What can you say about LiDAR 3D Scanner using Satellites and Drones?
Are there proven treasure finds using LiDAR technology that can scan more than 40 meters underground?
I have used LIDAR mapping in forestry. I can say, it penetrates vegetation EXTREMELY well. In Mendocino we used LIDAR mapping to identify 1800’s wagon trails in almost impenetrable tan oak. In widely wariable redwood stands (including true virgin old growth) we identified landslides. Across the whole ownership it showed house pits, old rail grades and a hole host of other things. I don’t know about penetrating the ground, but with what we were using, houses did not appear, but their foundation dugouts did.LIDAR is short for "LIght Detection And Ranging".
Light does not penetrate the ground at all. That's how LIDAR works. You shoot a laser at the ground or a solid object and the laser light is reflected back to the LIDAR unit where the distance it traveled is calculated according to how long it took the light to return.
Neither LASERs (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) nor Lidar can penetrate the earth to any depth.
So no - LIDAR never found anything underground at any depth.
This was a project for the state. This type of aerial photogrammetry is not common as it is extremely expensive. I wish there were public banks of these flights for research and what not, but there is very limited access to these maps. I would share them, but I do t work for that company anymore, and I don’t have access to those maps. Sorry fellas. You’ll just have to take my work.I have used LIDAR mapping in forestry. I can say, it penetrates vegetation EXTREMELY well. In Mendocino we used LIDAR mapping to identify 1800’s wagon trails in almost impenetrable tan oak. In widely wariable redwood stands (including true virgin old growth) we identified landslides. Across the whole ownership it showed house pits, old rail grades and a hole host of other things. I don’t know about penetrating the ground, but with what we were using, houses did not appear, but their foundation dugouts did.

Yes you are right about LiDAR.LIDAR is short for "LIght Detection And Ranging".
Light does not penetrate the ground at all. That's how LIDAR works. You shoot a laser at the ground or a solid object and the laser light is reflected back to the LIDAR unit where the distance it traveled is calculated according to how long it took the light to return.
Neither LASERs (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) nor Lidar can penetrate the earth to any depth.
So no - LIDAR never found anything underground at any depth.
www.gislounge.com
That's pretty good road then to do those speeds. Cool imaging of the area and the topography. Got to see hte elevation from one switchback to another to get a sense of how much there was.I've done quite a bit of 3D mapping with LIDAR and aerial photos. Here's an example showing the Moki Dugway in Utah. It's one heck of a road - only about 32 miles long but it takes about 40 minutes to drive on average. A lot of people won't even try to drive it when they get there but with this 3D interactive map you can explore without vertigo.
http://www.mylandmatters.org/3D/Duck_Goose.html
This map is big and it's going to take a while to load in your web browser but when it does you can quickly move the 3D model around with your mouse (click and drag), zoom in and out (scroll) and there's a little "i" you can click on in the bottom left corner that will show you how to make it do tricks.
Oh... and if you miss the vertigo just type "r".
Enjoy!![]()

One year after this post, this site is now being censored and or has been redacted at useful resolutions. Florida seems to be mostly gone.The National Map https://apps.nationalmap.gov/viewer/
The National Map is my source for quick lidar images of anywhere in the U.S. The ability to view a free easily accessable Lidar image of the landscape through a thick canopy of trees really is a game changer for anyone exploring outdoors. I've used it to find house foundations, old wagon roads, mill sites, ancient mounds, even wells. It really is an amazing tool and I'm surprised I haven't seen it mentioned by anyone on these forums. When on the map viewer, zoom to your area of interest, then click the layers icon and scroll down the Layers List and select either
3DEP Elevation- Hillshade
3DEP Elevation- Multidirectional Hillshade
3DEP Elevation- Hillshade Streched
I've found that you can see some land features on one layer that are invisible on others. Check it out