<i>In-Situ</i> LED-Based Observation of Snow Surface and Depth Transects
As part of a new snowpack monitoring framework, this study evaluated the feasibility of using an LED LIDAR (Leddar) time of flight sensor for snowpack depth measurement. The Leddar sensor has two additional features over simple sonic ranging sensors: (i) the return signal is divided into 16 segments...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/8/2292 |
| _version_ | 1797570395726938112 |
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| author | Celeste Barnes Chris Hopkinson Thomas Porter Zhouxin Xi |
| author_facet | Celeste Barnes Chris Hopkinson Thomas Porter Zhouxin Xi |
| author_sort | Celeste Barnes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As part of a new snowpack monitoring framework, this study evaluated the feasibility of using an LED LIDAR (Leddar) time of flight sensor for snowpack depth measurement. The Leddar sensor has two additional features over simple sonic ranging sensors: (i) the return signal is divided into 16 segments across a 48° field of view, each recording individual distance-to-target (DTT) measurements; (ii) an index of reflectance or intensity signal is recorded for each segment. These two features provide information describing snowpack morphology and surface condition. The accuracy of Leddar sensor DTT measurements for snow depth monitoring was found to be < 20 mm, which was better than the 50 mm quoted by the manufacturer, and the precision was < 5 mm. Leddar and independent sonic ranger snow depth measurement showed strong linear agreement (<i>r</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.98). There was also a strong linear relationship (<i>r</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.98) between Leddar and manual field snow depth measurements. The intensity signal response was found to correlate with snow surface albedo and inversely with air temperature (<i>r</i> = 0.77 and −0.77, respectively). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:24:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-570d4ee06711465aa76ef63f14f21e29 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:24:09Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-570d4ee06711465aa76ef63f14f21e292023-11-19T21:55:25ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202020-04-01208229210.3390/s20082292<i>In-Situ</i> LED-Based Observation of Snow Surface and Depth TransectsCeleste Barnes0Chris Hopkinson1Thomas Porter2Zhouxin Xi3Department of Geography, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, CanadaDepartment of Geography, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, CanadaDepartment of Geography, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, CanadaDepartment of Geography, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, CanadaAs part of a new snowpack monitoring framework, this study evaluated the feasibility of using an LED LIDAR (Leddar) time of flight sensor for snowpack depth measurement. The Leddar sensor has two additional features over simple sonic ranging sensors: (i) the return signal is divided into 16 segments across a 48° field of view, each recording individual distance-to-target (DTT) measurements; (ii) an index of reflectance or intensity signal is recorded for each segment. These two features provide information describing snowpack morphology and surface condition. The accuracy of Leddar sensor DTT measurements for snow depth monitoring was found to be < 20 mm, which was better than the 50 mm quoted by the manufacturer, and the precision was < 5 mm. Leddar and independent sonic ranger snow depth measurement showed strong linear agreement (<i>r</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.98). There was also a strong linear relationship (<i>r</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.98) between Leddar and manual field snow depth measurements. The intensity signal response was found to correlate with snow surface albedo and inversely with air temperature (<i>r</i> = 0.77 and −0.77, respectively).https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/8/2292Leddarsnowpack depthLIDARLED LIDARsonic ranging deviceintensity |
| spellingShingle | Celeste Barnes Chris Hopkinson Thomas Porter Zhouxin Xi <i>In-Situ</i> LED-Based Observation of Snow Surface and Depth Transects Sensors Leddar snowpack depth LIDAR LED LIDAR sonic ranging device intensity |
| title | <i>In-Situ</i> LED-Based Observation of Snow Surface and Depth Transects |
| title_full | <i>In-Situ</i> LED-Based Observation of Snow Surface and Depth Transects |
| title_fullStr | <i>In-Situ</i> LED-Based Observation of Snow Surface and Depth Transects |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>In-Situ</i> LED-Based Observation of Snow Surface and Depth Transects |
| title_short | <i>In-Situ</i> LED-Based Observation of Snow Surface and Depth Transects |
| title_sort | i in situ i led based observation of snow surface and depth transects |
| topic | Leddar snowpack depth LIDAR LED LIDAR sonic ranging device intensity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/8/2292 |
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