The recent decade has brought tremendous progress in Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS), the state-of-the technique for 3D mapping of topography and shallow water bathymetry. The pulse repetition rates increased from the kHz to MHz level and, together with the introduction of single photon sensitive receiver arrays, this boosted both the achievable point density and area coverage performance. LiDAR point cloud classification further profited from multi-spectral laser scanning using infrared and green wavelengths and from concurrent capturing of image and scan provided by modern hybrid sensor systems. Green lasers are used for measuring underwater topography, also referred to as bathymetry, laser bathymetry. Airborne Laser Bathymetry is no longer restricted to charting shallow coastal areas only but evolved to a powerful tool for high resolution mapping of the entire littoral area, referred to as topo-bathymetric LiDAR. Finally, sensor miniaturization and progress in aviation technology has opened new close-range airborne applications due to integration of lightweight LiDAR sensors on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. All these topics are covered in the EuroSDR distance course “Recent LiDAR technologies”.

In this course, the participants will refresh the basics of ALS, will learn details about the above mentioned technologies in theory, and will also process provided sample data in hands-on sessions. For the theory part of the course, respective papers, text book excerpts, and slides will be provided along with short pre-recorded videos. The scientific laser scanning software OPALS is the basis for practical data processing. The participants obtain a temporal personal scientific license in advance, so that they can already familiarize themselves with the software before the actual start of the course. The examination consists of multiple choice tests (theory) and short technical reports (exercises).The course is divided into the following six modules.