New UMass Center to Promote Lidar as a Tool to Map, Study Environment

UMass Lowell Image
UMass Lowell researchers and students have used Lidar's infrared light to create three-dimensional images of forests, in order to study the health of the environment.

07/20/2015

Contacts: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu and Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

* M E D I A A D V I S O R Y *
Tuesday, July 21
9 to 10 a.m.

WHAT: More than 100 researchers, students and industry leaders will gather at UMass Lowell for two days to examine new applications for laser technology known as Lidar, including the three-dimensional mapping of forests, sea-level rise and air flow at proposed wind-turbine farms.

Much like radar uses radio waves, Lidar uses laser pulses to measure the distance between objects by illuminating a target and analyzing the refracted light. Originally developed for use in the architecture, engineering and construction fields, the technology has myriad applications, from examining pollution in the atmosphere to identifying motorists who are breaking the speed limit. Workshop participants will discuss Lidar’s state-of-the art uses, share research and explore avenues of collaboration.

During a session on Tuesday, July 21, 9 to 10 a.m. Gayla Evans of the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Research and Observation Center will talk about Lidar’s use to create a database of three-dimensional maps of U.S. coastal landscapes to study sea-level rise, storm-surge models and tsunami assessments, among other phenomena.

Event speakers are also scheduled to include UMass Lowell Vice Provost for Research Julie Chen and Physics Prof. Supriya Chakrabarti, who is leading the new University of Massachusetts Experimental Center for Environmental Lidar (ExCEL), which is presenting the workshop. The center aims to harness the technology’s power for new and expanded uses and is a partnership between UMass campuses in Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth and Lowell. ExCEL and the workshop are supported by a grant from the University of Massachusetts System Science and Technology Initiatives Fund.

Representatives from more than 25 universities, government agencies and businesses will present their research and participate in the event’s more than 15 sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday.

WHERE: UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, 50 Warren St., Lowell. Contact UMass Lowell media relations for directions and parking information.

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