Let’s scan the whole planet with LiDAR

13 min Source: TED TALK
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BLUF

Chris Fisher describes how Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) can document in intricate detail the entire Earth, everything on it and why the results could be of critical importance for future generations.

Summary

This article about LiDAR makes the following points:

Earth Archive are LiDAR-scanning the entire planet to:

  • Create a baseline record of the Earth as it exists today.
  • Create a virtual planet so that scientists can study it.
  • Preserve a record of the planet for future study.