BCIT GIS Practicum - Eagle Mapping
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Andrew's Industry Practicum at Eagle Mapping

✨ Aerial Imagery Acquisition & Processing ✨

Theory
How LiDAR Works:

LiDAR uses pulsed lasers to measure distances to Earth's surface, creating detailed 3D representations.

LiDAR Theory
Key Components:
  • Laser: Emits light pulses
  • Scanner: Directs laser pulses
  • Photodetector: Measures returned signals
  • GPS/IMU: Tracks position/orientation
Pulse Types:
Type Use
NIR Topographic
Green Bathymetric
Return Types:
  • First: Typically tree canopy
  • Intermediate: Vegetation layers
  • Last: Often ground surface
Point Cloud Generation:
  • Time of Flight: Measures pulse travel time
  • Coordinate Assignment: Combines with GPS/IMU data
  • Point Cloud: Millions of 3D points
LiDAR Terminology
LiDAR Terminology Glossary - Common mapping terms
AGL
Above Ground Level - Height from ground surface
PPM
Points Per Meter - Resolution measurement
DSM
Digital Surface Model - Earth with all objects
DTM
Digital Terrain Model - Bare ground surface
PRR
Pulse Repetition Rate - Laser pulses per second
Laser Footprint
Beam diameter at target's range
IMU
Inertial Measurement Unit - Tracks orientation
LAS/LAZ
Standard point cloud formats (LAZ is compressed)
Point Cloud
3D data points with X, Y, Z coordinates
Max Range
Maximum distance for measurement
GNSS
Global Navigation Satellite System
Swath
Lateral spread of LiDAR pulses
Overlap
Where parallel swaths intersect
LiDAR Workflow Overview

My Eagle Mapping practicum focused on aerial LiDAR acquisition and processing for high-precision topographic mapping.

  • Integration with existing GIS systems
  • Quality control & industry specifications
  • Creating deliverables for client needs
Eagle Mapping Ltd.
  • Established: Industry leader since 1985
  • Expertise: Aerial mapping, LiDAR & orthoimagery
  • Operations: Projects across North America
  • Technology: State-of-the-art sensors & aircraft
  • Clients: Forestry, mining, utilities & government
Flight Planning
Project parameters & flight lines
→
Data Acquisition
LiDAR & image collection
→
Data Processing
Georeference data
→
Classification
Categorize points
→
Final Products
DTM, DSM & imagery
Flight Planning
LiDAR Flight Plan
Flight lines over Digital Elevation Models in SnapPlan
Creating a flight plan:
  • Lines drawn according to required overlap
  • Plan created over DEM for terrain variations
  • Push plans ensure triple coverage in valleys and challenging terrain
LiDAR Acquisition
Acquisition Equipment:
  • Aircraft flying at 120-150kts across North America
  • RIEGL LiDAR scanners (VQ-1560II-S pictured)
  • PhaseOne iXM-RS150F 150MP cameras for ultra-high resolution imagery
LiDAR Operators:
  • Monitor data recording and spec compliance
  • Communicate with pilots about reflights when needed
  • May fly for several hours daily across multiple countries
  • Operations span Canada, US, Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala and more
Piper Navajo Aircraft
Piper Navajo
RIEGL LMS-Q1560 Scanner
VQ-1560II-S
LiDAR Processing
Trajectory Processing:

Processing GNSS and IMU data with Applanix POSPac MMS software to generate a Smoothed Best Estimate of Trajectory (SBET) file, determining aircraft position and orientation.

Flight Trajectory
Flight trajectory over Vancouver Harbour
Point Cloud
BC Place Point Cloud
Raw LiDAR data processing:
  1. Import SBET and raw LiDAR data to RiProcess
  2. Apply system calibration parameters
  3. Georeference points to trajectory
  4. Generate point cloud with coordinate transform
  5. QA/QC checks before export
LiDAR Classification
Classification Categories:
Class Description
1 Unclassified
2 Ground
3-5 Low/Med/High Vegetation
6 Buildings
7 Noise
9 Water
17 Bridge Decks
Classification Process:
  • Semi-automated approach using TerraScan software
  • Algorithmic methods identify ground points
  • Tile division for efficient computing
  • Water classification and noise removal
  • Ground data shifted to match control points
  • Create DEMs, DSMs, Intensity Rasters, and contours
LiDAR Classification
TerraScan classification of forestry LiDAR data
Panoramic View
LiDAR Product Examples
LiDAR: Mapping Our World

LiDAR is one of the most fascinating and powerful technologies in spatial data science:

  • Past: Reveals archaeological sites hidden beneath vegetation and maps historical landscapes
  • Present: Supports informed decisions in forest management, flood modeling, and urban design
  • Future: Critical for climate change monitoring, autonomous vehicles, and sustainable development

Eagle Mapping delivers high-precision LiDAR for forestry, mining, corridor mapping, and urban planning in industry-standard formats (LAS/LAZ, GeoTIFF, DWG) with comprehensive documentation. This precise spatial data empowers organizations to create informative maps that drive better decision-making across industries.

Digital Terrain Model
Topographic Visualization
Digital Surface Model
Mapping Urban Landscapes
Contour Map
Contour Map Variations
Classified Point Cloud
Golden Gate Bridge - Colourized Point Cloud
References & Acknowledgments
Technical References:
  1. RIEGL (2024). VQ-780i Technical Documentation.
  2. ASPRS (2022). Positional Accuracy Standards.
  3. TerraSolid (2023). TerraScan User Guide.
  4. NRCan (2023). LiDAR Acquisition Standards.
  5. Eagle Mapping (2024). Standard Operating Procedures.
Acknowledgments:

Special thanks to Eagle Mapping Services Ltd. team:

  • Matt Aquin - Practicum Sponsor
  • John Milne - LiDAR Operator
  • Bryan Attrell - Field Operations Manager
  • James Hume - President
  • BCIT GIS Department faculty
  • Windows 98 CSS: jdan.github.io/98.css
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Eagle Mapping Logo
Contact Information:

Andrew Dollak | GIS Advanced Diploma, BCIT
Email: andrewdollak47@gmail.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andrew-dollak-0454921b8

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