Full waveform hyperspectral LiDAR for terrestrial laser scanning

TLDR

Full waveform hyperspectral LiDAR offers significant impact on remote sensing and other fields requiring precise 3D detection and identification, such as civil engineering, cultural heritage, material processing, and geomorphology. The study presents the design of a full waveform hyperspectral LiDAR and demonstrates its first applications in remote sensing, aiming to provide simultaneous geometry and spectral data from a single measurement. The instrument generates 3D point clouds with spectral backscattered reflectance data, and its capability was illustrated by acquiring vegetation point clouds and spectral indices for a Norway spruce specimen. By delivering both geometric and spectral information in one scan, the technology extends imaging spectroscopy into spectral 3D sensing, broadening its applicability.

Abstract

We present the design of a full waveform hyperspectral light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and the first demonstrations of its applications in remote sensing. The novel instrument produces a 3D point cloud with spectral backscattered reflectance data. This concept has a significant impact on remote sensing and other fields where target 3D detection and identification is crucial, such as civil engineering, cultural heritage, material processing, or geomorphological studies. As both the geometry and spectral information on the target are available from a single measurement, this technology will extend the scope of imaging spectroscopy into spectral 3D sensing. To demonstrate the potential of the instrument in the remote sensing of vegetation, 3D point clouds with backscattered reflectance and spectral indices are presented for a specimen of Norway spruce.