Lidar systems testing considerations for field use

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to offer a perspective on testing a commercially available lidar system in order to determine its suitability for various practical tasks including mapping, object recognition, and the potential in its coupling with another sensor, in this case a camera. Several mapping missions were carried out over the course of the experiment, with both the lidar and the camera mounted on an Unmanned Aircraft System. Aside from mapping ordinary objects like trees, vehicles, people, and ground elevation, a standardized test target was designed for the purposes of the experiment, and placed in detection area. Influence of external factors on system performance was evaluated, e.g. atmospheric conditions and material properties of scanned surfaces, especially their reflectivity. Post processing of obtained data was carried out, demonstrating the potential of overlaying multiple sensor data for easier object recognition, and an optimal use case for the system is suggested.