LIDAR and Remote Sensing: Applications in India

TOPIC CLASSIFICATION

Subject: Science & Technology - Remote Sensing and Geospatial Technology
Sub-topic: LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) - Working Principle, Types (Airborne, Terrestrial, Bathymetric), Platforms (Satellite, UAV, Ground), Applications in India - Forestry, Agriculture, Urban Planning, Archaeology, Disaster Management, Defence; Remote Sensing Satellites - Cartosat, Resourcesat, RISAT; National Missions - SVAMITVA, NAIS, Bhuvan
Mains GS Paper-III: Science & Technology - remote sensing, geospatial applications in governance and development; GS Paper-I: Geography - geospatial mapping of natural resources.

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EXAMINER REASONING

LIDAR has emerged as a high-precision remote sensing technology critical for India's infrastructure and governance programmes. Prelims tests: LIDAR working principle (laser pulses - time-of-flight), types (Airborne Laser Scanning, Terrestrial, Bathymetric), comparison with RADAR and SONAR, ISRO's LIDAR missions (ISRO-NASA NISAR, Cartosat-derived DEM). Mains demands: (a) Application in SVAMITVA - drone-based LIDAR for rural land records and property cards, (b) Forest Carbon Assessment - LIDAR for biomass estimation under REDD+, (c) Disaster Management - landslide mapping in Himalayas, flood plain mapping, (d) Urban Planning - 3D city models under Smart Cities Mission, (e) Defence - border surveillance, submarine detection (Airborne LIDAR Bathymetry), (f) Agriculture - precision farming, crop height estimation, (g) Archaeology - discovery of lost settlements....