Written by Malek Singer
In recent years, Spain has quietly become a leader in using advanced geospatial technologies to reshape land management, environmental monitoring, and agricultural planning. At the center of this shift is the Plan Nacional de Ortofotografía Aérea (PNOA), a national initiative that used airborne lidar technology to create a high-resolution, three-dimensional map of the entire country. This ambitious program not only set new standards for geospatial data collection but also unlocked practical applications across multiple industries, including one that may surprise many: cattle farming.
The PNOA Vision: Mapping a Nation in 3D
Launched by Spain’s Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN), the PNOA program aimed to modernize the country’s topographic data infrastructure. Traditional mapping methods were useful but they lacked the precision and adaptability needed for today’s challenges such as climate adaptation, urban growth, and sustainable agriculture. To bridge this gap, Spain adopted lidar technology to generate detailed elevation models to fill the gaps.
Technology in Use
The Optech Galaxy lidar system was used to conduct aerial surveys across Spain. Mounted on aircraft, the system scanned the terrain with millions of laser pulses, capturing elevation data with remarkable granularity. The result was a nationwide point cloud coverage at 5 points/m2, processed into digital elevation models (DEMs), and other vector derivatives, as well as orthophotos at 25 cm pixel accuracy.
Thanks to its unique ability to adjust for terrain variations using SwathTRAK technology and maintain high ground density, the system required fewer flight lines and produced a lower carbon footprint than conventional fixed-field-of-view systems. In total, 475,000 square kilometers, about 94 percent of the country, were mapped using the Galaxy lidar system.
Figure 1: DEM of Valencia, Spain made available publicly on the IGN data portal
Crucially, this data was made publicly accessible, sparking innovation across a wide range of sectors. Urban planners used it to model flood risks, environmental agencies tracked erosion patterns, and archaeologists uncovered hidden ruins beneath forest canopies. Yet one of the most unexpected and impactful uses emerged in the realm of livestock farming.
From Elevation to Grazing: Lidar’s Agricultural Leap
Spain’s rugged grazing lands have long posed challenges for traditional surveying methods. Lidar data from the PNOA program has revolutionized how farmers and agricultural agencies manage these landscapes. By analyzing high-resolution Digital Terrain Models (DTMs), experts could pinpoint slopes, valleys, and water catchment zones, all key factors in planning pasture rotation, fencing, and herd movement.
Beyond terrain modeling, lidar played a pivotal role in calculating the Pasture Subsidy Eligibility Coefficient (CSP), a critical metric under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy. CSP determines what portion of a pasture parcel qualifies for subsidies by excluding steep slopes, rocky soil, buildings, and non-herbaceous vegetation. Lidar’s ability to classify vegetation by height, distinguishing grazeable plants under 40 centimeters from shrubs and trees, was essential to this process. When integrated with satellite-derived NDVI data and slope analysis, lidar enabled the generation of accurate CSP values for each SIGPAC plot, which are stored and updated automatically in Spain’s agricultural database.
A New Era of Land Management
Spain’s investment in lidar technology through the PNOA program has proven to be more than a technical upgrade, it’s a catalyst for smarter, more sustainable land management. By making high-resolution geospatial data publicly available, the country has empowered professionals across disciplines to innovate and collaborate. From archaeologists uncovering ancient secrets to farmers optimizing pastureland, the ripple effects of this initiative continue to shape a more resilient and informed future.
