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Laser Emission
The LIDAR scanner emits thousands to millions of laser pulses per second toward the target area or object.
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Reflection
These pulses bounce off surfaces, such as buildings, ground, trees, or structures, and return to the sensor.
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Time-of-Flight Measurement
The system measures the time it takes for each laser pulse to travel to the object and back. Since light travels at a constant speed, this time can be used to calculate the exact distance.
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Position & Angle Tracking
As the scanner moves (or rotates), it records the angle and position of each pulse. When combined with GPS and IMU data (in mobile or aerial systems), the result is a complete 3D map of the scanned environment.
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Step 5. Point Cloud Generation
All the measured points are compiled into a point cloud, a digital 3D representation of the scanned area. These can be further processed into 3D models, maps, or measurements.