Introduction to Lidar Remote Sensing

Light detection and ranging, or LiDAR, is an advanced active remote sensing technology developed in the last 30 years to measure variable distances to the Earth. This book explains the fundamental concepts of LiDAR technology and its extended spaceborne, airborne, terrestrial, mobile, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms. It addresses the challenges of massive LiDAR data intelligent processing, LiDAR software engineering, and in-depth applications. The theory and algorithms are integrated with multiple applications in a systematic way and with step-by-step instructions. Written for undergraduate and graduate students and practitioners in the field of LiDAR remote sensing, this book is a much-needed comprehensive resource.

FEATURES

• Explains the fundamentals of LiDAR remote sensing, including theory, techniques, methods, and applications
• Highlights the dissemination and popularization of LiDAR remote sensing technology in the last decade
• Includes new advances in LiDAR data processing and applications
• Introduces new technologies such as spaceborne LiDAR and photon-counting LiDAR
• Provides multiple LiDAR application cases regarding topography mapping, forest investigation, power line inspection, building modeling, automatic driving, crop monitoring, indoor navigation, cultural heritage conservation, and underwater mapping

This book is written for graduate and upper-level undergraduate students taking courses in remote sensing, geography, photogrammetric engineering, laser techniques, surveying and mapping, geographic information systems (GIS), forestry, and resources and environmental protection. It is also a comprehensive resource for researchers and scientists interested in learning techniques for collecting LiDAR remote sensing data and processing, analyzing, and managing LiDAR data for applications in forestry, surveying and mapping, cultural relic protection, and digital products.

Cheng Wang is a Professor at the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing. He received his Ph.D. degree in remote sensing from the University of Strasbourg, France, in 2005. He presently serves as Director of the LiDAR sub-committee of the Chinese National Committee of the International Society for Digital Earth (CNISDE). He has over 20 years of research experience in LiDAR remote sensing mechanism, LiDAR data processing, and LiDAR applications. He has been the Principal Investigator for over 15 national projects related to LiDAR in China. He has been teaching a LiDAR Remote Sensing course at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences for about 10 years. Prof. Wang has published more than 200 papers and four books and is the principal award recipient of 10 domestic science and technology prizes.

Xuebo Yang is a Research Assistant Professor at the Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. She received her B.E. degree in remote sensing science and technology from Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, in 2016 and received her Ph.D. degree in cartography and geographic information systems from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China, in 2021. Her research interests include the LiDAR remote sensing mechanisms, LiDAR sensor design, and LiDAR land applications.

Xiaohuan Xi is an Associate Professor at the Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. She received her M.S. degree in environmental geography from Peking University, Beijing, China, in 2000. Her research interests include LiDAR data acquisition, LiDAR urban application and agricultural application.

Sheng Nie is an Associate Professor at the Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. He received his B.E. degree in remote sensing science and technology from the Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, in 2012 and received his Ph.D. degree from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China, in 2017. His research interests include the multimode LiDAR data processing, LiDAR for topography surveying and mapping, and LiDAR vegetation applications.

Pinliang Dong is a Professor at the Department of Geography and the Environment, University of North Texas (UNT), Denton, Texas, USA. He received his B.Sc. degree from Peking University, China, M.Sc. degree from the Institute of Remote Sensing Applications (IRSA), Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Ph.D. degree from the University of New Brunswick, Canada. His research interests include LiDAR data analysis and applications in forestry and vegetation mapping, urban environments, disaster damage assessment, and geosciences.