HVO’s RIEGL VUX-120 aerial LiDAR system mounted to the belly of a contracted helicopter just before the September 5, 2024 test flight. (D. Filiano/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
The Hawaii Tribune Herald recently published an article about the topographic mapping with RIEGL LiDAR being done for Volcano monitoring by the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). LiDAR has become a trusted source of precise and highly detailed data that is used to study morphologic changes and predict the paths of lava flows during eruptions.
With funding provided by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act in 2019, HVO added a RIEGL VUX-120 aerial sensor to their toolbox and partnered with The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo’s Spatial Data Analysis and Visualization (SDAV) Lab in the creation of a template design. HVO also collaborated with the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) for training due to their familiarity with RIEGL LiDAR systems.
The system successfully completed a ground test at HVO’s warehouse in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on September 2, followed by its first flight aboard the contracted helicopter on September 5. For the first flight, HVO decided to survey the vicinity of the June 3 Kilauea Southwest Rift Zone eruption.
A point cloud snapshot from HVO’s September 5 LiDAR test flight along Kīlauea’s southwest rift zone. The points are displayed in true color thanks to a camera integrated into the LiDAR system. The width of this view extends for about 440 meters.
Almost the same view from a helicopter overflight of HVO on February 6.
(images referenced from the following article: Hawaï : Un LiDAR au HVO // Hawaii : A LiDAR at HVO – Claude Grandpey : Volcans et Glaciers)
The RIEGL VUX-120 will provide HVO with more definitive datasets for its slightly longer-duration surveys (not possible during the recent, brief Kilauea East Rift Zone eruption). It is believed that this is the only helicopter-mounted LiDAR system being operated by the USGS and there are opportunities to use it elsewhere in support of hazard assessments and scientific research.
Read the full article: Volcano Watch: First light (and flight) for HVO’s new airborne lidar system – Hawaii Tribune-Herald
About RIEGL:
RIEGL is an international leading provider of cutting-edge technology in airborne, mobile, terrestrial, industrial and UAV-based laser scanning solutions for applications in surveying.
RIEGL has been producing LiDAR systems commercially for over 40 years and focuses on pulsed time-of-flight laser radar technology in multiple wavelengths.
RIEGL’s core smart-waveform technologies provide pure digital LiDAR signal processing, unique methodologies for resolving range ambiguities, multiple targets per laser shots, optimum distribution of measurements, calibrated amplitudes and reflectance estimates, as well as the seamless integration and calibration of systems.
RIEGL’s Ultimate LiDARTM 3D scanners offer a wide array of performance characteristics and serve as a platform for continuing Innovation in 3D for the LiDAR industry.
From the first inquiry, to purchase and integration of the system, as well as training and support, RIEGL maintains an outstanding history of reliability and support to their customers.
Worldwide sales, training, support and services are delivered from RIEGL’s headquarters in Austria and in the USA; main offices in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Australia, Canada, UK, and Germany; and a worldwide network of representatives.