QUALITY ASSURANCE OF LIDAR SYSTEMS - MISSION PLANNING

Mission planning is considered a crucial aspect of Airborne Light detection and Ranging (LiDAR) surveys to contribute to total Quality Assurance (QA) experience. Since LiDAR is a relatively new spatial data acquisition practice, one may not find complete documentation on how to get prepared for such a mission. There is abstract information available from a few public and private organizations; however, none of these resources provide fully documented and thorough explanation. Throughout the industry, most airborne LiDAR missions are prepared with the previous expertise of the personnel who have involved in earlier projects. Formal training is not common, and ‘learning-on-the-job’ has potential complications for the future. Additionally, there are various types of airborne LiDAR surveys that require specific know-how, but expertise carried over may not work for a different type of survey. Field and office managers are advised to assess the project requirements and available resources very carefully prior to mission initiates. There are fundamental requirements, as well as less important actions. Due to the variable nature of airborne surveys, all phases need steady observation to prevent potentially costly changes or mission failures. Various projects experience difficulties in order to complete projects sooner, resulting in overlooked and skipped QA procedures. Careful assessment of the requirements and planning with adequate timing is vital for a successful mission completion. A good mission planning requires careful and extensive consideration of various phases of the project. Hence, author believes that there is a need for detailed airborne LiDAR mission planning documentation that will provide assistance to LiDAR community.