The availability of internet sourced LiDAR data seems to be a way
to acquire high quality existing conditions data for a project, but many firms
have found that using this data comes with a number of foreseeable but hard to
quantify complications that can result in significant liability exposure.
It is
critical to make a thorough analysis of the original specifications for the
dataset of interest, including the equipment used, its performance at the
altitude used to acquire the data, the datum’s used to locate the data,
classification schemes and even how stringent the control requirements used to
adjust and place the data on the published datum’s was acquired. Few of those point clouds contain the hard information you need to analyze the dataset, but with some technical insight you can do enough homework to gain a level of comfort with data.
The purpose of this article is to provide you
with some guidance in evaluating the validity and usefulness of that wonderful
free LiDAR data you found on the internet. Contact us today to learn more.
