Digital Terrain Map using LiDAR sensor for ground based and airborne applications

Project Title

Digital Terrain Map using LiDAR sensor for ground based and airborne applications

Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject Summary

3-D LiDAR is an optical sensor technology that enables robots to see the world, make decisions and navigate the world. Nowadays, research is being actually conducted to obtain the terrain maps of area of interest. Real time high quality terrain maps are obtained using LiDAR sensors. Moreover, LiDAR sensors can also work in low contrast or shadowy situations, even at night. This sensor once mounted on any Unmanned Aerial or Surface Vehicle, is used for many ground based and airborne applications such as mining, forestry, surveying, corridor mapping etc. One of its important application include its usage as a significant engineering tool for citing of Weather and Air Traffic Control (ATC) Radars. Also, it can be used for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) purposes as well.

Project Objectives

Project objectives include:

1. Literature review related to LiDARs and Terrain mapping
2. Selection of LiDAR sensor
3. Integration of hardware components
4. Development of algorithm to generate DTM
5. Integration of this system on a quad copter
6. Combining of DTM in inner ranges and DTED (level 1) at outer ranges
7. Radar Coverage Indication (RCI) modelling based on DTM and DTED

Project Implementation Method

In this project selection of 3D LiDAR sensor is of prime importance, as in this modern era of technology also due to latest advancements in autonomous industry LiDAR sensors have gained prime importance and multiple companies are competing to provide better quality and low cost LiDAR sensors having minimum cost. After procuring LiDAR sensor the next step would be development of algorithm to implement LiDAR sensor and generate DTM. This step would also include the selection of appropriate software for the implementation of developed algorithm. DTM of specified area would be obtained. Next in this project this system would be implemented on a quad copter and Real time digital maps of scanned area would be obtained. Furthermore, in this project the DTM data generated would be combined with open source DTED (level 1) data. This map would be used to develop an algorithm to identify the appropriate location for Air Traffic Control and Weather Radar citing so that it should face minimum obstruction from environmental factors (Terrain).

Benefits of the Project

1. Geomorphology utilizes for extracting terrain parameters
2. To model water for mass movement or hydrology
3. Relief maps, Remote sensing and physical models
4. Geographic Information System (GIS)
5. Town or urban planning
6. Archeology
7. Automatic Driving Assistance System (ADAS)
8. Early warning systems which alert about natural disasters
9. In Civil Engineering for development of transportation network, Dams, Infrastructure etc
10. Agriculture management
11. Aviation Industry
12. Implementation of Security system at different Departments 

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

The expected deliverables of this project are:

1. Hardware implementation of LiDAR sensor.
2. Generation of DTM of specified area.
3. Integration on UAV or quad copter.

Final Deliverable of the Project Hardware SystemCore Industry OthersOther Industries Agriculture , Manufacturing , Transportation , Security Core Technology RoboticsOther Technologies OthersSustainable Development Goals Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Climate ActionRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	80000
Vu8 LeddarTech	Equipment	1	70000	70000
Vu8 Starter kit	Miscellaneous	1	10000	10000