LiDAR Scanning

Airborne, ground and marine laser scanning with world-leading technology — the Leica Chiroptera 4x scans topography and bathymetry simultaneously, down to a seabed 25 metres deep.

Colour-coded elevation model from an airborne LiDAR scan at Sdot Yam

What is LiDAR?

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) measures distance using laser pulses. Timing the return of each pulse gives a range, and millions of measurements per second build a 3D “point cloud” of the surface and the objects on it.

Chiroptera 4x — unique worldwide

An airborne bathymetric and topographic laser-LiDAR system by Leica. It is a unique, expensive system, among the few in the world equipped with a precise IMU, that scans topography and bathymetry simultaneously, down to a seabed 25 metres deep, at high accuracy.

Scanning is continuous, as a single unit and at high point density, combined with colour RGB and NIR digital aerial imagery from a precise mapping camera.

What do we actually map?

  • Depth mapping in the Sea of Galilee, Lake Hula, the Dead Sea, the Mediterranean, water reservoirs and streams.
  • Mapping areas and depths in the Dead Sea for documentation and quantity monitoring — a unique job performed by the company.
  • Precise airborne and ground scans for infrastructure, such as rail projects.
  • Topographic mapping of complex terrain — canyons, streams and slopes.

Examples from the field

The company has published example scans at Sdot Yam, Akko and a canyon — see the projects page. The LiDAR system scans many types of terrain at different sizes, at engineering accuracy and in short timeframes.

Scan types

  • Airborne: large areas, infrastructure and long corridors.
  • Ground: detailed scans of structures, sites and infrastructure sections.
  • Marine: seabed and coastal strip mapping for planning, management and safety.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between topographic and bathymetric LiDAR?
Topographic LiDAR maps the land surface; bathymetric LiDAR uses a water-penetrating wavelength to map sea and lake beds. The Chiroptera 4x combines both in a single flight.
How deep can it map?
Down to a 25 m seabed at high accuracy, depending on water clarity and environmental conditions.
Which water bodies has the company mapped?
The Sea of Galilee, Lake Hula, the Dead Sea, the Mediterranean, water reservoirs and streams.
Does LiDAR replace traditional marine surveying?
It complements it: in shallow areas and coastlines it is faster and more efficient, while deep or turbid water still calls for acoustic methods.
What does a LiDAR deliverable look like?
A 3D point cloud, an elevation model (DEM/DTM), sections, contour lines and depth maps, combined with a colour orthophoto from the same flight.

More services

Aerial Mapping & Photogrammetry Photogrammetric mapping, vertical and oblique aerial photography, colour and multispectral orthophoto and GIS — with the Leica DMC250, one of the world’s best systems, approved by the Survey of Israel. Land Surveying A leading land-surveying company committed to high-quality work — with 6 full land-survey crews operating in the field on an ongoing basis, using advanced laser and GPS‑RTK equipment. Marine Surveying Bathymetric surveys in lakes and along the coast, carried out with a certified marine surveyor and combined with airborne LiDAR scans — for complete seabed mapping for planning, management and safety. Appraisal, Cadastre & Land Registration Boundary reconstruction, registration plans, town-plan compilation, area calculations for balancing tables, appraiser support and expropriations — with over 400 registration plans approved a year with the Survey of Israel.

Interested in this service?

We'll accompany you from planning to final deliverables.

Contact us