The International LiDAR Mapping Forum [ILMF] Conference held in Denver, Colorado from 11-13 February 2013 attracted a record number of 858 registrations from over 30 countries and has been hailed as the most successful yet in this annual event’s 13-year history. The ILMF focuses on the use of LiDAR to support transport, urban modelling, coastal zone mapping, utility asset management, 3D visualisation and GIS applications. These sectors are widely employed to improve mapping and imagery for customers across a wide range of industries from Federal, State and local government departments to commercial mapping enterprises, and to individuals seeking to locate themselves on mobile devices.
The delegates had a technical program of over 50 individual technical papers, workshop sessions and ASPRS Hot Topics sessions to attend, and the most extensive exhibition yet of the latest and best technologies and services in the LiDAR, 3D Imaging and Mapping industries. Over 70 specialist businesses displayed significant advances in laser scanning sensors and applications, some of which had only been developed over the previous 12 months and were being launched on the market at ILMF13.
The conference opened with a well attended plenary session opened by Conference Chairman Alastair Mac Donald of TMS International, who noted that imaging technologies were now at last keeping pace with the speed of development of LIDAR scanner technology. End-user demand for innovative, fast and flexible imaging and data visualization solutions is a major driver in the global mapping market and advances in the capabilities of LiDAR and laser scanning systems were reaching new milestones. LiDAR was now being used on water for the first time to measure oceanographic current profiles, and underwater for precision imaging in turbid waters. New hand held laser scanners now enable almost instantaneous scan-to-3D models of interior spaces for the commercial real estate market. Innovative advances in imagery were reflected in the two keynote addresses examining imagery data acquisition and handling from new perspectives which compliment established LiDAR techniques.
The technical conference was considered to be the most successful yet with 33 varied and informative papers covering not only technical issues but experiences of real life projects.
The paper by Stan Burns, Director of Asset Management, Utah Department of Transportation, succinctly illustrated the present and future benefits of LIDAR in managing the quality, safety, maintenance programs and budgetary planning of the State’s highway network. KC Kroll of Woolpert showed how Lidar and GIS data can be leveraged to predict roof solar energy panel efficiency. Dr Gene Roe updated delegates on the need for a national set of guidelines for the rapidly expanding mobile mapping sector in order to make a better educated customer. Dr Andreas Ulrich of Austrian laser scanning systems firm Riegl, analysed a comparison between single and multi-laser output scanners.
New developments in technology and advances in software were well represented:
Anders Eklund of Airborne Hydrography, Sweden, detailed recent advances in bathymetric lidar.
Lewis Graham of GeoCue delivered an exciting analysis of how and why micro Unmanned Aerial Systems capable of carrying miniature cameras might be the next generation of survey and mapping tools. Mark Rahmes of Harris Corporation explained how the use of 3D fractal algorithms, whilst currently computationally intensive, could be particularly appropriate for void filling in indoorlidar acquisition where obscuration can be encountered. Keith Raymond of Bentley, France examined the opportunities to use point cloud data to reduce the need for geometric based models and also site visits by streaming data direct to PCs on desks. It appears that geo-processing techniques are now merging with computer vision techniques. Examining multi-sensor fusion, Mike Twohig of Surface Search International detailed how ground penetrating radar can be allied to Lidar and other sensors in order to identify, locate and map underground utilities as a major means of improving urban safety.
Director of ILMF, Versha Carter commented, “We are delighted with the success of our 13th ILMF, the 3rd in Denver. Delegate figures continue to rise year on year and this year has been no exception. The industry is developing and evolving at a rapid rate and the conference programme represented the advances in the industry. The feedback from both delegates and exhibitors has been fantastic and the atmosphere during the conference and on the exhibit floor was buzzing. I would like to thank our speakers and exhibitors for another fantastic event”
About International LiDAR Mapping Forum (ILMF): The ILMF is the premier event for the LIDAR industry, attracting professionals from all over the world. A major focus of this event is the three day world class Technical Conference, where speakers from the international LIDAR community will be reporting on latest technology advances and recent projects, highlighting actual experiences and lessons learned in aerial and bathymetric LIDAR with a focus on mobile mapping. Another key component of the ILMF event is the international exhibition held alongside with 75 booths of leading technology providers in this rapidly growing global market showcasing new LIDAR products and a wide range of new technologies and services. Technical workshops are hosted by exhibiting companies and are aimed at providing novice operators and their managers and potential purchasers of equipment with an understanding of the basic principles and fundamental benefits and technology associated with LIDAR whilst providing the more seasoned experts with up-to-date information on current developments.