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Survey Types & Techniques

LiDAR Survey

What a LiDAR Survey is, its applications in topographic mapping, corridor surveys, and 3D modeling, key methods (terrestrial, mobile, aerial/UAV), accuracy standards, and how Job Book helps manage the complexity of LiDAR projects.

A surveyor operating a terrestrial LiDAR scanner on a tripod.

Last updated: August 14, 2025

Use Cases

High-resolution topographic mapping for large areas or complex terrain.

Corridor surveys for highways, railways, and utilities.

As-built surveys of structures, plants, and infrastructure for BIM.

Volume calculations for stockpiles, quarries, and earthworks.

Deformation monitoring of dams, bridges, and tunnels.

Urban modeling and creation of 3D city models.

Challenges Without Job Book

Estimating LiDAR projects is complex due to variables like point density, platform choice, and processing time.

Tracking high-value LiDAR equipment and software licenses is difficult.

Managing massive point cloud datasets and ensuring deliverable quality is a major effort.

Finding past LiDAR jobs with similar specs for benchmarking is a manual process.

Scheduling specialized crews and equipment without conflicts is a constant challenge.

How Job Book Helps

Tag jobs with 'LiDAR' to quickly find past projects and benchmark new estimates.

Link high-value scanners, drones, and software licenses as assets to track utilization and costs.

Use budgets and estimates to plan for field collection and data processing phases separately.

Report on profitability by LiDAR method (terrestrial vs. mobile vs. aerial) to identify the most profitable services.

Assign specialized crews and equipment on the master schedule to avoid conflicts and maximize uptime.

Store project details, including processing notes and final deliverables, for easy retrieval.

Overview

A LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) survey uses laser scanners to rapidly collect millions of precise 3D measurements, creating a detailed “point cloud” of a site or structure. This technology is used across various platforms—terrestrial (tripod-based), mobile (vehicle-mounted), and aerial (manned aircraft or UAV)—to capture complex geometries with high accuracy and speed. LiDAR is essential for projects requiring detailed as-built information, large-scale topographic mapping, and 3D modeling.

Context & Industry Use

  • Typical project types: Large-scale topographic mapping, highway and rail corridor design, as-built surveys for industrial facilities (Scan-to-BIM), volume calculations, and structural monitoring.
  • Standards: Deliverables often adhere to the USGS Lidar Base Specification for quality levels (QL1, QL2) and the ASPRS LAS file format for data exchange. Accuracy is reported based on NSSDA standards.
  • Common deliverables: Classified point clouds (LAS/LAZ), Digital Elevation Models (DEM/DTM), contours, intensity imagery, and extracted 2D/3D CAD features.

Estimation & Planning

  • Estimation drivers:
    • Platform Choice: The selection of terrestrial, mobile, or aerial LiDAR impacts cost, mobilization, and field time.
    • Point Density & Accuracy: Higher density and accuracy requirements increase collection and processing time.
    • Site Complexity: Vegetation, terrain, and obstructions (occlusions) require more scan setups or flight lines.
    • Processing & Feature Extraction: The level of classification, modeling, and feature extraction is a major driver of office labor.
    • Control Requirements: Establishing and surveying ground control or checkpoints adds to the field effort.
  • Client questions before quoting:
    • What is the intended use of the LiDAR data (e.g., topography, BIM, analysis)?
    • What are the required accuracy, point density, and deliverable formats?
    • What are the site conditions (vegetation, access, potential hazards)?
    • Are there existing survey control points to tie into?
    • What is the required coordinate system and vertical datum?

Deliverables & Hand-off

  • Classified Point Cloud (LAS/LAZ): The primary deliverable, with points classified into categories like ground, vegetation, and buildings per ASPRS standards.
  • Digital Elevation Model (DEM/DTM): A bare-earth raster or TIN surface, often hydro-flattened.
  • CAD/GIS Products: Contours, planimetric features, and cross-sections.
  • Metadata & Accuracy Report: A report detailing the collection process, coordinate system, and statistical accuracy assessment based on checkpoints.

Workflow with Job Book

  1. Tag Jobs: Tag projects with LiDAR and sub-tags like terrestrial or aerial for precise searching and reporting.
  2. Budget & Estimate: Create detailed estimates that separate field collection, data processing, and feature extraction tasks to accurately track costs.
  3. Schedule Resources: Assign specialized LiDAR crews and high-value equipment (scanners, drones, software licenses) on the master schedule to prevent conflicts.
  4. Track Assets: Link specific scanners and software to jobs to monitor utilization, maintenance schedules, and project costs.
  5. Capture Time: Use timesheets to track hours for both field crews and office technicians, ensuring all processing time is accounted for.
  6. Report Profitability: Analyze the profitability of different LiDAR services to understand which are most successful and to refine future bids.

Common Pitfalls & Tips

  • Poor Control or Georeferencing: Ensure robust ground control and check the final data against independent checkpoints to avoid systematic errors.
  • Inadequate Coverage (Gaps/Shadows): Plan for sufficient overlap in flight lines or scan positions to minimize data voids behind obstructions.
  • Misclassification of Point Cloud Data: Use a combination of automated algorithms and manual review to ensure accurate classification of ground, vegetation, and other features.
  • Managing Massive Datasets: Use tiled data formats and efficient processing workflows to handle large point clouds without overwhelming hardware.
What's the difference between LiDAR and photogrammetry?

LiDAR is an active sensor that measures distance with a laser, directly creating a 3D point cloud. Photogrammetry is a passive method that uses overlapping photos to calculate 3D points. LiDAR is often better for penetrating vegetation and capturing pure geometry, while photogrammetry provides color and texture.

What are the typical accuracies of a LiDAR survey?

Accuracy depends on the platform and control. Terrestrial LiDAR can achieve sub-centimeter accuracy. High-quality aerial and mobile LiDAR typically achieve 2-5 cm vertical accuracy (RMSEz). Always verify against project requirements and standards like the USGS LiDAR Base Specification.

What are the main deliverables of a LiDAR survey?

The primary deliverable is a classified point cloud (LAS/LAZ format). Derived products often include Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), contours, 3D models, and intensity images. CAD drawings with extracted features may also be provided.

Can LiDAR see through trees?

LiDAR can penetrate gaps in vegetation. Multiple laser pulses can travel through leaves and branches, with some reaching the ground. This allows for the creation of a 'bare-earth' model, but it is not guaranteed in extremely dense canopy.

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