Phil-LiDAR 2

The Phil-LiDAR 2 Program aims to produce detailed resource maps using LiDAR for various applications:

–      production of high value crops 

–      irrigation assessment

–      aquaculture production

–      forest protection

–      discovery of renewable energy sources

The accuracy of LiDAR technology is evident and acknowledged by government agencies and the commercial sector. Thus, the need for precise and accurate extraction of data as a baseline for mapping high value crops in Mindanao, coconut farms in Quezon province and other areas, and the construction of optimally effective irrigation systems in agricultural lands, among others, is vital. Outputs of the Phil-LiDAR 2 Project will provide more reliable information for decision-making regarding crop vegetation. This will also offer new windows of opportunity for future research and development related with crops. LiDAR data is especially important in constructing optimally-located farm-to-market roads to reliably and efficiently transport fruit and vegetable crops to metropolitan and urban areas.

In addition, the much-needed LiDAR information can aid in producing an accurate inventory of trees in the Philippines. Our forests can then have the potential to be characterized and analyzed in terms of forest structure. LiDAR technology can result in having individual tree assessments, and as a whole, determine the canopy surface and canopy interior of forests, which can benefit research in our forests’ ecology, wildlife habitat, and biomass. This can contribute to more rigorous and constructive policy-making regarding forest resources, leading to the proper management of our national forest reserves and eco-parks, primary and secondary forests, tree plantations, watersheds, forest lands owned by indigenous groups, as well as mangroves in coastal areas. Forest fires can be prepared for with LiDAR data usage in generating fire behavior and fuel models depending on the type of trees or canopy fuel loads. With LiDAR, we can properly monitor forest growth and reduction, and even fuel accumulation and carbon sequestration in the future with its regular application.

Meanwhile, LiDAR technology addresses the issues prevalent in the placement of solar photovoltaic systems on rooftops and in solar farms. Through the use of LiDAR data, we will be able to determine the appropriate rooftops and buildings on which to place solar panels with the highest potential for solar energy absorption and to optimally determine shading losses, based on the shadows from surrounding infrastructure and vegetation.

In the future, LiDAR can also assist in wind flow modelling and the pre-construction design for wind farms. LiDAR has the capacity to be a useful laser-based wind profiler device for wind speed measurement and directional data capture, as a tool for resource assessment. LiDAR’s remote sensing technology can be utilized for wind mapping applications in the years to come.