Active Remote Sensing: Lidar SNR Improvements

Abstract

RAdio Detection And Ranging (RADAR), SOund NAvigation and Ranging (SONAR), and LIght Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) are active remote sensing systems used for earth observations (Planes and ships’ locations and velocity information, air traffic control, oceanographic and land info, ), bathymetric mapping (e.g., hypsometry, Ocean depth (echosounding), SHOALS, and seafloor), and topographic mapping. Integrating laser with RADAR techniques – laser RADAR or LIDAR after World War II introduces scientists to a new era of Remote Sensing technologies. LIDAR is one of the most widely used active remote sensing systems to attain elevation information which an essential component to obtain geographical data. While RADAR is transmitting a long-wavelength signal (i.e., radio or microwave: cm scale) to the atmosphere and then collecting the backscattering energy signal, LIDAR transmission is a short-wavelength laser beam(s) (i.e., nm scale) to the atmosphere and then detecting the backscattering light signal(s). More lidar principles and comparison between active remote sensing techniques are introduced in section 1.1 of this chapter.