Improved Approach to LIDAR Airport Obstruction Surveying Using Full-Waveform Data
Publication: Journal of Surveying Engineering
Volume 135, Issue 2
Abstract
Over the past decade, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Geodetic Survey, in collaboration with multiple organizations, has conducted research into airport obstruction surveying using airborne light detection and ranging (LIDAR). What was initially envisioned as a relatively straightforward demonstration of the utility of this emerging remote sensing technology for airport surveys was quickly shown to be a challenging undertaking fraught with both technical and practical issues. We provide a brief history of previous work in LIDAR airport obstruction surveying, including a discussion of both past achievements and previously unsolved problems. We then present a new processing workflow, specifically designed to overcome the remaining problems. A key facet of our approach is the use of a new LIDAR waveform deconvolution and georeferencing strategy that produces very dense, detailed point clouds in which the vertical structures of objects are well characterized. Additional processing steps have been carefully selected and ordered based on the objectives of meeting Federal Aviation Administration requirements and maximizing efficiency. Tests conducted using LIDAR waveform data for two project sites demonstrate the efficacy of the approach.
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Acknowledgments
The work described in this paper stems from the first writer’s dissertation research at University of Wisconsin (UW) Madison. The writers are indebted to the following UW supervisory committee members for their invaluable contributions: Professors Frank Scarpace, Alan Vonderohe, Amos Ron, and Chin Wu. Additionally, they are extremely grateful for the assistance of the many Optech, Inc. and NGS colleagues who assisted in various aspects of this study.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Surveying Engineering
Volume 135 • Issue 2 • May 2009
Pages: 72 - 82
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Apr 2, 2008
Accepted: Sep 26, 2008
Published online: May 1, 2009
Published in print: May 2009
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