If you’ve ever wondered why aircraft need bathymetric lidar sensors, here’s why: they are used to provide data on the depth of oceans, rivers, and other bodies of water. This is important because data on the depths of these bodies of water is needed to create nautical charts that help ensure safe navigation.
The lidar sensor emits a pulse of light and measures the time it takes for the light to return. That time tells us the distance between the sensor and the object, which in turn gives us a measure of depth. The ability to measure topographical elevation and underwater depth makes it an ideal tool for creating accurate nautical charts.
