Since the use of compass and chain fi eld survey,
the acquisition of precise terrain information
has been instrumental in advancing our knowledge
and understanding of the natural and built
environment. As time has passed, technological
developments have facilitated faster and more
effi cient acquisition of ever more accurate fi eld
data. Laser ranging has been used extensively
since the development of the ruby laser in the
1960s – the same time that the term LiDAR (Light
Detection And Ranging) appeared in the geoscience
literature. Over the last decade or so LiDAR
mapping has gained acceptance as a rapid, accurate
and adaptable method for three-dimensional
surveying of the Earth. The principle advantages
of the technology over other surveying methods
are the provision of precise x,y,z measurement
from the instrument, its high level of automation,
rapidity of coverage and fast delivery time
for often extremely large datasets. The inspiration
for this book stemmed from one of the most
recent and certainly most signifi cant advances,
the advent of portable, robust LiDAR instruments.
The book has two purposes, the fi rst is
to introduce LiDAR to the reader keen to learn
more about the new technology and the second
is to stimulate research using LiDAR through a
series of applied chapters across a range of fi elds
in the Environmental Sciences. It brings together
some of the leading proponents of airborne and
terrestrial laser scanning from across the globe,
showcasing some of the innovative and groundbreaking
research being conducted using the
recently developed instrumentation.