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# Lidar News: Lidar and Geospatial Industry News

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://lidarnews.com/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [Hybrid LiDAR Surveys Transform River Mapping](https://lidarnews.com/hybrid-lidar-surveys-river-mapping/): River corridors are among the most challenging environments to survey because no single technology can capture every feature above and below the waterline. This project demonstrates how integrating airborne lidar, mobile mapping, UAV lidar, and multibeam bathymetry can produce a seamless digital terrain model for engineering, navigation, flood analysis, and long-term river management.
- [Lidar Builds the Backbone for 4D Fuel Maps](https://lidarnews.com/lidar-builds-backbone-for-4d-fuel-maps/): A University of Florida research team spent two weeks in June and July 2026 collecting paired field measurements and ground-based lidar data across recently burned landscapes and a range of forest conditions in Fish Lake National Forest, Utah, and North Kaibab National Forest, Arizona. The campaign combined terrestrial and mobile laser scanning with conventional stand inventory and clip-plot fuel sampling in order to calibrate models of surface, ladder, and canopy fuels. The resulting datasets feed EMS4D, a Joint Fire Science Program project developing an open-source system for mapping fuel structure and fuel consumption across the western United States. 
- [Point Cloud to TIN: Mach9 Adds Surface Workflows](https://lidarnews.com/point-cloud-to-tin-mach9-adds-surface-workflows/): Point cloud to TIN workflows are essential for transforming lidar data into terrain models used in surveying and civil engineering. Mach9's latest release brings surface generation, editing, quality assurance, and LandXML export into a single workflow, reducing software handoffs and helping teams move more efficiently from point cloud to engineering-ready deliverables.
- [Real-Time LiDAR Monitoring for Infrastructure](https://lidarnews.com/real-time-lidar-infrastructure-monitoring/): Real-time LiDAR monitoring uses three-dimensional measurements to track infrastructure conditions and activity around infrastructure. Unlike a traditional LiDAR survey that documents conditions at scheduled intervals, a real-time or near-real-time system reduces the delay between observation and response.
- [Indian Historic Preservation Supported by 3D](https://lidarnews.com/indian-historic-preservation-lidar/): Indian heritage preservation is evolving rapidly as geospatial technologies transform how historical sites are documented, analyzed, and restored. From photogrammetry and lidar to advanced imaging techniques, conservation professionals can now create highly accurate digital records without disturbing fragile structures. These tools not only improve restoration planning but also preserve permanent digital archives of monuments threatened by urban development, environmental damage, and the passage of time.
- [UAV vs Terrestrial Lidar for Canopy Height](https://lidarnews.com/uav-vs-terrestrial-lidar-canopy-height/): UAV vs terrestrial lidar is an ongoing question in forest measurement: can a drone effectively replace a tripod-based scanner?
- [Autonomous Navigation Lidar for ESA Moon Mission](https://lidarnews.com/autonomous-navigation-lidar-heads-to-the-moon/): Editor's Note: Autonomous navigation lidar is enabling machines to understand and navigate complex environments without human intervention. The European Space Agency's Argonaut lunar lander mission will use MDA Space's LEIA 3D scanning lidar sensor to support safe, autonomous landing operations on the Moon.
- [Reality Capture Workflows Reimagined with Mach9](https://lidarnews.com/reality-capture-workflows-reimagined-with-mach9/): Reality capture workflows have changed dramatically over the past decade.
- [Lidar Reveals Silk Road City in Uzbekistan](https://lidarnews.com/lidar-reveals-silk-road-city-in-uzbekistan/): Using high-resolution drone-based lidar, researchers uncovered the layout of a sprawling medieval city hidden within the mountains of southeastern Uzbekistan.
- [Reality Capture Game Teaches Lidar Scanning Trade-offs](https://lidarnews.com/reality-capture-lidar-game/): I built a free browser game called Reality Capture Game, published on unsurveyed.xyz, that puts players inside the daily workflow of a terrestrial laser scanning specialist, using the Leica RTC360 as its narrative anchor. It started as a way to explain my own job to people who have never stood behind a scanner on a tripod, and it turned into something a little sillier and more personal than a straight simulator: a game that teaches real scanning trade-offs while also asking you to scan a haunted house or a sinking ocean liner.
- [Lidar Maps Klamath River Dam Removal Changes](https://lidarnews.com/lidar-maps-klamath-river-dam-removal-changes/): Editor's Note: The Klamath River lidar project is capturing one of the most significant river restoration efforts ever documented with high-resolution geospatial technology. Following the removal of four major dams along the California-Oregon border, the Yurok Tribe Fisheries Department and Condor Aviation are collecting airborne lidar and bathymetric data to create a precise 3D baseline of the river as it rapidly reshapes itself. The resulting dataset will help scientists, engineers, and restoration teams monitor channel evolution, sediment movement, and habitat recovery over the coming years.
- [Lidar Tracks California Landslides](https://lidarnews.com/lidar-tracks-california-landslides/): Editor's Note: Lidar is helping researchers better understand landslides along California's coastline. A four-year monitoring program combined weekly laser scanning with drone photogrammetry to detect thousands of cliff failures, showing how repeated 3D surveys can improve hazard assessment and support future early warning systems.
- [FAA EASA BVLOS Keynote for Commercial UAV Expo](https://lidarnews.com/faa-easa-bvlos-keynote-for-commercial-uav-expo/): Commercial UAV Expo Announces Second Keynote: Two Skies, One Conversation
- [Glacier Mapping Unlocks New Tools for Surveyors](https://lidarnews.com/glacier-mapping-unlocks-new-tools-for-surveyors/): Glacier mapping often begins where conventional field surveys reach their limits.
- [Drowning in Data, but Starving for Maps in the Deep Blue Sea](https://lidarnews.com/drowning-in-data-but-starving-for-maps-in-the-deep-blue-sea/): How Crowdsourced Bathymetry is Staying Afloat
- [Gold Rush Mapping Reveals Relics and Dangers](https://lidarnews.com/gold-rush-mapping-reveals-relics-and-dangers/): Advanced airborne lidar is transforming gold rush mapping in Victoria, Australia. A four-year survey by the Geological Survey of Victoria uncovered more than 230,000 previously undocumented mining relics hidden beneath dense vegetation, revealing forgotten mine shafts, tunnels, and prospecting pits while improving hazard identification, historical research, and land management.
- [Drone LiDAR Wildfire Mapping in Saskatchewan](https://lidarnews.com/drone-lidar-wildfire-mapping-in-saskatchewan/): How Stitch3D Expedited Real-Time Disaster Response
- [CyArk America 250 Tapestry Collection](https://lidarnews.com/cyark-america-250-tapestry-collection/): CyArk has launched the America 250 Tapestry Collection, a digital heritage initiative celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary. The project uses 3D gaussian splatting to recreate three historically significant sites that visitors can explore through a web browser.
- [Lidar Supports Vivid Sydney Projection Mapping](https://lidarnews.com/lidar-supports-vivid-sydney-projection-mapping/): For Vivid Sydney’s Creative Technology After Dark, lidar scanning was used to create accurate digital replicas of selected sites, supporting design, testing, and production planning for projection installations.
- [Preserving an Icon: Liberty Bell Digital Twin](https://lidarnews.com/liberty-bell-digital-twin/): The Liberty Bell Digital Twin Project recently created the first free, high-resolution public digital twin of one of America's most iconic historical artifacts.
- [Airborne LiDAR Lays Foundation for Oklahoma Energy Project](https://lidarnews.com/airborne-lidar-energy-project/): Blew & Associates completed an airborne LiDAR survey of approximately 400 acres near Shawnee, Oklahoma, in support of a large-scale energy development project. The goal was to create a comprehensive existing conditions dataset that could be used throughout the full life cycle of the project, from preliminary planning and engineering through construction and future site management.
- [Moonraker: Space-Based LiDAR the Next Frontier ](https://lidarnews.com/moonraker-space-based-lidar-the-next-frontier/): How NUVIEW’s ESA-selected lunar mission will support safer exploration, lower mission risk, and strengthen the case for space-based lidar on Earth
- [Gaussian Splatting and LiDAR: A Practitioner’s Field Guide](https://lidarnews.com/gaussian-splatting-and-lidar-a-practitioners-field-guide/): 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) is one of the most talked-about technologies in reality capture right now, but the conversation often misses what matters most to practitioners. This article draws on Splat School, a ten-lesson field guide for the geospatial community, to explain what 3DGS actually is, where it excels, where it struggles, and why the strongest workflows treat it as a complement to LiDAR rather than a replacement.
- [New Coherent Lidar Expands What 3D Sensing Can See](https://lidarnews.com/new-coherent-lidar-expands-what-3d-sensing-can-see/): The system, described in the Optica paper “Polarimetric Full-Wavefield Coherent Lidar,” measures depth, velocity, and polarization properties at the same time. In plain terms, it can help determine where an object is, how fast it is moving, and how light interacts with its surface. That last piece opens the door to material-sensitive sensing, which could make lidar more useful in robotics, autonomous vehicles, remote sensing, and industrial inspection.
- [GPS Heritage Mapping: Invisible History Revealed](https://lidarnews.com/gps-heritage-mapping-location-based-heritage/): By Łukasz Huchrak 
- [500-Year-Old Football Gets a Digital Twin](https://lidarnews.com/500-year-old-football-gets-a-digital-twin/): 3D specialists at the University of Glasgow have initiated a project to digitally preserve the oldest known football in the world using advanced photogrammetry and digital artistry.
- [Cyprus History With 3D Heritage Modeling](https://lidarnews.com/cyprus-history-with-3d-heritage-modeling/): An island-based French artist is blending traditional physical sculpting with modern digital workflows to preserve the complex history of Cyprus through detailed miniature figures.
- [What is NDAA-Compliant LiDAR?](https://lidarnews.com/what-is-ndaa-compliant-lidar/): In the United States, NDAA-compliant LiDAR has become an increasingly important consideration for survey, mapping, engineering, drone, and infrastructure firms because the law restricts federal procurement involving certain foreign-linked technologies and supply chains considered national security risks. The process begins with Congress passing NDAA provisions, the FAR Council translating those restrictions into federal procurement rules, and federal agencies applying them through contracts, grants, purchasing requirements, and obligations that flow down to contractors and subcontractors. For LiDAR and geospatial systems, compliance can apply not only to the sensor itself, but also to drones, cameras, GNSS/INS systems, software, network connectivity, data storage, and the complete mapping workflow. As requirements continue to evolve, many firms are choosing NDAA-compliant or Blue Approved systems not only to qualify for current work, but also to future-proof major equipment investments against changing procurement rules.
- [World Cup Technology: Digital Twins and Smart Balls](https://lidarnews.com/world-cup-technology-digital-twins-smart-ball/): FIFA's latest World Cup technology combines high-resolution 3D body scans, sensor-equipped match balls, and real-time tracking systems to create digital twins of every player competing in the tournament.
- [New Zealand Launches National Coastal Lidar Dataset](https://lidarnews.com/new-zealand-launches-national-coastal-lidar-dataset/): The program's commitment to open access amplifies its impact considerably. All data is freely available as the New Zealand Coastal lidar 1m DEM on the LINZ Data Service and the Open Data Registry. An online tracker shows how much of the project has been completed so far — a transparency measure that keeps both the professional community and the wider public informed of progress. This democratization of data empowers researchers, policymakers, and concerned citizens alike to engage with the information and contribute to the conversation about coastal resilience.
- [LiDAR for Smart Cities: From Vehicles to Intelligent Infrastructure](https://lidarnews.com/lidar-for-smart-cities/): A more interesting question is what happens when intelligence is also built into the infrastructure around the vehicle. Cities could place LiDAR sensors on traffic lights, poles, roadside units, buildings, campuses, and public spaces. From these fixed and elevated positions, LiDAR can help cities understand how pedestrians, vehicles, and cyclists move through shared environments. This is where LiDAR for smart cities becomes powerful: it can move urban infrastructure beyond simple detection toward motion understanding, safety analysis, and privacy-aware public-space monitoring.
- [Delhi Digital Twin for Tax and Asset Management](https://lidarnews.com/delhi-digital-twin-tax-asset-management/): The Municipal Corporation of Delhi is using drones, GIS, and digital twin technology to identify unassessed properties while creating a comprehensive digital inventory of city assets.
- [Echolocation Drone Inspired by Bats](https://lidarnews.com/echolocation-drone-inspired-by-bats/): Autonomous navigation has been built largely on optical sensing. Cameras, lidar, and sensor fusion systems reconstruct the world through reflected light, translating physical environments into spatial models that machines can interpret and act on. In most conditions, this approach works remarkably well.
- [XPONENTIAL Detroit: UAS Industry in Transition](https://lidarnews.com/xponential-detroit-uas-industry-in-transition/): XPONENTIAL 2026 Detroit brought together leaders from across the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), drone, robotics, and autonomous systems industries. Hosted by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, the event provided a snapshot of where the industry is heading, from defense and security applications to commercial drone operations, manufacturing, and startup innovation.
- [AI and Lidar in Forestry: The Future of Forest Data](https://lidarnews.com/ai-and-lidar-in-forestry-the-future-of-forest-data/): Key Takeaways: Artificial intelligence and lidar are transforming forestry from sample-based inventories to comprehensive digital twins of entire forests. By combining high-density 3D point clouds with machine learning, forestry professionals can measure, monitor, and manage individual trees at unprecedented scale and accuracy, creating new opportunities for timber management, ecological monitoring, and long-term forest stewardship.
- [Lidar Reveals Lost Adirondack Settlement](https://lidarnews.com/lidar-reveals-lost-adirondack-settlement/): What was once hidden beneath nearly two centuries of forest growth is beginning to reappear through modern mapping technology. Researchers are using drone-mounted lidar to gain new insights into a historically significant Adirondack settlement. - Sarah Roe, Lidar News
- [The Future of Lidar and 3D Sensors](https://lidarnews.com/the-future-of-lidar-and-3d-sensors/): As consolidation reshapes the industry, the future of lidar and 3D sensors is increasingly being defined by scale, software integration, and deployment economics rather than sensor performance alone.
- [Consumer Lidar Can See Around Corners](https://lidarnews.com/consumer-lidar-can-now-see-around-corners/): The implications of this research extend far beyond academic experimentation. Affordable consumer lidar capable of non-line-of-sight imaging could dramatically improve robotic navigation in cluttered environments, enhance AR systems with hidden-scene awareness, and provide safer perception systems for autonomous platforms operating in dynamic spaces.
- [How Flyover Zone Rebuilds 3D Ancient Worlds](https://lidarnews.com/how-flyover-zone-rebuilds-3d-ancient-worlds/): Some technologies capture the world as it is. Others attempt something far more difficult—rebuilding what has been lost.
- [Great Salt Lake Mapping With Green Laser Lidar](https://lidarnews.com/great-salt-lake-mapping-with-green-laser-lidar/): The Utah Geological Survey is employing bathymetric lidar to peel back the brine of the Great Salt Lake, revealing a hidden landscape for the first time. Traditional lidar utilizes near-infrared light, which reflects off the water surface, making it effective for mapping land but useless for underwater topography.
- [Compact Lidar and Operational 3D Sensing Future](https://lidarnews.com/compact-lidar-and-operational-3d-sensing-future/): In this piece, Jordan Regenie explores how compact lidar architectures could signal a broader shift toward operational 3D sensing — where spatial measurement becomes continuous, embedded, and integrated into the systems that shape daily life rather than confined to specialized workflows.
- [Webinar: Scan-First Digital Twins for Operations](https://lidarnews.com/webinar-scan-first-digital-twins-at-gmb/): Rather than relying on model-first workflows that can quickly become outdated, scan-first digital twins prioritize continuously usable reality capture data as the operational foundation.
- [Leica LGSx Integration Added to Mach9 Digital Surveyor 2](https://lidarnews.com/leica-lgsx-integration-mach9/): The integration eliminates manual lidar conversion workflows and enables same-day AI feature extraction from Leica mobile mapping systems.
- [Lidar in the Wild: Experts to Everyone](https://lidarnews.com/lidar-in-the-wild-experts-to-everyone/): Jordan Regenie, a geospatial strategist and advisor, explores how lidar is moving beyond industry workflows and into everyday life through curiosity, exploration, and public accessibility.
- [Inside Acoustic Drone Detection with David Hall](https://lidarnews.com/inside-acoustic-drone-detection-with-david-hall/): Lidar News speaks with Chief Scientist and CEO David Hall about Hall Lidar’s recent announcement of its AI-based acoustic drone detection system, the UDL-64 (Ultimate Drone Listener).
- [Stitch3D Powers Amazon Archaeology Data Sharing](https://lidarnews.com/stitch3d-powers-amazon-archaeology-data-sharing/): Stitch3D is a browser-based platform for sharing and visualizing 3D geospatial and lidar data. Terra Incognita, an expedition-focused archaeological research group, uses it to the explore and communicate archaeological discoveries around the world.
- [Tuvalu Digital Twin: Mapping a Nation at Risk](https://lidarnews.com/tuvalu-digital-twin-mapping-a-nation-at-risk/): Written by Caroline Beach
- [XPONENTIAL Europe: Key Shifts in the UAS Industry](https://lidarnews.com/xponential-europe-key-shifts-in-the-uas-industry/): XPONENTIAL Europe offered a view into how the unmanned systems and geospatial industry is evolving. In this contributed article, Daniel Fuller of Clarify Consulting reflects on the key shifts he observed across the UAS landscape.
- [Lidar for Snow Grain Size and Reflectivity Estimates](https://lidarnews.com/lidar-snow-grain-size-measurement/): Researchers compare lidar reflectance data with imaging spectroscopy to improve snow grain size measurement. This study evaluates lidar's effectiveness in challenging terrains, offering potential benefits for environmental monitoring by enhancing the accuracy of snow property assessments in mountainous regions.
- [Hall Lidar Reveals Acoustic Drone Detection](https://lidarnews.com/hall-lidar-reveals-acoustic-drone-detection/): Hall Lidar Inc, a U.S.-based developer of advanced sensing and counter-UAS technologies, today announced the launch of its first-generation acoustic drone detection system. The UDL-64 (Ultimate Drone Listener) system delivers real-time 3D situational awareness in complex operational environments, representing a major step forward in security addressing aerial threats. 
- [Vicki Lukas on 3DEP and the Future of Mapping](https://lidarnews.com/vicki-lukas-on-3dep-and-the-future-of-mapping/): A 35-year career, the completion of 3DEP, and what comes next for the geospatial community.
- [Webinar on Thermal Scanning & Reality Capture](https://lidarnews.com/webinar-on-thermal-scanning-reality-capture/): Reality capture is evolving—and it’s no longer just about static as-built documentation.
- [The Shift to NDAA-Compliant LiDAR for Survey & AEC](https://lidarnews.com/lidar-for-surveying-ndaa-compliance-and-performance/): With the upgraded LiDAR system and streamlined workflow in place, Galloway has applied LiDAR for surveying across AEC applications, demonstrating both its versatility and impact. Its high accuracy, clean point clouds, and efficient processing make it well suited for projects where traditional surveying methods are time-consuming or limited by terrain.
- [Will This Merger Advance Geospatial Workflows?](https://lidarnews.com/will-this-merger-advance-geospatial-workflows/): Mobile applications have become an essential component of geospatial workflows, particularly in environments where connectivity, accuracy, and usability are critical. Tools like Avenza Maps have been widely used for offline navigation and field data collection, especially in remote or GNSS-challenged areas.
- [SLAM Lidar Digital Twin: Fast and Efficient](https://lidarnews.com/slam-lidar-digital-twin-fast-and-efficient/): SLAM Lidar is enabling rapid digital twin creation by capturing complex environments and processing them into usable 3D models in a matter of minutes.
- [Photogrammetry in Art and World-Building](https://lidarnews.com/photogrammetry-in-art-and-world-building/): Photogrammetry in art and world-building is changing how creators transform real-world spaces into detailed digital environments. By capturing physical objects and locations through photography-based 3D scanning, artists can build immersive worlds used in games, film, and visual storytelling. This approach is increasingly shaping modern digital production pipelines and expanding what is possible in virtual environments.
- [Irish Proto-Town Revealed with Lidar](https://lidarnews.com/photogrammetry-reveals-irish-proto-town/): The Baltinglass Hillfort complex in County Wicklow is the focus of groundbreaking archaeological research that has identified the site as Ireland’s earliest "proto-town." Using advanced aerial surveying and lidar, researchers have identified Early Neolithic and Bronze Age features that were previously unknown.
- [Staro Zdanje Castle 3D Digitization Preserves History](https://lidarnews.com/staro-zdanje-castle-3d-digitization/): Staro Zdanje Castle 3D modeling brings new value to the preservation process of this historic Serbian landmark.
- [BVLOS Drone Infrastructure Inspection: 77 Mile Case Study](https://lidarnews.com/bvlos-drone-lidar-infrastructure-inspection-censys/): In February 2026, Censys Technologies conducted a BVLOS drone mission along a transmission corridor between Daytona Beach and Mims, Florida. The objective was to demonstrate corridor-scale inspection using LiDAR and automated analysis workflows. The mission covered nearly 80 miles of infrastructure in a single coordinated operation. It serves as a real-world example of how BVLOS LiDAR can scale inspection beyond isolated segments.
- [Digital Surveyor 2 Release and Webinar – Mach9](https://lidarnews.com/digital-surveyor-2-release-and-webinar-mach9/): Digital Surveyor 2 is built to change that. In this webinar, Mach9 will demonstrate how the platform enables teams to extract corridor features like curbs, pavement markings, utilities, and more at engineering precision and infrastructure scale. As users draft, the system suggests and extends geometry along the corridor, turning months of manual extraction into days.
- [Webinar: Asset Visibility+Lifecycle Management](https://lidarnews.com/webinar-asset-visibilitylifecycle-management/): As reality capture continues to evolve, one of the biggest challenges facing industrial teams is not collecting data—but making it usable across the full asset lifecycle.
- [Smart Waste Management: NV5 TrashView](https://lidarnews.com/smart-waste-management-nv5-trashview/): Roanoke County, VA, in collaboration with NV5, is pioneering a data-driven approach to waste management by integrating real-time tracking, predictive analytics, and sensor-based monitoring into trash collection operations. Using Esri ArcGIS Experience Builder (ExB) Developer Edition, the County has developed TrashView, an innovative application that enhances operational efficiency, improves fleet management, and provides residents with greater transparency about waste collection services.
- [High-Voltage Drone Power Line Inspection Using LiDAR](https://lidarnews.com/drone-power-line-inspection-with-lidar/): Drone power line inspections are a critical component of electricity network management and infrastructure planning. They are performed to ensure public safety, support maintenance activities, and verify clearance when new infrastructure is designed near existing high-voltage lines. Accurate spatial information is essential, particularly in environments where vegetation, terrain, and linear infrastructure interact.
- [Gaussian Splatting Reveals Ancient Graffiti](https://lidarnews.com/gaussian-splatting-reveals-ancient-graffiti/): A team of researchers from Stockholm University and the University of Oslo is utilizing 3D scanning technology to document runic graffiti in Gotland's medieval churches. While Gotland is famous for its Viking-age picture stones, this study focuses on over 500 runic inscriptions carved into the walls and plaster of roughly 60 stone churches during the 12th to 15th centuries. Using handheld scanners and photogrammetry, the team is creating digital records of these faint markings, which range from names and prayers to cryptic symbols. This digital inventory allows scholars to analyze the carvings without the risk of damaging the fragile limestone surfaces or relying on outdated, subjective hand-drawings.
- [Historic Datum Restoration in Copco Lake, CA](https://lidarnews.com/historic-datum-restoration-in-copco-lake-ca/): An Attempt to Restore a Basis of Elevation using GNSS, Aerial Lidar, and Historical Survey Data
- [3D Modeling the Lighthouse of Alexandria](https://lidarnews.com/3d-modeling-the-lighthouse-of-alexandria/): After centuries on the Mediterranean seafloor, the Lighthouse of Alexandria is emerging through a blend of heavy lifting and high-tech imaging. Archaeologists recently recovered 22 massive stone blocks from the site of this ancient wonder, including the original monumental door lintels and threshold stones. Each block, weighing up to 80 tons, represents a critical piece of the "PHAROS" project led by Isabelle Hairy of the CNRS. Among the finds is a previously unrecorded pylon that displays a unique fusion of Greek construction techniques and Egyptian stylistic elements, reflecting the multicultural heritage of the Ptolemaic era.
- [Autonomous Mining Technology for 2026](https://lidarnews.com/autonomous-mining-technology-for-2026/): The mining industry is undergoing a digital transformation as it moves toward fully autonomous underground mapping. A new report highlights how specialized lidar-equipped platforms are now navigating complex, GPS-denied environments without the need for human pilots or pre-programmed flight paths. Utilizing Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) algorithms, these systems process up to 300,000 data points per second to create high-resolution 3d point clouds in real time. This technology allows for the independent exploration of narrow passages, unstable slopes, and dust-filled voids that were previously inaccessible or too dangerous for manual surveying. The transition to these independent navigation systems marks a fundamental shift from assisted automation to truly intelligent, self-directed exploration.
- [Predicting Wavefront Error in Optical Coatings](https://lidarnews.com/predicting-wavefront-error-in-optical-coatings/): Written by the Alluxa Engineering Team
- [Autonomous Passenger Ship Sails Without a Captain](https://lidarnews.com/autonomous-passenger-ship-sails-without-a-captain/): The maritime industry recently witnessed a historic milestone with the successful demonstration of the Suzaku, the world’s first fully autonomous passenger ship. Navigating the crowded waters of Japan’s Tokyo Bay which is one of the most congested shipping lanes on the planet, the vessel completed its journey without a captain or crew on board. This feat was made possible through an advanced suite of sensors and artificial intelligence, including high-precision radar, thermal cameras, and lidar. The ship’s autonomous system processed real-time data to detect obstacles, calculate collision risks, and execute evasive maneuvers. This mission, part of the Nippon Foundation’s MEGURI2040 project, represents a shift from experimental prototypes to functional, self-navigating commercial vessels.
- [Lidar Speed Camera Coming to Schools in TN](https://lidarnews.com/lidar-speed-camera-coming-to-schools-in-tn/): The City of Alcoa and the Alcoa City School District are moving forward with a high-tech traffic enforcement program designed to protect students during their daily commutes. This initiative utilizes specialized lidar-equipped devices to monitor vehicle speeds in school zones during arrival and dismissal times. The city will install these automated systems along key corridors like Faraday Street and Tesla Boulevard. The program features a "three-warnings" approach, which includes clearly posted signs and flashing beacons to alert drivers before any enforcement occurs. Once the hardware is active, a 30-day grace period will issue warnings rather than citations to ensure the community has ample time to adjust to the new safety measures.
- [Geo Week 2026 Attendance Hits Record High](https://lidarnews.com/geo-week-2026-attendance-hits-record-high/): "The energy and engagement at Geo Week 2026 exceeded all expectations," said Lee Corkhill, Event Director at Geo Week. "From groundbreaking keynotes to packed conference sessions and a bustling exhibit hall, this year's event demonstrated how geospatial professionals are using advanced mapping technologies to solve the world's most complex challenges. The record attendance reflects the critical role geospatial technologies play across industries."
- [Emesent GX1 Wins Geo Week Pitch the Press Award](https://lidarnews.com/emesent-gx1-wins-geo-week-pitch-the-press/): Today at Geo Week, Emesent, a global leader in autonomous mapping technology, is pleased to share that it has been selected as a winner of the Geo Week Pitch the Press competition for its newly launched Emesent GX1, the world's most accurate integrated Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) and Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) scanner.
- [Cintoo 360 Edition Brings Ricoh 360 Data into 3D Workflows](https://lidarnews.com/cintoo-360-edition-ricoh-360-3d-workflows/): New solution converts 360 video walkthroughs into 3D data to accelerate field-to-cloud visualization and decision-making
- [YellowScan Venturer Lidar, NDAA-Compliant & UAV Compatible](https://lidarnews.com/yellowscan-venturer-lidar/): YellowScan, a leader in LiDAR technology, presents the YellowScan Venturer, an advanced LiDAR system developed for missions requiring precision, security, and adaptability. The Venturer will be unveiled at GeoWeek 2026 in Denver, Colorado, on February 16-18, 2026.
- [Geo Week Record-Breaking Exhibit Hall](https://lidarnews.com/geo-week-2026-record-breaking-opening/): DENVER, CO – February 16, 2026 – Geo Week 2026 opens today with the largest exhibit floor in event history, featuring 238 exhibitors from 25 countries, and is expected to draw thousands of geospatial and mapping professionals with registrations surpassing last year’s record attendance of 3,200.
- [Canary Islands Coral Conservation with Photogrammetry](https://lidarnews.com/canary-islands-coral-conservation/): Lanzarote is establishing itself as a premier European hub for marine tech through a new underwater photogrammetry initiative led by the Coral Form Association. By capturing thousands of high-resolution overlapping images during specialized dives, the project creates precise 3D reconstructions of fragile coral ecosystems and volcanic seabed structures. This digital documentation allows researchers to study complex marine environments without physical contact, ensuring the preservation of the very habitats they aim to protect. The effort transforms Lanzarote's unique Atlantic waters into a massive digital laboratory for marine science.
- [Q3D AuraGO, Pocket-Sized Long-Range Scanner](https://lidarnews.com/q3d-aurago-pocket-sized-long-range-scanner/): Q3D Sensing’s AuraGO™ Creates New Category of Compact Mobile Long-Range 3D Reality Capture, Partnering with DotProduct
- [UAS Snow Avalanche Monitoring – Large Scale](https://lidarnews.com/uas-snow-avalanche-monitoring-large-scale/): Researchers from ETH Zürich and the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) have introduced a pioneering autonomous unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed for large-scale snow avalanche monitoring in rugged mountain environments. Published in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, the study details a fixed-wing tiltrotor platform capable of navigating steep alpine terrain without the need for traditional, pre-planned waypoints. By utilizing an onboard autonomous planner, the aircraft can safely maintain low altitudes while adjusting its flight path to account for complex topography and regulatory height constraints. This “smart” navigation allows the system to capture high-quality imagery even in challenging weather or unpredictable wind conditions.
- [Ancient Footprints in UK Revealed with Photogrammetry](https://lidarnews.com/photogrammetry-reveals-800000-year-old-footprints/): One of the incredible advantages of digital reconstructions is the ability to document something in precise detail, vital when some features only exist temporarily. Shifting tides and eroding coastal sands at Happisburgh, England, recently revealed a rare archaeological treasure: a set of human footprints dating back approximately 800,000 years. These ancient impressions represent the oldest direct evidence of early humans ever found outside of Africa. Discovered by a team from the British Museum, the tracks were left in the mud of an ancient estuary by a small group of adults and children. Because the site is subject to rapid coastal erosion, the physical prints disappeared under the North Sea within weeks of their exposure. However, researchers utilized high-resolution photogrammetry to capture every detail, creating a permanent digital record of this fleeting moment in deep history.
- [Orthos + Rasters: Viewing and Sharing Made Simple](https://lidarnews.com/viewing-sharing-orthos-rasters/): Orthos + Rasters: Viewing and Sharing Made Simple
- [From Land Surveying to UAV LiDAR: A Surveyor’s Journey](https://lidarnews.com/phoenix-lidar-systems-training-russell-white/): Struggling with the limitations of the initial drone LiDAR system, White started looking for alternatives that offered a more complete package. He first heard about Phoenix LiDAR Systems through a former colleague. “Donnie’s the one who introduced me to Phoenix,” White says, referring to a friend from his Insight 3D days. “He’s like, ‘Check this out, man. They’ve got live data preview,’ and I was just like, oh my God, this is cool as hell,” White remembers, laughing about his reaction to seeing Phoenix’s technology in action for the first time​. That live preview feature, the ability to see LiDAR data in real-time during flight, was a game-changer in 2017. It meant fewer coverage gaps and more confidence that the data collection was successful before leaving the field.
- [Autonomous UAV Collision Detection](https://lidarnews.com/autonomous-uav-collision-detection/): Autonomous UAV Collision Detection
- [Women and Drones Event at Commercial UAV Expo](https://lidarnews.com/women-and-drones-event-at-commercial-uav-expo/): GLENVIEW, Ill. — Women and Drones will bring five authors to its booth at Commercial UAV Expo next month for a rolling, three-day book signing aimed at the people side of uncrewed aviation.
- [USIBD Level of Accuracy (LOA) Practitioner’s Guide](https://lidarnews.com/usibd-loa-practitioners-guide/): Accuracy Isn’t a Setting
- [Call for Speakers Geo Week 2027](https://lidarnews.com/call-for-speakers-geo-week-2027/): Geo Week Seeks Impactful Presentations; Accepting Speaker Submissions Through July 17
- [Commercial UAV Expo 2026 Announces Conference Program](https://lidarnews.com/commercial-uav-expo-2026-announces-conference-program/): Commercial UAV Expo 2026 also features co-located programming from DRONERESPONDERS, the public safety UAS event presented by AIRT (Airborne International Response Team), and an expanded Exhibit Hall featuring hundreds of solution providers showcasing the latest in airframes, software, sensors, and services. The Exhibit Hall will also include the Pilot Hub, presented by Pilot Institute, offering hands-on sessions and expert talks accessible to all attendees.
- [Webinar: LGSx to Deliverable – Leica + Mach9](https://lidarnews.com/webinar-lgsx-to-deliverable-leica-mach9/): Reality capture workflows are evolving rapidly, but one of the biggest challenges facing geospatial professionals remains the gap between mobile mapping data collection and engineering-ready deliverables. A new webinar from Leica Geosystems and Mach9 will demonstrate how integrated workflows are helping teams move from capture to production faster and with fewer processing bottlenecks.
- [Driving Efficiency with Geospatial AI Webinar](https://lidarnews.com/driving-efficiency-with-geospatial-ai-webinar/): NV5 is hosting a geospatial AI webinar
- [Rebuilding a National Artery: Behind the Technology Powering Ghana’s Eastern Corridor Upgrade](https://lidarnews.com/ghana-eastern-corridor-topcon-digital-construction/): The reconstruction of the Ashaiman Roundabout to Akosombo Junction section of Ghana’s Eastern Corridor is more than just a road upgrade; it is the renewal of a strategic national artery that will help improve local mobility and stimulate economic growth.  
- [Commercial UAV Expo Announces Opening Keynote](https://lidarnews.com/commercial-uav-expo-announces-opening-keynote/): Commercial UAV Expo Announces Opening Keynote: The View from the Field
- [Uncharted Antarctic Island Found with Lidar](https://lidarnews.com/uncharted-antarctic-island-found-with-lidar/): An Antarctic expedition recently uncovered a secret hidden in plain sight: a previously uncharted island in the Weddell Sea. While navigating the treacherous "danger zone" near the Antarctic Peninsula, researchers aboard the icebreaker Polarstern spotted what they initially mistook for a grime-covered iceberg. Closer inspection revealed a permanent landmass of rock and soil, roughly 6,200 square meters in size. The discovery occurred as the team, led by the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), sought shelter from a severe storm. Geoscientists quickly deployed a suite of remote sensing tools to document the find. By integrating ship-borne multibeam echo sounders for bathymetric mapping with aerial imaging drones using photogrammetric methods, the team successfully calculated the island’s elevation at 16 meters above sea level and fixed its precise coordinates.
- [Lidar Maya City Discovery Reveals Hidden Ruins](https://lidarnews.com/lidar-maya-city-discovery-reveals-hidden-ruins/): Valeriana is estimated to be one of the largest Maya cities discovered, potentially second in scale only to Calakmul.
- [Lidar Earthquake Mapping Reveals Ancient Fault](https://lidarnews.com/lidar-earthquake-mapping-reveals-ancient-fault/): Lidar earthquake mapping is helping researchers uncover an ancient fault near Caboolture, Queensland.
- [What Is a COPC File? (Point Cloud Format)](https://lidarnews.com/what-is-a-copc-file-point-cloud-format/): You can use COPC files locally or host them on a standard web server (like Amazon S3 or Azure Blob Storage). Because it uses "HTTP Range Requests," the server doesn't need any special "point cloud engine" installed; it just needs to serve bits of the file as requested. For developers, libraries like PDAL (Point Data Abstraction Library) are the go-to for creating and manipulating these files. For artists and researchers, web viewers like Potree or Plasio.js can render these clouds directly in a browser.
- [What is Quantum Lidar?](https://lidarnews.com/quantum-lidar-explainer/): Quantum lidar uses entangled photon pairs to push beyond the noise limits of classical sensing - sending one photon toward a target while retaining its partner as a reference, allowing the system to filter interference and detect objects invisible to conventional lidar. Still largely experimental, it represents a shift from measuring simple reflections to exploiting the subatomic behavior of light itself.
- [USS Monitor Sonar Imaging Reveals Ship in HD](https://lidarnews.com/uss-monitor-sonar-imaging-hd-shipwreck/): The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has recently unveiled the first-ever high-definition sonar images of the USS Monitor, the legendary Civil War ironclad that forever changed the face of naval warfare. 
- [Lidar Mapping of Historic Australian Gold Mine](https://lidarnews.com/lidar-mapping-of-historic-australian-gold-mine/): Aureka Limited has officially secured a five-year renewal for its exploration license at the historic St. Arnaud Comstock gold project in central Victoria, Australia. To kickstart this new phase, the company deployed high-resolution lidar and photogrammetry to survey the historic Comstock open pit. By capturing over 300 data points per square meter, they have generated an ultra-high-resolution digital terrain model and a structural dataset of the old workings. This digital twin of the 1990s-era pit will serve as the foundation for modern engineering designs and geological interpretations as the site prepares for a potential restart.
- [Zillow SkyTour Uses Gaussian Splats](https://lidarnews.com/zillow-3d-tours-with-gaussian-splatting/): Zillow SkyTour is a first-of-its-kind immersive feature that allows home shoppers to explore property exteriors through an interactive 3d experience. Moving beyond traditional static drone videos, this tool puts users in the pilot’s seat, enabling them to virtually fly around a home, adjust altitudes, and orbit the structure from any angle. The technology is currently available on eligible Zillow Showcase listings and is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of a home’s exterior layout, topography, and relationship to its neighbors. By anchoring the navigation to the home itself, the interface remains intuitive, ensuring users stay oriented while exploring complex spatial environments directly from their mobile devices or web browsers.
- [Robots Gain Real Time Vision with 3D Splatting](https://lidarnews.com/robots-gain-real-time-vision-with-3d-splatting/): Researchers are bridging the gap between robotic vision and natural language using a breakthrough framework called Language-Embedded Gaussian Splatting (LEGS). While traditional robotic mapping relies on rigid geometric data, this new system allows a mobile robot to build a 3D map of an unknown environment while simultaneously tagging it with semantic meaning. By combining multi-camera RGB embeddings robots can now identify specific objects like "a bottle of orange juice" or "a red chair" from a distance. The system uses a mobile robot to traverse large indoor spaces, creating a dense, colorful 3D representation that is far more detailed than a standard sparse lidar point cloud.
- [AI Weed Control: Carbon Robotics’ LaserWeeder](https://lidarnews.com/ai-weed-control-carbon-robotics-laserweeder/): The 2026 World Ag Expo in Tulare recently showcased a transformative shift in agricultural technology: the rise of the LaserWeeder by Carbon Robotics. Born from a 2018 backyard prototype in Seattle, this AI-powered robot uses sophisticated thermal energy to eliminate weeds without touching a single crop or disturbing the soil. Unlike traditional methods that rely on chemical sprays or heavy mechanical tilling, the LaserWeeder identifies invasive plants in real-time and zaps them with high-powered lasers. This precision tool is now deployed across 15 countries, marking a major milestone in the move toward chemical-free, autonomous farming.
- [Desert Pulse by ScanLAB – Lidar for Botanical Art](https://lidarnews.com/desert-pulse-turns-lidar-data-into-desert-art/): A stunning new art installation titled "Desert Pulse" by ScanLAB has debuted at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, blending high-end surveying technology with environmental storytelling. Created by ScanLAB Projects, the exhibit uses millions of data points captured via terrestrial lidar scanners to create an evocation of the Sonoran Desert. Architects Matt Shaw and Will Trossell spent months documenting the arid landscape, recording the subtle movements of saguaros and desert scrub. The result is a multi-sensory experience that showcases time-lapse imagery of a landscape that often appears static to the naked eye but is actually pulsing with life and growth.
- [Digital Conservation for Utah Paper Mill](https://lidarnews.com/digital-conservation-for-utah-paper-mill/): Two brothers, Nate and Chad Silvernail, recently completed an independent digital conservation project to preserve the Cottonwood Paper Mill in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. Using drones and photogrammetry, they generated a highly detailed 3D model of the structure after learning of its potential demolition. Originally constructed between 1880 and 1883 from local granite, the mill served as the first large-scale paper production facility for the local newspaper called the Deseret News. Although a fire gutted the interior in 1893, the massive stone walls remained a landmark for over a century, transitioning from an industrial hub to a 1920s dance hall and eventually a seasonal haunted house before its condemnation in 2005.
- [Siemens Wins XenomatiX Free Lidar Contest, Expanding Collaboration on Autonomous and Smart Mobility Projects](https://lidarnews.com/siemens-wins-xenomatix-free-lidar-contest/): Leuven, Belgium – 02 March 2026 – XenomatiX, a pioneer in true solid-state lidar technology, has announced Siemens as the winner of its ‘’LiDAR Contest’’, held in September 2025. The contest attracted hundreds of applications from around the world, covering a wide range of use cases. The strong participation ‘’confirms that lidar technology is no longer limited to niche applications.’’- says Filip Geuens, CEO of XenomatiX.
- [Delaware Geological Survey Pilots Trail Cameras](https://lidarnews.com/delaware-geological-survey-pilots-trail-cameras/): The Delaware Geological Survey (DGS) has launched a new pilot program to monitor the dynamic shorelines of the Delaware Bay using a network of ten specialized trail cameras. Positioned at strategic points from Kitts Hummock to the Cape Henlopen Pier in Lewes, these cameras capture still images every 30 minutes to track how sand moves across entire beach systems rather than just isolated spots. Led by coastal geologist Robin Mattheus, the project aims to bridge the gap between infrequent high-tech scans and twice-yearly manual surveys. By documenting the immediate impacts of wind, waves, and storm events, researchers can finally observe the lag in how sand transported from one community eventually affects its neighbors.
- [GeoLas Systems announces release of new version of the Geocode LIDAR processing software](https://lidarnews.com/geolas-geocode-version-5/): GeoLas Systems is excited to announce a new major release of GeoLas Geocode raw data processing software. New in version 5 are:
- [Topcon unveils new machine control, safety, and geomatics innovations at CONEXPO 2026](https://lidarnews.com/topcon-3d-machine-control/): LAS VEGAS — March 2, 2026 — Topcon Positioning Systems has announced new 3D machine control technologies, functionalities, and safety features for earthmoving and paving applications, as well as geomatic technologies for surveying and building construction applications. By connecting equipment, people, and processes, the new technologies are designed to increase productivity across applications and project phases through a centralized platform approach. The announcement was made for CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, North America’s largest construction trade show.
- [SAM: IS-BAO Certification](https://lidarnews.com/sam-is-bao-certification/): SAM Achieves IS-BAO Certification, Strengthening Safety Culture and Expanding Aviation Opportunity
- [3DEO Member of Digital Forest Affiliates](https://lidarnews.com/3deo-digital-forest-affiliates/): 3DEO, Inc. is proud to be the first member of the Digital Forest Affiliates at the University of Idaho College of Natural Resources.
- [LAZ 1.5  Compression for LAS 1.5 Available By rapidlasso](https://lidarnews.com/laz-1-5-rapidlasso/): As rapidlasso’s LAZ 1.4  makes its way through the process to become an OGC Community Standard, the company has already released a new version of LASzip supporting the new LAS 1.5 format, which includes new features such as improvement of the accuracy of GPS timestamps by introduction of an optional GPS time offset, and WKT2 support, which is crucial for modern coordinate system metadata. LAS 1.5 was released in August 2025 and LAZ 1.5 in December 2025.
- [Aethon Aerial and 3DEO Announce Strategic Partnership to Deliver Next-Generation Geiger-Mode Lidar Solutions for Transmission, Distribution, and Corridor Mapping](https://lidarnews.com/aethon-3deo-geiger-mode-lidar/): Denver, CO – February 16th, 2026 — Aethon Aerial and 3DEO today announced a strategic Strategic Joint Venture to Deliver Next-Generation 3DEO Geiger-Mode LiDAR Solutions for Transmission, Distribution, and Corridor Mapping as well as targeted collection of urban and rural distribution and sub-transmission infrastructure.
- [Revolution Geosystems Acquires Phoenix LiDAR Systems](https://lidarnews.com/revolution-geosystems-acquires-phoenix-lidar-systems/): Revolution Geosystems Announces Strategic Acquisition of Phoenix LiDAR Systems, Expanding Global Reach in Precision Geospatial Technology

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## Events
- [Phoenix LiDAR SOAR 2026](https://lidarnews.com/event/phoenix-lidar-soar-2026/): 3 days of LIVE lidar demonstrations, software presentations, and networking! 
- [ESRI User Conference 2026](https://lidarnews.com/event/esri-user-conference-2026/): Join thousands of geospatial professionals and enthusiasts at the world’s largest GIS conference.
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- [R-CON Boise 2026](https://lidarnews.com/event/r-con-boise-2026/): R-CON is the flagship annual Conference hosted by the Reality Capture Network (RCN)
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- [Energy Drone & Robotics Summit 2026](https://lidarnews.com/event/energy-drone-robotics-summit-2026/): The Global Energy Robotics/Drone, Data & Geospatial Leaders Are Coming Together to Adopt, Adapt & Scale!