The winds of change continue to blow through the lidar industry. In this year’s Sensor Integration Spotlight, we’ve addressed a handful of the most promising integrations of recent.
Kicking things off (page 6), Woolpert’s Qassim Abdullah provides his annual review of the “Top Geospatial Trends to Watch in 2023”, highlighting the increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in geospatial applications. Qassim notes that AI and ML are being used to automate tasks, improve data accuracy, and develop new products and services.
3D laser scanning is increasingly being used in the film and television industry to create realistic and immersive worlds. Contributor Megan Hansen (page 26) delves into the ways that Visual effects (VFX) specialists use it to create digital models of real-world objects and environments. These models are then used to generate computer-generated imagery (CGI) that is seamlessly blended with live-action footage. All of this allows the VFX team to create realistic and immersive visuals for various productions.
In Brisbane, Australia (page 36), a digital twin is being used to help plan and construct a new underground railway, offering a virtual representation of the city’s infrastructure, including the existing railway network, roads, buildings, and utilities. The system is being used to simulate and optimize the construction process, identify potential risks, and communicate with stakeholders. It is also being used to plan future operations and maintenance of the railway.
Wrapping up our features, Ada Perello highlights lidar coverage in Europe (page 41). While the United States has made significant progress in recent years through its 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), eventually covering 89.5% of the nation with high-resolution, homogeneous, continuous, and accurate elevation data, only 17% of Europe has been covered in this manner. Ada explains how this lack of data is limiting the ability of European countries to use lidar for disaster response, infrastructure planning, and environmental monitoring.
We close this edition with Jason C. Fries latest “Forensic Dimensions” installment. Through his column, Jason continually highlights the ways in which lidar has become foundational to the legal world when it comes to accident reconstruction, video analysis, hydrology and more.