Topographic mapping flash lidar for multiple scattering, terrain, and forest mapping

Tanya Ramond; Eileen Saiki; Carl Weimer; Jeff Applegate; Yongxiang Hu; Thomas Delker; Lyle Ruppert; Brian Donley

doi:10.1117/12.884145

8 June 2011 Topographic mapping flash lidar for multiple scattering, terrain, and forest mapping

Tanya Ramond, Eileen Saiki, Carl Weimer, Jeff Applegate, Yongxiang Hu, Thomas Delker, Lyle Ruppert, Brian Donley

Proceedings Volume 8037, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XVI; 803710 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.884145
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2011, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

The Topographic Mapping Flash Lidar (TMFL) developed at Ball Aerospace combines a pushbroom format transmitter at 1064 nm with a flash focal plane receiver. The wide 20 degree field of view of the instrument enables broad swath coverage from a single laser pulse without the need for a scanning mechanism. These features make the TMFL design particularly well-suited for space flight. TMFL has been demonstrated during an airborne flight where data were gathered over a forest plot to measure tree waveforms. Topographic maps were assembled of river beds and geologic areas of high relief. The TMFL has also been used to observe multiple-scattering phenomena in clouds by illuminating a steam plume from the aircraft above. Signal was recorded off-axis from the illuminated laser line by as much as 1 degree. The TMFL study of multiple-scattering is valuable as it provides a unique way to significantly improve the calibration of measured backscatter for space lidars. Lidar backscatter was also measured from water surface and was shown to correlate with models of water surface roughness.

Citation Download Citation

Tanya Ramond, Eileen Saiki, Carl Weimer, Jeff Applegate, Yongxiang Hu, Thomas Delker, Lyle Ruppert, and Brian Donley "Topographic mapping flash lidar for multiple scattering, terrain, and forest mapping", Proc. SPIE 8037, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XVI, 803710 (8 June 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.884145

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