Taming Terrain
Sculpting geoscapes from LIDAR
Andrew Godwin @andrewgodwin
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
Hi, I’m
Andrew Godwin
• Python programmer-at-large
• Geodata enthusiast
• Does not (yet) own LiDAR equipment
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
1. Data
2. Modelling
3. Fabrication
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
1. Elevation Data
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
Can be either surface or terrain (no buildings/plants)
Digital Elevation Model
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
Source: maps-for-free.com
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
Hawai'i (ASTER GDEM)
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
Radar
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
Low resolution
Needs large-ish antennas
Long distance
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
LiDAR
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
Light Detection And Ranging
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
Very high resolution (cm range)
Compact devices (planes or vehicles)
Short distances
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
Free data in both point clouds and DEMs!
e.g. Environment Agency, USGIS
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
data.gov.uk
earthexplorer.usgs.gov
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
2. Processing
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
"Point Cloud"
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
Multiple returns
Too much detail
Noisy
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
a. "Thin" point cloud
b. Rasterise point cloud to DEM
c. Smooth results
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
3. Fabrication
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
3D Printing
Laser Cutting
Milling
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
3D Printing
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
4 - 12 unattended hours (per 15cm tile)
Difficult to line up perfectly
Has to print perfectly square!
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
Milling
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
2 - 4 attended hours per 10cm piece
Small features hard to mill
CNC mills ain't cheap
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
Laser Cutting
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
15 minutes to cut, 15 mins to glue
Only works for features surrounded by
flat
Limited detail
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
What's next?
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
Less human-intensive milling
Better laser cut feature highlighting
3D directly from point clouds
Somehow getting a LiDAR scanner?!
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Andrew Godwin / @andrewgodwin
code: github.com/andrewgodwin/lidartile
blog: aeracode.org
videos: youtube.com/user/andrewgodwin