, or foggy conditions as this creates additional noise in the LiDAR scans.
How much data can you collect in one day?
For any data collection task, Nektar 3D strives to minimize the impact on surrounding traffic. If the surrounding conditions do not impact the data collection, the volume of data collected per day depends on the local speed limits. However, the rate of data collection is impacted by how complex the environment is. In areas with high volumes of traffic, the best times for data collection might be overnight which reduces the collection time available per day. Additionally, if the scanning area contains significant tree cover, sloped embankments, or low hanging objects, additional planning and care needs to be taken before and during LiDAR scanning. In general, depending on the urgency of the job, we are able to deliver the data within a few days.
How could I use LiDAR data?
Mobile LiDAR data is used by our clients for a variety of projects, including:
- Functional Planning
- Concept Design
- Neighbourhood Renewal
- Asset Management
- Quantity Takeoff
- Earth Moving
For more examples, please visit the Nektar 3D projects page.
Office Hours
Mon – Fri : 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone
+1 888 451 7573
info@nektar3d.com