Teledyne Optech’s ALTM Galaxy T1000 lidar designed to reduce costs

Teledyne Optech has added to its line of airborne laser terrain mappers with the ALTM Galaxy T1000. The new system combines a 1000-kHz effective ground measurement rate with Optech’s SwathTRAK technology to create a compact, efficient and versatile lidar sensor.

The Optech Galaxy T1000 reduces operating costs and improves performance. Photo: Optech

Core to the Galaxy T1000’s enhanced collection efficiency is a doubling of the laser pulse repetition frequency and a further increase to its variable-terrain capability with SwathTRAK technology, which reduces the number of flightlines by up to 70 percent over traditional fixed-FOV sensors.

SwathTRAK leverages the Galaxy’s programmable scanner by dynamically adjusting the scan field of view (FOV) in real time during data acquisition, enabling constant-width data swaths and constant point density even in highly variable terrain.

The result is far fewer flightlines to collect and process and a consistent point distribution, whether on hill peaks or valley bottoms. The steeper the terrain, the greater the cost savings, according to Teledyne Optech.

The Galaxy T1000 also includes PulseTRAK technology, which enables a continuous operating envelope. This lets surveyors employ very high laser pulse repetition frequencies to generate high point-density data at high altitude and in variable terrain without the need for complex flight planning. Full 100 percent point density is maintained across the multi-pulse transition zones for true data integrity without data interpolation.

“Cost reduction is the key driver for leadership in competitiveness in today’s geospatial data acquisition market,” says Michael Sitar, airborne business manager for Teledyne Optech. “The new Galaxy T1000 offers unparalleled collection cost savings, particularly in variable terrain, while maintaining all the advantages of independent range measurement and the highest data precision and accuracy from high altitude achievable today. We are excited to offer the most advanced survey instrument at a far superior price/performance ratio and in the most compact package for utmost installation flexibility.”