Monitoring Aquatic Environments Using LiDAR

Dear Colleagues,

The study of freshwater and marine ecosystems based on Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) and other electro-optical systems technologies has received a major attention in recent years due to the development of more advanced sensors, embedded photonic and electronic subsystems, and the availability of suitable laser devices. The launch of new spaceborne LiDAR systems (e.g., ICESAT-2) and the increased capabilities of autonomous robotic airborne and maritime platforms have further enabled this expansion.

Traditionally, LiDAR applications have focused on water column and bottom return signals and have been supported by systems consisting of relatively simple configurations (e.g., single receivers with one or two wavelengths) and fixed geometries (e.g., one field-of-view). Likewise, the simulation of LiDAR waveforms has commonly been performed using models based on single scattering or small-angle approximations. Nowadays, more advanced LiDAR sensors are capable of multi-angle measurements (e.g., ICESAT-2), hyperspectral analysis of time-resolved pulses, and characterization of suspended particles by linear-depolarization changes. Furthermore, hybrid processing algorithms have been proposed using passive optical information. This Special Issue aims to present a collection of original research articles and review papers on LiDAR technologies and applications related to the characterization of water components, water interfaces (e.g., air–water, water–bottom), and bottom characteristics. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

-nonlinear scanners and robotic platforms;
-LiDAR inversions and machine learning;
-complex LiDAR simulators for 3D geometries;
-multispectral and multi-angular spaceborne LiDAR applications;
-detection and discrimination of floating algae and bottom types/shapes;
-thin layers and particle orientation;
-hyperspectral fluorescence LiDAR and oil detection; and
-innovative LiDAR validation approaches.

Dr. Martin A. Montes
Dr. Luca Fiorani
Dr. Fraser Dalgleish
Dr. Grady Tuell
Guest Editor

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