Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing method that measures distance to targets by emitting rapid laser pulses and recording the time-of-flight of the backscattered signal to reconstruct three-dimensional spatial information. Operating typically in the near-infrared or ultraviolet-visible spectrum, lidar systems integrate a laser transmitter, scanning optics, timing electronics, and sensitive detectors (e.g., APDs, SPADs) to achieve centimeter- to meter-scale ranging precision. Methodological variants include airborne and terrestrial lidar for topographic mapping, bathymetric lidar using water-penetrating wavelengths, and Doppler lidar for wind profiling, with data processed into point clouds, digital elevation models, and other quantitative geospatial products.
Researchers have created an interactive map identifying 1.8 million individual trees in New York City, using a new approach that could optimize the placement of trees for cooling in cities around the world.
Environment
Aug 20, 2026
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For the first time, a group of biologists and engineers from the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil applied LiDAR (light detection and ranging) technology to investigate the health of trees and optimize pruning with ...
Ecology
Aug 5, 2026
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The moon is 384,000 kilometers (239,000 miles) away from Earth, but one of the best places to study its surface is much closer to home. Western planetary scientist Catherine Neish and PhD candidate Sashank Vanga traveled ...
Planetary Sciences
Jul 23, 2026
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In recent summers, wildfire smoke has been inescapable across Wisconsin, drifting south from Canada and leading to long stretches of poor air quality. Whether that smoke clears or lingers is often influenced in part by the ...
Earth Sciences
Jul 23, 2026
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A commercial robotic spacecraft called LINK launched on an emergency mission to save NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, which has been slowly falling toward Earth, on July 3, 2026. Over the coming weeks, LINK, built by ...
Space Exploration
Jul 22, 2026
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In precision agriculture, where data is used to automate and optimize agricultural tasks for maximum yield, large-scale mapping and digital modeling of the land of interest are essential. This digital backbone enables tasks ...
Biotechnology
Jul 22, 2026
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Landslides in Alaska. Air quality in Atlanta. Fire clouds out West. From the Arctic fringes to farm country, NASA's newest class of suborbital Earth Venture missions is gearing up to deliver science that will benefit communities ...
Planetary Sciences
Jul 21, 2026
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To better assess the danger posed by volcanoes, researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed a new measurement system. Laser beams are sent through escaping gas clouds and reflected by drones. An ...
Earth Sciences
Jul 12, 2026
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Hovering over the volcano, a buzzing drone pauses in front of a laser beam on the crater's edge as researchers test whether the devices can measure gases to predict eruptions.
Earth Sciences
Jul 12, 2026
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A new international study involving scientists from the University of Aberdeen has revealed a critical blind spot in global climate risk assessments—the growing danger posed by small alpine lakes formed by glacier retreat ...
Earth Sciences
Jul 10, 2026
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