Advanced laser ranging technologies for altimetry
| Programme: | TRP Workplan | Achieved TRL: | 4 |
| Reference: | T116-306MM | Closure: | 2016 |
| Contractor(s): | Cosine (NL), Entner Electronics (AT), TU Wien (AT), Polit. Milano (IT), Logikon Labs (GR), Laser Zentrum Hannover (DE), ID Quantique (CH) | ||
GSP study “Laser Altimeter for Earth Observation and Planetary Exploration” had identified Single Photon Counting (SPC) as promising technology for altimetry. Feasibility for vegetation height measurement to be demonstrated and trade-off with traditional full-waveform retrieval method to be performed.
Objectives
Design, manufacture and demonstrate a laser altimeter breadboard implementing novel technologies and ranging techniques for future Earth Observation vegetation height measurement missions:
- apply multi-kHz Single Photon Counting ranging technique
- provide multi-beams for different fields area observations
- allow investigation of the optimal conditions to retrieve vertical structure (similar to waveform analysis), roughness and surface slope
- demonstrate the ability to measure real vegetation heights
- assess and experimentally validate different types of technologies
The picture on the right shows the field test campaign with the laser ranging instrument mounted on the outside of the platform 35 meters above the Speulderbos canopy test area.
Achievements
A field demonstrator of a space instrument was developed. Experimentally proven vertical resolution was 8.9 cm, while the vertical accuracy was 12.0 cm, both of which exceeding required instrument specifications. A field measurement campaign validated the employed technologies and algorithms for vegetation height retrieval.
Benefits
Demonstrated feasibility of Single Photon Counting vegetation LiDAR exceeding required performance.
Further activities
Design improvements and upgrades in the frame of T117-504MM “Multi-kHz, multi-beam single photon counting vegetation LiDAR”.
