Geiger-mode LiDAR

A New Generation in LiDAR Technology

Unparalleled Technology

VeriDaaS’ Geiger-mode LiDAR system is a new generation of LiDAR technology used to collect high-accuracy elevation data. It transmits low-power laser pulses at high frequency to the ground. The pulses are reflected to the aircraft and captured by a two-dimensional Geiger mode avalanche photo diode array.

The array is mounted on a scanner that rotates at an angle to create a cone-shaped field of view. As the scanner rotates, the photo diode array flashes up to 50,000 times every second (50 kHz) and can take up to 4,096 measurements per flash, leading to up to 204.8 million elevation measurements per second. Each square meter of terrain is sampled thousands of times in a single over-flight.

Unmatched Acquisition Efficiency

The Geiger-mode LiDAR system collects data differently than conventional linear acquisition systems. Rather than a single beam that moves across the track of the aircraft, a Palmer scanning system maps a circular ring pattern with a field of view of 30 degrees, allowing the system to capture data in an oblique manner.

The combination of oblique circular ring and forward movement of the aircraft produces many overlapping elevation arrays from which 3D terrain features are derived with very high resolution and precision.

Combining this with a collection strategy of typically flying with 50% swath overlap creates up to 30 unique look-angles, ensuring that both the tops of structures and their sides are captured, preventing voids, and significantly increasing the interpretability of point-cloud data.

Unrivaled LiDAR System

Conventional lidar systems in linear-mode transmit single high-power laser pulses repeatedly. This technique can be problematic when it comes to covering areas with vegetation and other surface features that can split the beam into multiple return signals or block them completely.

When using Geiger-mode LiDAR technology for the collection of data over vegetated areas, the large number of measurements are spread over the entire target, providing many returns over the canopy structure and along the ground surface. The resulting point densities are up to 100 points/m2 on ground surfaces and can be well over 200 points/m2 in forested areas.

Another huge advantage of the Geiger-mode technology is the faster data collection. Since the flight altitude can be much higher (11,000–18,000 feet above ground level), larger areas are mapped during one flight. This reduces the overall costs significantly.

The remarkably high sensitivity of Geiger-mode LiDAR systems allows to achieve very detailed 3D representations of objects and surfaces with an accuracy in the centimeter-range. Such exceptional precision can make a significant difference in improving applications, for example, in utility, forestry, and infrastructure management.

8pt Suburb30pt Geiger-mode Suburb
8pt Trees30pt Geiger-mode Trees

Geiger-mode Elements

Enhanced data acquisition efficiency

Geiger-mode LiDAR systems operate at high flight altitudes, allowing for broader coverage and reducing the need for multiple flight passes, thereby lowering operational costs drastically.

Greater flexibility in data collection

Geiger-mode LiDAR systems offer flexibility in data collection parameters such as pulse density and flight altitude, allowing for customization to meet specific project requirements and objectives.

High level of information details

Geiger mode LiDAR provides high-definition, detailed data that is valuable for improving analytics and applications.

Enhanced performance in vegetated areas

Geiger-mode LiDAR‘s look diversity enhances the system’s foliage penetration and ability to detect substructure, even in leaf-on conditions.