LiDAR AND CAVE'S WILDLIFE
WHAT IS LIDAR?
LiDAR, stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a terrestrial laser scanner which is an active remote sensing technique that can measure precise distances by sending out laser energy and then analysing the reflected energy. The instrument used in this work is a laser scanner that is positioned below canopy more specifically inside the cave.
Interestingly, LiDAR allows the measurement and location of a large amount of data to be processed and shown as a 3D image of high resolution. One single laser scan can result in a point cloud consisting of tens of millions of points, and give information regarding its location in 3D, X, Y, Z coordinate system.
CONNECTION BETWEEN LIDAR AND WILDLIFE
Using LiDAR shows how effectively we can now turn highly-accurate laser measurements, comprising millions of 3D laser points, into a cave map. High resolution terrestrial laser scanning within a Wind Cave have successfully differentiate between cave surface and bats roosting. All of these were done without harming the ecosystem of flora and fauna and no disturbance in terms of sound, noise, ground or water pollution. It is safe to say that LiDAR is very environmental-friendly and effective without creating harmful effects to the surrounding.
