Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology provides precise, real-time data that can enhance city planning, transportation systems, and environmental monitoring. Often referred to as laser scanning, this remote sensing technology measures distances by illuminating a target with laser light and analysing the reflected light.
LiDAR systems consist of a laser, a scanner, and a GPS receiver, and they can be mounted on vehicles, drones, satellites, stationary platforms or even smartphones. They work by emitting rapid laser pulses and capturing the time it takes for these pulses to bounce back from surfaces, allowing for precise measurements and high-resolution 3D modelling. This data is used to monitor traffic flow, assess the structural integrity of infrastructure, map green spaces, and manage utility networks.
The primary function of LiDAR is to produce detailed, high-resolution spatial data, which is invaluable for urban planning and management. For instance, in transportation, LiDAR can monitor traffic flow and density in real-time, helping to reduce congestion and optimise traffic light timings, making it an essential feature of self-driving vehicles. In environmental management, it can map green spaces, monitor tree canopies, and assess air quality, contributing to more sustainable urban development. Additionally, LiDAR is instrumental in infrastructure maintenance, detecting structural issues in buildings, bridges, and roads before they become critical problems.
Moreover, by integrating this solution into urban systems, cities can enhance their resilience to climate change challenges. For example, LiDAR can model flood risks by mapping terrain elevations and water flow patterns, empowering cities to implement effective flood mitigation strategies. In disaster response, LiDAR's quick, detailed assessments of affected areas significantly improve emergency services' response times and effectiveness.
Leica Geosystems
Switzerland · Company
A premium manufacturer of measurement and survey equipment, including airborne and terrestrial LiDAR.
Austria · Company
Performance leader in airborne, mobile, terrestrial, and unmanned laser scanning solutions.
United States · Company
A pioneer in real-time 3D LiDAR sensors, recently merged with Ouster.
Canada · Company
A leader in high-accuracy lidar 3D survey systems and integrated cameras.
A global leader in LiDAR solutions for ADAS, autonomous driving, and robotics.
Develops Tekla Structures, a leading BIM software for structural engineering and steel detailing, along with hardware for connecting BIM to the field.
France · Company
Designs and develops lightweight LiDAR solutions for drones (UAVs).
An autonomous vehicle sensor and software company with a focus on long-range LiDAR.
A leading provider of high-performance, solid-state LiDAR sensors and perception software.
Global leader in GIS software (ArcGIS), providing the spatial analytics layer used by thousands of local governments for urban planning and policy.
Article
Digital Scotland’s LiDAR revolution: First data release to reveal Scotland’s landscape in unprecedented detailDigital Scotland · Jan 29, 2026
Scotland has released the first data from its national land LiDAR programme, aiming to map the environment in unprecedented detail to support the economy and well-being. The programme covers 15% of Scotland as of January 2026, with data available for public access.
Article
What is LiDAR? How lasers are driving a revolution in archaeologyNational Geographic · Oct 9, 2025
Explains how LiDAR has revolutionized archaeology by allowing researchers to map unsurveyed land and spot surface anomalies like sunken cities or graves that are hidden by vegetation.
Paper
The use of LiDAR for the documentation and modelling of cultural heritage sites hidden by the forest canopyJournal of Forest Science · Oct 30, 2025
This study details the use of airborne laser scanning (ALS) to detect and document charcoal kiln sites, optimizing data processing workflows to create models of cultural heritage hidden under forest canopies.
Paper
Expanding forest research with terrestrial LiDAR technologyNature Communications · Oct 6, 2025
Review article discussing the expansion of forest research capabilities through terrestrial LiDAR technology, enabling precise structural measurements of vegetation that were previously difficult to obtain.
Article
Multispectral LiDAR Data for Land Cover Classification of Urban Areasmdpi.com
Airborne Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) systems usually operate at a monochromatic wavelength measuring the range and the strength of the reflected energy (intensity) from objects. Recently, multispectral LiDAR sensors, which acquire data at different wavelengths, have emerged. This allows for recording of a diversity of spectral reflectance from objects. In this context, we aim to investigate the use of multispectral LiDAR data in land cover classification using two different techniques. The first is image-based classification, where intensity and height images are created from LiDAR points and then a maximum likelihood classifier is applied. The second is point-based classification, where ground filtering and Normalized Difference Vegetation Indices (NDVIs) computation are conducted. A dataset of an urban area located in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, is classified into four classes: buildings, trees, roads and grass. An overall accuracy of up to 89.9% and 92.7% is achieved from image classification and 3D point classification, respectively. A radiometric correction model is also applied to the intensity data in order to remove the attenuation due to the system distortion and terrain height variation. The classification process is then repeated, and the results demonstrate that there are no significant improvements achieved in the overall accuracy.
Article
Hyperspectral and Lidar Data Applied to the Urban Land Cover Machine Learning and Neural-Network-Based Classification: A Reviewmdpi.com
Rapid technological advances in airborne hyperspectral and lidar systems paved the way for using machine learning algorithms to map urban environments. Both hyperspectral and lidar systems can discriminate among many significant urban structures and materials properties, which are not recognizable by applying conventional RGB cameras. In most recent years, the fusion of hyperspectral and lidar sensors has overcome challenges related to the limits of active and passive remote sensing systems, providing promising results in urban land cover classification. This paper presents principles and key features for airborne hyperspectral imaging, lidar, and the fusion of those, as well as applications of these for urban land cover classification. In addition, machine learning and deep learning classification algorithms suitable for classifying individual urban classes such as buildings, vegetation, and roads have been reviewed, focusing on extracted features critical for classification of urban surfaces, transferability, dimensionality, and computational expense.
Article
Explore the 10 Top LiDAR Applications in 2023 & 2024startus-insights.com
How are industries using LiDAR to improve navigation and operational safety? Explore the top LiDAR use cases across industries based on our analysis of 882 global lidar startups & scaleups. Their solutions include advanced navigation, environment mapping, remote sensing and more!
Article
Arqueologia do Futuroradionovelo.com.br
Aos poucos, eles estão sendo descortinados. São desenhos grandes, cavados em valas profundas e feitos com uma matemática sofisticada: círculos, quadrados, hexágonos, grandes rodas com estradas irradiando de todos os lados. Esses são geoglifos, marcas na terra feitas por povos indígenas de séculos passados, que estão sendo revelados aos olhos dos satélites pelo pior motivo possível: o desmatamento desenfreado da Amazônia. Agora, no entanto, uma nova tecnologia a laser, o LiDAR, está varrendo a floresta para descobrir geoglifos antes que a floresta seja removida. E a esperança é que a identificação de novos sítios arqueológicos possa ajudar a preservar o passado e o futuro da Amazônia de uma tacada só.
Article
32 times lasers revealed hidden forts and settlements from centuries ago Countdownslivescience.com
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The Changing Face of Urban Planning: LiDAR and Future Cityscapesflyguys.com
Urban planning and sustainable city development are paramount in our rapidly expanding world. As cities expand and evolve, innovative technologies such as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) are being deployed to address complex challenges. LiDAR is a game-changer in urban planning, offering invaluable insights and data for shaping future cities. This technology is being used to create 3D models of cities and to gather real-time data that allows city planners to make informed decisions about urban development and to create smart cities that are resilient to future challenges.
