Leica Geosystems’ new airborne mapping system offers enhanced flexibility, extending the operational range of the company’s LiDAR offering

Leica Geosystems, the Swiss surveying and measurement company that is part of the multinational Hexagon group has launched the Leica TerrainMapper-3, its latest linear-mode airborne LiDAR sensor.

More flexible than ever

The Leica TerrainMapper-3 provides what the company is calling “greater flexibility than ever before,” thanks to a range of new features and improvements to the firm’s existing capabilities. The TerrainMapper-3 extends the operational range of Leica Geosystems’ LiDAR line and allows users to execute an array of jobs that formerly required multiple systems.

Featuring an adjustable field of view of up to 60 degrees, new configurable scan technology and simultaneous matching-FOV imagery in four bands, the TerrainMapper-3, the firm says, is designed to enhance the productivity of the most diverse applications in a single system.

“We recognized the critical need for an efficient, fully configurable solution to support multiple LiDAR applications in a single system,” said Layton Hobbs, airborne product line director at Leica Geosystems. “With its exceptional accuracy and versatility, and cutting-edge technology, the Leica TerrainMapper-3 opens up a world of possibilities and it’s a game-changer for a data-driven future.”

Tailored performance

The TerrainMapper-3, which takes Leica Geosystems’ expertise in the field of LiDAR efficiency a step further, offers three advanced scan patterns to elevate productivity and tailor sensor performance to specific applications.

Circle scan patterns are also able to enhance the 3D modelling of urban landscapes and steep terrains, while ellipse scan patterns optimise data capture for traditional mapping tasks. Additionally, the system’s skew ellipse scan patterns have been designed to enhance point density, particularly beneficial for infrastructure and corridor mapping applications.

Flying faster while maintaining data quality

Because of the sensor’s higher scan speed rate, users can fly their aircraft faster while maintaining the highest data quality, Leica Geosystems says, while the 60-degrees adjustable field of view also maximises data collection with fewer flight lines. The TerrainMapper-3 is further complemented by the Leica MFC150 4-band camera, operating with the same 60-degree field of view coverage as the LiDAR for exact data consistency.

Moreover, thanks to its reduced beam divergence, the TerrainMapper-3 provides improved planimetric accuracy, while new Multiple Pulses in Air (MPiA) handling guarantees more consistent data acquisition, even in steep terrain, providing users with what the company deems “unparalleled reliability and precision.”

The new system also introduces possibilities for real-time full waveform recording at maximum pulse rate, providing users with new opportunities for advanced and automated point classification.

Seamless integration with Leica HxMap

The TerrainMapper-3 sensor seamlessly integrates with Leica HxMap end-to-end processing workflow, supporting users from mission planning to product generation, enabling them to extract the greatest value from the collected data.

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Featured image credit: Leica Geosystems