Laser echo waveform modulation modelling from lateral structure using a mathematical formula

Abstract

ABSTRACT The relationship between the axial structures of three-dimensional (3-D) targets and the signal of the remote-sensing techniques, such as the modulated echo waveform of the full-waveform light detection and ranging (FW-LiDAR), has been well established. However, the relationship between the lateral structures on modulated echo waveform has not been exploited in detail. For FW-LiDAR, the peak intensity, rather than the shape and width, of the echo waveform reflects lateral structural information. Using four typical two-dimensional shapes to approach the lateral structures, a mathematical formula bridging the peak intensity and the lateral structures is derived. Based upon the echo waveform simulated using the formula, modulations of the lateral structural information on the peak intensity are examined to establish a database of target properties, including shape, size and position. The physics regarding peak intensity dependence on target position is used for facile shape recognition. The modulation of the lateral shapes of ground and aerial targets on the FW-LiDAR can be assessed extensively following the procedure demonstrated in this paper. Owing to the conciseness, the peak intensity formula enables the retrieval of lateral structural information by inversion, promoting the applications of FW-LiDAR in domains including topological mapping, ecological monitoring and space debris detection and removal.