I just posted a column on V1 Magazine by Pete Kelsey that suggests that laser scanners will replace GPS in the surveyor’s tool kit. I’m in agreement with the many points that Pete makes about the advantages, and the many previous barriers to adoption are dissolving away as the technology evolves.
I spent a day last week in Denver at the International LiDAR Mapping Forum and was impressed by the buzz at this largely aerial LiDAR event. More than 600 people were in attendance from across the globe, and there was a good representation for a large number of application sectors. The same factors that are spurring greater use of terrestial laser scanning, lower costs and increased speed, are also spurring greater aerial LiDAR adoption.
If you’re interested in exploring the move toward terrestrial LiDARA further, the SPAR 2008 Conference is coming up next week (March 3-5 in Houston). This event focuses on the use of terrestrial LiDAR and is in alignment with the shift in technology use by surveyors that Pete mentions.
