We have GNSS and Photogrammetry forums, could we also add a Lidar forum to the site?
Photogrammetry is a rather well defined science and is not what we do as surveyors. In most cases surveyors are taking photography orthorectifed by others and adding it to a project t. I bring in my lidar generally in the form of polylines and add it to my project. The input methodology is very similar to that used for the orrthophotos, so I pretty much consider them the same. Since photogrammetry was the original source for the contour data that now comes from lidar the categories can be combined.
What we are doing is bringing in orthoreferenced data, one in the form of pixels and the other in the form of intersection points. Both are just pretty pictures.
We need to come up with a term to apply to both, wait, there is such a term that covers both and even more "GIS".
Paul in PA
I agree that Lidar data can be used like ortho photos for acquiring topo, but it is also used for jobs that would have in the past been reserved for a total station.
When I use Lidar, I'm registering point clouds to points with known coordinates. The resulting data is millions of "turned" angles and distances located on a CS. I acquire data that CAN result in MORE accurate information (due to the amount of data) than a total station (eg. checking deflection of a retaining wall or tank expansion). Not sure why you would consider this photogrammetry.
IMO GIS is more a term of spatial data 'organization/distribution' and doesn't relate in any way to how accurate spatial data is acquired and processed (what we surveyors do).
