First, what is LiDAR? According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), LiDAR is an acronym for:
Light Detection and Ranging, a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) to the Earth. These light pulses—combined with other data recorded by the airborne system — generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape of the Earth and its surface characteristics. A lidar instrument principally consists of a laser, a scanner, and a specialized GPS receiver. Airplanes and helicopters are the most commonly used platforms for acquiring lidar data over broad areas.”
Put in layman’s terms, LiDAR is a laser based system for scanning the topography on a landscape, even beneath a forest canopy! LiDAR is effectively x-ray vision! LiDAR provides extremely high-resolution ground scans with fidelity that blows away traditional topographic maps. The high-resolution imagery provided by LiDAR scans is what make it invaluable for e-scouting!
If you are new to e-scouting, check out my previous e-scouting article Tips and Tactics for E Scouting Whitetail Deer – Going 4 Broke Outdoors, where I discuss some of my favorite terrain and vegetation features that I look for while e-scouting and why those terrain and vegetation features are likely to hold deer or facilitate deer movement.