LiDAR For Conservation

LiDAR is becoming increasingly popular in the world of conservation. The data gained from this technology is revolutionizing how we are able to manage habitat, restore, and provide data for shareholders.

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is used by emitting lasers to the ground below, those lasers' bounce off vegetation, rock, and soil, then are received back up into the sensor within the drone. The cool thing about LiDAR is that it automatically creates a point cloud where it can be viewed in 3D. Not only is the imagery in 3D but it is color coded for elevation data. This is important because you can see the whole story of a project which includes rivers/streams, trees, soil, and anything that may be covered by vegetation no matter how thick.

In the world of conservation, a common challenge for biologists, land managers, and regional directors, is to prove their projects are restoring habitat or creating a benefit for wildlife in the area. Take bull hogs for example, the land managers in the area know this generates prime elk and deer wintering habitat, but someone in the state office may take offense or deny that it has any benefit for elk and deer herds at all. This is where geospatial data via LiDAR can show the biomass of grasses and shrubs that are consumed by these ungulates, it can even show games trails and changes within those grassy areas that explain improved animal usage. Combine with GIS related data on the whereabouts of a certain species and you now have proof a benefit has been made for the region's elk and deer herds. As time goes on the data will only show stronger trends for the improvements in the area and these projects will have to be carried out eventually.

This of course is just one example, but geospatial monitoring is important for all projects no matter where in the process they may be. The imagery shows the facts and leaves out the guessing game that can surround decision making and political involvement. LiDAR equates to better efficiency which in return saves money in the long and short terms.

LiDAR can be used for all sorts of projects, mapping of waterways, biomass of trees shrubs and grasses, phenotyping, floodplain mapping, and how man-made structures affect the environment around it.