Bathymetrisches LiDAR

Accurate mapping of shallow waters and coastal zones

Field is one of the few specialized companies in Europe that routinely delivers airborne bathymetric LiDAR surveys. With many years of experience, we have mapped lakes, rivers, and coastal zones across Europe and worldwide, covering many thousands of square kilometers for government authorities and private clients. This includes several large-scale and technically demanding projects that were among the first of their kind, contributing to Field’s strong reputation and solid references within the hydrographic community.

Project scales range from targeted surveys supporting marine construction activities, such as cable landing sites, to national and regional coastal zone mapping programmes. Using a green laser and operating at aircraft speeds of around 250 km/h, airborne bathymetric LiDAR enables rapid area coverage while maintaining high positional and vertical accuracy.

The achievable water depth depends on sensor characteristics, water clarity, and local bottom reflectance. With Field’s bathymetric LiDAR sensor, depths of up to three times the visible water depth can be reached under suitable conditions.

Bathymetric LiDAR data supports flood and erosion assessment, coastal change analysis, and environmental monitoring. In shallow coastal zones, the data links topographic terrain models with vessel-based sonar data, resulting in a seamless topo-bathymetric elevation model of the land–sea interface.

Flexible deliverables and complementary sonar surveys

As airborne bathymetric LiDAR is most effective in shallow areas and sonar becomes more efficient in deeper water, the two technologies are complementary. Field therefore integrates bathymetric LiDAR with multibeam echo sounder surveys where required, ensuring complete and reliable coverage.

Deliverables are tailored to project requirements and typically include point clouds, digital terrain models, elevation contours, as well as orthophotos. This provides a robust foundation for analysis, planning, and decision-making in coastal and freshwater environments.

If you are considering the use of airborne bathymetric LiDAR for your project, please contact us. We are pleased to discuss your requirements and can provide an initial, no-obligation assessment of feasibility and suitability for your survey area.