LiDAR—What Can I Expect to See?

LiDAR data is typically seen as a hillshade surface. Detail is much greater than that seen using 10m DEM data. Raw data is viewed directly or processed to create various surface models. The most often used surface is the bare earth, but first return / highest hit data or second return data are useful for vegetation studies. While many subtle features are present, there are also artifacts of the collection process. This presentation covers features to expect due to dense cover, steep slopes, or lack of point density. The reasons behind the artifacts will be shown through explanation of the mechanics of collection, demystifying some of the jargon. Examples will show differences in leaf-on and leaf-off collection, and will describe the effects of pulse density.