Leica releases new LiDAR mapping solution

By on 16 September, 2014

Leica ALS80 lidar

Leica Geosystems has introduced the next generation of its airborne LiDAR solutions, the ALS80.

The new solution incorporates advances in laser technology, and new high-speed point cloud generation and viewing software, for faster acquisition and lower processing times.

The Leica ALS80-CM and ALS80-HP systems’ expanded Multiple Pulse in Air (MPiA) capabilities and new scanning geometry offer pulse rates of up to 1.0 MHz. This technology greatly expands pulse rate capability throughout the entire range of flying heights, allowing faster collection rates and shorter flight times. For users operating in mountainous terrain, the Leica ALS80-HA offers significantly increased pulse rates during high-altitude operation.

“Users have responded positively to the simplicity of the ‘one laser, one scanner’ pioneering approach introduced by the Leica ALS70,” says Ron Roth, vice president of Airborne LiDAR at Leica Geosystems’ Geospatial Solutions division. “The Leica ALS80 continues to develop this approach and builds on the successes of the Leica ALS70 by greatly expanding the operating envelope while, at the same time, improving numerous other areas such as point spacing uniformity, range resolution, minimum pulse separation and packaging. The companion software Leica CloudPro and Leica AHAB LSS Viewer give users a processing workflow that keeps up with the increased hardware productivity.”

The device also: allows increased range resolution; offers higher peak power in each pulse, and lowers random noise – all of which improve the quality of delivered data. In addition, refined scan geometry improves consistency in along-track point spacing and reduces flight times on jobs where variation in along-track point spacing is limited.

In order to ensure the best signal in all geographic regions, the ALS80 comes equipped with the NovAtel OEM638 GNSS/IMU subassembly, which provides users with a future-proof precision receiver solution that tracks signals of all available constellations – GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou as well as L-band, SBAS and QZSS. The OEM638 also continues to support the popular CUS-6 IMU, providing the best possible orientation solution that maximises data accuracy.

The new design of the device eliminates any fixed cabling between system electronics and the scanner, and makes installation in external pods even easier with the entire laser assembly now inside the scanner head. By using an advanced laser design, the ALS80 is able to reduce the size of the system’s electronics and eliminate 13 kg of electronic weight, without changing the size or weight of the scanner. In addition, the Leica ALS80 incorporates OC60 and PD60 operator and pilot displays, standardising the user interface across the entire Leica Geosystems airborne product array.

The Leica ALS80 will ship with two new software products to complete the new mapping solution, both of which improve processing throughput and reduce data delivery lead times.

All variants of the Leica ALS80 will be available in selected regions from September 2014 and worldwide in 2015. Ordering information and details are available from all authorised Leica Geosystems representatives.

For owners of existing Leica ALS60 and Leica ALS70 systems, upgrades to the new Leica ALS80 configuration will be available from October 2014.

The Leica ALS80 will be on display at INTERGEO 2014 in Berlin, 7-9 October.

Further information on the Leica ALS80 family of airborne LiDAR systems can be found at Leica’s ALS80 product page.

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