Free Lidar
Lidar is a surveying method that measures distance to a target by illuminating that target with a pulsed laser light.
The reflected pulses are measured by a sensor. It works in a similar way to radar, except light waves are used instead of sound waves. Differences in laser return times and wavelengths can then be used to make digital 3D-representations of the target.
Lidar survey readings are taken at a speed and magnitude that would take years to achieve by hand (600,000 pulses per second)
In the UK the Environment Agency has made a huge database of lidar scans, and these are available freely.
The bad news is that the scanning was done for flood management purposes - so any where not deemed part of a chain leading to flood risk wasn't surveyed.
Historic England / English Heritage has surveyed some sites for archaeological purposes, but this information has to be applied for on an as and when basis. historicengland.org.uk/research/methods/airborne-remote-sensing/lidar/
The reflected pulses are measured by a sensor. It works in a similar way to radar, except light waves are used instead of sound waves. Differences in laser return times and wavelengths can then be used to make digital 3D-representations of the target.
Lidar survey readings are taken at a speed and magnitude that would take years to achieve by hand (600,000 pulses per second)
In the UK the Environment Agency has made a huge database of lidar scans, and these are available freely.
The bad news is that the scanning was done for flood management purposes - so any where not deemed part of a chain leading to flood risk wasn't surveyed.
Historic England / English Heritage has surveyed some sites for archaeological purposes, but this information has to be applied for on an as and when basis. historicengland.org.uk/research/methods/airborne-remote-sensing/lidar/
This is a great example of an archaeological lidar survey, easily accessible online
www.wessexarch.co.uk/stonehenge/explore-stonehenge-landscape-lidar-survey
www.wessexarch.co.uk/stonehenge/explore-stonehenge-landscape-lidar-survey
Heres's one for Wales, but it has not worked smoothly for me. Over to you: lle.gov.wales/map#l=108h;109h;110h;111h;112h;113h;114h;115h;116h;117h;118h;119h;120h;121h;122h;123