Leica Geosystems will be collaborating with Airbus. The manufacturer of optical precision equipment based in the St.GallenBodenseeArea has developed LiDAR sensors for marine surveillance in accordance with Airbus’s requirements. According to a press release, they will initially be installed in two C295 MSAs belonging to the Irish Air Corps. The two marine surveillance aircraft are to be delivered in the second quarter of 2023.
According to information from Leica, the “unique object detection feature” enables LiDAR data to be visualized and analyzed in real time during the flight. This type of three-dimensional laser scanning is also able to precisely locate and analyze small, submerged objects – “a process which previously could take up to several days”.
Anders Ekelund, VP for Bathymetric LiDAR Sensors at Leica’s Swedish parent company, Hexagon, comments: “With this latest innovation, we are expanding our current system, adding significant capabilities for the maritime surveillance industry, and introducing new applications for airborne bathymetry.”
Stephen Conolly, Captain of the Irish Air Corps, states: “The combined bathymetric and topographic LiDAR sensor will provide us with more details than ever before. Detecting objects close to real-time and having a clear picture of underwater activities will allow us to report directly to the Mission Support Centre on the ground and act faster to perform our duties more efficiently.”
