Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) is a new technology which is quite phenomenal in geospatial field. The technology becomes more necessary and plays a role since the legalization of Geospatial Act 2011. In this Act the provision of information of earth surface with the scale of 1:1000 is mandated by Geospatial Information Agency. "This LIDAR technology can meet the needs of such data provision," Dr. Ir. Istarno., Dip. LIS., MT, a lecturer of Department of Geodesy and Geomatic Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, said on Tuesday (21/6), in a Workshop on Lidar for Mapping Survey at UC UGM.
Currently, the mapping using a laser beam that is carried on an aircraft is the most efficient mapping system compared to direct survey or photogrammetry and remote sensing. "This technology is capable to acquire data up to 200 Khz or 200,000 dots per second. In addition, Lidar can generate altitude data with a density of 25 dots/ m2," the committee chairman of this workshop explained.
Istarno said that mapping system using Lidar is not only quicker and more accurate, but also cheaper. The cost of Lidar technology using a plane is 100 thousand rupiah per hectare, with a minimum area of 10,000 hectares. "Although it is efficient, the use of Lidar in Indonesia is still very minimal because every recording requires a significant financial cost to lease the aircraft. Most users are mining companies," he explained.
As a new technology, introduction of the concept of Lidar is needed for mapping related to the way of data acquisition, tools, data processing and presentation. In addition, Lidar application is used for various jobs. Based on this fact, the Laboratory of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Department of Geodesy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering in collaboration with ISI KOMWIL Yogyakarta conducted a three day-workshop from 21 to 23 June 2011.
This activity is the first Lidar workshop in Indonesia and is attended by 30 participants from various mining companies in Indonesia. An exhibition was also held presenting a number of mining companies and engineering consultants, such as PT Airborne Informatics, PT Asaba, PT Bukaka, and PT Almega Geosystem.