Light detection and ranging (lidar) is a high-resolution mapping tool currently used in self driving cars as well as for structure losses, tree/power line management, urban planning, engineering design, mapping planets, and in court litigation. Lidar uses an active sensor that emits an energy source (think the Death Star of “Star Wars” fame) rather than detecting energy from objects. Lidar is employed on the ground or in the air from airplanes, helicopters, and drones. It has become an essential tool when accuracy of measurements is critical for planning, designing, building, construction monitoring, or resolving location-related disputes scientifically. Let’s examine the technology’s advantages, disadvantages, its admissibility in court, and project examples.
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