Featured Project

Mid American Energy Transmission Lines

FLI-MAP was selected by Mid American Energy to collect LiDAR data and to process the data into a PLS-CADD deliverable, capable of direct use by engineering staff. Mid American takes advantage of the "economy of scale" by planning all their data collection needs for a year, into a single data collection, providing significant cost savings.

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Technical

Development of FLI-MAP began in 1992, with commercial operations commencing in 1995. The latest version of FLI-MAP (FLI-MAP 400) became operational in 2006. FLI-MAP is a cost-effective alternative to traditional surveying and mapping methods that can quickly deliver extremely accurate 3D survey information for engineering and design purposes. The FLI-MAP system is optimized for the survey of narrow corridors, or areas where a high degree of accuracy and detail is required.


concept

FLI-MAP (Fast Laser Imaging - Mapping and Profiling) integrates several different technologies to gather geographic information:

  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Inertial Navigation Systems
  • Scanning Lasers
  • Digital Imagery

FLIP7® allows for the viewing, manipulation and feature extraction from the laser data and imagery in a desktop environment.

FLI-MAP 400's scanning laser captures up to 250,000 data points per second. When combined with the low survey altitude FLI-MAP collects a very dense data set (50 to 100 points per square meter depending on data collection parameters) which is critical in the ability of a LiDAR system to see through vegetation and to detect small objects (such as distribution wires).

The FLI-MAP system utilizes 2 digital video cameras and 2 digital still cameras (11 Megapixel), mounted in the forward and down facing perspectives, as well as a down facing line scan camera, to augment the laser data.

By correlating the GPS, image, and LiDAR data, the FLIP7® software package is used to compile information on terrain, vegetation and other features. This information can then be transferred into any number of engineering and GIS formats digitally or as hardcopy.

Line scan and mapping camera imagery can be used to generate orthophotography with a high level of geospatial accuracy.


Detailed FLI-MAP 400 specifications.