10th International Lidar Mapping Forum

The tenth anniversary International Lidar Mapping Forum (ILMF) took place in Denver, Colorado, USA from 3rd to 5th March 2010, attracting 642 registered professionals from all over the world and proving yet again its status as premier event for the Lidar industry. Given current global economic constraints, the record attendance reflects the importance of Lidar and the ILMF conference in today’s marketplace.

A record sixty or more suppliers and manufacturers of Lidar technology showed their wares, from the USA, Canada, Germany, Sweden, UK, Netherlands, Spain, India, China, Israel, Finland, Norway and Korea, making for a lively and buzzing exhibition. There were also more buyers and end-users than before, keeping exhibitors busy during the day and writing proposals at night.

The technical conference featured thirty papers focusing on all aspects of airborne and bathymetry Lidar, with a new session devoted to mobile mapping supported by papers addressing key commercial and technical issues facing the industry. The US Geological Survey presented the first public airing of its proposed Lidar data acquisition and processing base specification, and a paper from the US Department of the Interior discussed Lidar deployment in the aftermath of the recent Haiti and Chile earthquakes, showing its use in identifying the extent of damage and areas at risk of aftershocks.

This special session illustrated how mobile mapping, the science of rapid data acquisition and processing, was driving a major step change in the urban mapping industry. Mobile mapping vehicles were on display, and active demonstrations took place. Entry-level workshops aimed at educating potential new customers and end-users in the applications and benefits of Lidar technology proved once more to be a real draw for visitors.

The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) continued its support for the event, incorporating a special, and packed Lidar ‘hot topics' session that tackled the challenge of developing standards and best practices for the industry. The Association of Photogrammetry and Geospatial Companies (MAPPS) also added its support.

With Lidar now the global technology of choice for rapid, highly detailed survey and mapping, the ILMF team announced the first European Lidar & Mobile Mapping Forum (ELMF) to be held in The Hague, Netherlands, from 30th November to 1st December 2010. This move into Europe has been welcomed by the industry, and there has already been much interest shown by companies keen to sign up for exhibition stands and submit abstracts for conference presentations.

The ILMF conference is known for its informal networking between fellow operators, manufacturers and service providers in relaxed settings. The ILMF10 maintained this tradition with an opening night reception in the busy Exhibition Hall, where GeoDigital and ILMF jointly held a ‘Red Nose' event that raised USD 2750 for the American Red Cross Haitian Relief Fund; thanks to all who participated. The following night there was a welcome return visit to the Wynkoop Brewery, where ten pool tables reserved for the ILMF Pool Challenge showed that Lidar and mapping are not the players' only area of expertise!