Lidar Exploration

Lidar stands for Light Detection and Ranging. It uses lasers to measure distances very accurately. A lidar sensor can be put on a plane, drone, or car. It sends out millions of tiny laser beams that bounce off the ground and come back. This creates a detailed 3D map of the land below.

How Lidar Works

A lidar sensor shoots out laser pulses very quickly. Each pulse hits something and bounces back. A computer measures how long each bounce takes. This tells scientists the exact shape of the ground. Lidar can even see through trees and plants to map what is underneath.

Amazing Discoveries with Lidar

Lidar has helped explorers find hidden cities and ruins in jungles. In Central America, scientists used lidar to find ancient Maya buildings covered by trees. In Cambodia, lidar revealed a huge lost city near the famous temple of Angkor Wat. Lidar is changing the way we explore the world.

Fun Facts

• Lidar can send out more than 150,000 laser pulses per second.
• Scientists used lidar to discover thousands of hidden Maya structures in Guatemala.
• Lidar is also used in self-driving cars to help them see the road.

Did You Know?

Lidar once revealed an entire ancient city hidden under the jungle in Honduras that no one knew existed.