Charting the Future of 3D Topography: USGS Calls for Next-Gen Mapping Strategy As geospatial technologies continue to evolve, so too must the systems that support our understanding of the terrain beneath our feet. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has released Circular 1553, a strategic document outlining the future of national elevation and hydrography data under the evolving 3D National Topography […]
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Nortek Nucleus Supports Coral Reef Photogrammetry Project Synopsis written by Adam Clark. Adam has spent the past 13 years exploring the world from above by using drones, satellites, and mapping tools to better understand our landscapes. A collaborative team of academics, supported by Inkfish, deployed Seeker autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) equipped with Nortek Nucleus 1000 navigation sensors off Tonga to map […]
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Curated and written by Adam Clark. Adam has spent the past 13 years exploring the world from above by using drones, satellites, and mapping tools to better understand our landscapes. AMETEK Completes Acquisition of FARO Technologies, Strengthening Leadership in 3D Metrology, Laser Projection & Digital Reality Solutions AMETEK, Inc. has finalized its acquisition of FARO Technologies. FARO is known for its […]
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3D Reconstruction of Underwater Shipwrecks: 3D Gaussian Splatting and Structure from Motion for the Melania shipwreck Summary written by Adam Clark. Adam has spent the past 13 years exploring the world from above by using drones, satellites, and mapping tools to better understand our landscapes. Researchers from the University of Pisa and Arts et Métiers apply two image‑based 3D reconstruction methods Structure […]
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LIDAR NEWS WEEKLY RECAP – JULY 14th Curated and written by Adam Clark. Adam has spent the past 13 years exploring the world from above by using drones, satellites, and mapping tools to better understand our landscapes. Lidar sensors are paving the way to more connected – and safer – roads New research into utilizing LiDAR to detect and monitor vehicles, […]
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Mapping the Largest Known Cold-Water Coral Reef Habitat Synopsis written by Adam Clark. Adam has spent the past 13 years exploring the world from above by using drones, satellites, and mapping tools to better understand our landscapes. Hydro International reports on an extraordinary seafloor mapping missions revealing the world’s largest known cold-water coral reef habitat off Greenland, spanning over 10,000 square miles. […]
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Curated and written by Adam Clark. Adam has spent the past 13 years exploring the world from above by using drones, satellites, and mapping tools to better understand our landscapes.Turning 3D Reality Capture into Life-Saving Intelligence Geo Week News highlights how 3D reality capture technologies like LiDAR and photogrammetry transform emergency response for law enforcement, fire service, and paramedics. Fast, […]
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New UW Online Portal Opens Access to Statewide LiDAR Data Synopsis Written by Adam Clark The University of Wyoming’s Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center (WyGISC) has launched a new, free public Wyoming LiDAR Data Portal, offering statewide high-resolution digital terrain models and 2‑foot contours. Funded by a $2 million legislative appropriation in 2023 and developed with Woolpert, the portal centralizes LiDAR-derived […]
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Written by Adam Clark New UW Online Portal Opens Access to Statewide LiDAR Data The University of Wyoming’s Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center (WyGISC) has launched a new, free public Wyoming LiDAR Data Portal, offering statewide high-resolution digital terrain models and 2‑foot contours. Funded by a $2 million legislative appropriation in 2023 and developed with Woolpert, the portal centralizes LiDAR-derived elevation […]
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We had a great discussion on Friday with a panel of experts and over 95 attendees joining us live. The session covered important topics, addressed key challenges, and featured insightful questions from the audience—expertly answered by our panelists. If you missed it, be sure to catch the replay now on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cZtLHOMgMs 🔍 Topics include: 🎙 Expert Panelists: 🎤 Moderator:
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LIDAR and Local Wisdom Reveal the Forgotten Portuguese City Beneath the Amazon’s Canopy Reported in MSN this week: “We were able to identify the layout of the streets of this city, which was also a fascinating discovery,” Eduardo Neves, director of the University of São Paulo’s Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography, said in a statement that captures the understated excitement […]
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Bridger Photonics Rolls Out Offshore Drone-Based Methane Detection Bridger Photonics is now deploying a compact version of its Gas Mapping LiDAR (GML) system on heavy-lift drones to monitor methane emissions from offshore oil and gas infrastructure—especially platforms and LNG facilities that are difficult for traditional aircraft to access dronedesk.io+15dronelife.com+15dronelife.com+15 Why drones? How it works:Teams transport the drone and sensor via […]
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Creating a first-of-its-kind Lidar laboratory at Tampa International Airport Thank you to International Airport Review Doug Wycoff, Director of Digital Solutions and Innovation at Tampa International Airport, spoke with International Airport Review about the airport’s most recent innovations, including its LiDAR laboratory and their plans for a ‘dream’ baggage handling system. ~~~ What trends have you been observing among your […]
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RIEGL Webinar Announcement: Precision & Proof – Leveraging the VZ-600i in Forensics Register Now for the next RIEGL Ultimate LiDARTM webinar featuring the VZ-600i, showcasing its cutting-edge hardware and software capabilities for crime and crash scene forensics. Secure your spot today and gain valuable insights from Bryan Menendez, West Coast Business Development for RIEGL USA and Bryon O’Neil, Traffic Crash Reconstructionist for […]
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QCi, an integrated photonics and quantum optics technology company, announced that the Company has been awarded a subcontract with a ceiling value of $406,478 to support the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Langley Research Center through the development of an innovative quantum computing technique for removal of solar noise from space lidar data. QCi received the subcontract award through Analytical Mechanics Associates (“AMA”), a prime […]
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Canadian Summer Internship Program Trains Hydrographers of the Future By Kevin P. Corbley Three marine organizations teamed in the summers of 2023 and 2024 to prepare Canadian ocean mapping students to become “Hydrographers of the Future.” The first-of-its-kind internship program focused on equipping the students with the technical skills and knowledge that are increasingly required in the hydrography profession but […]
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How to Generate a Digital Terrain Model from a LiDAR Point Cloud: Complete Workflow May 8, 2025 Digital Terrain Model (DTM) generation from LiDAR point clouds is a fundamental process in geospatial engineering, supporting applications such as flood modeling, infrastructure planning, environmental monitoring, and terrain analysis. Although the task may seem simple at first glance, it encompasses a sequence of […]
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BCIT to Host Surveying and Geomatics Educators Society (SaGES) Conference [Vancouver, B.C.] British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is pleased to host the 29th biennial conference of the Surveying and Geomatics Educators Society (SaGES) from June 15 to 19, 2025, at the BCIT Downtown Campus in Vancouver, B.C. The SaGES 2025 Conference will welcome approximately 100 attendees, including educators, professionals, and technology leaders […]
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To the Moon and Beyond: RIEGL USA, Allen & Company, NASA, and UCF Team Up for the Second Year in the 2025 Lunabotics Challenge. In a recent article published by Commercial Construction & Renovation Magazine, the continued collaboration between RIEGL USA, Allen & Company, NASA, and the University of Central Florida (UCF) during the Lunabotics Challenge is detailed. This marks the second year that RIEGL USA will be part of […]
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Protecting the Unseen: Non-Invasive Seabed and Coral Reef Mapping with RIEGL Aerial Bathymetric LiDAR AB Surveying & Development, a leading surveying solutions firm in the Philippines, has made a significant advancement in marine surveying by adopting the RIEGL VQ-840-G system. This world-class survey-grade LiDAR scanner is renowned for its precision and non-invasive capabilities. The cutting-edge technology captures data with a nearly elliptical scan […]
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Calibration or Static for Base Position Do you calibrate every project with a rover? Do you really need to? What are the pros and cons? A site calibration, or localization, is a way to average the error between observed control points and help you know if certain points are outside of your acceptable tolerance. The control is initially established with […]
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Digital Precision at the Black Sea: 3D Scanning a Port Facility in Constanta with Trimble X7 My name is Codrin Bolocan, the owner of SENZORTECH and the “lucky” guy who gets to travel all over the place doing scanning work. At Senzortech, we’re constantly exploring new ways to bridge the gap between physical infrastructure and digital design. One of our […]
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Webinar: From Data Collection to Design: The Power of Drone-Based LiDAR Event Details Wednesday, May 7, 2025 – 03:00 PM to 04:00 PM (EST) See how drone LiDAR is transforming real-world projects in this behind-the-scenes look at a high-impact scan of Idaho’s Snake River Canyon. Hear how Semblance Solutions partnered with Frontier Precision Unmanned to tackle a 2.3-square-mile aerial LiDAR mission as part of a […]
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Georg Schroth, CTO and Co-Founder of NavVis, explains how the new tool streamlines workflows, enhances data integrity and eliminates third-party tools. We’re pleased to announce NavVis IVION Release 11.5.0, bringing powerful new data cleaning capabilities at no extra cost. Point Cloud Cleanup has been seamlessly integrated within NavVis IVION, the market-leading spatial data platform for digital twin creation, collaboration and integration. […]
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Breaking New Ground: U.S. Air Force Tests Drone LIDAR for Airfield Safety at McChord Airfield In a groundbreaking effort to enhance airfield safety and precision mapping, the U.S. Air Force recently completed a comprehensive LIDAR survey using drone technology at McChord Airfield, located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), Washington. The 627th Civil Engineer Squadron (627 CES), in collaboration with Stitch3D […]
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