What is LiDAR Technology? How it is used in High-Speed Rail?

The Indian Railways has planned to use the Light Detection and Ranging technique (LiDAR technique) in High-speed rail. The technology will be used in conducting the ground survey for Delhi Varanasi High Speed Rail corridor.

Highlights

• The Indian Railways will use theLiDAR techniquethat is mounted on a helicopter.
• The railways has planned to execute the plan after its success in the Mumbai Ahmedabad bullet train project for the first time.
• In order to provide an accurate survey, this technique uses a combination of GPS data, laser data and flight parameters.

Delhi-Varanasi Corridor

• The length of the Delhi Varanasi corridor is about 800 kilometres.
• The alignment of stations will be decided on the basis of the survey and in consultation with the government.
• This corridor will connect the national capital territory with major cities namely, Agra, Mathura, Etawah, Bhadohi, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Raebareli, Ayodhya and Varanasi.

About LiDAR Technology

It is a remote sensing method. This technology uses light in the form of pulsed laser so as to measure the available distances on the earth. These light pulses of the system generate a three-dimensional information about the shape and surface characteristics of the Earth. The instrument of LiDAR comprise of a scanner, laser and a GPS receiver. The technology uses Helicopters and aeroplanes platforms to acquire LiDAR data. It measures the amplitude changes or the changes in the phase of the reflected light. These changes are used to form the shape of the structure on the earth surface. The technology also provide a high quality data in very short interval of time. These LiDAR data is used in projects related to landslides, roads, Canal, surface transport, irrigation and city planning.