Representatives of local government units (LGUs) in Ilocos Norte and La Union have received highly useful maps from the MMSU LiDAR 2 project in a turnover ceremony held Jan. 27 at the MMSU Teatro Ilocandia.

The maps will be used by the LGUs in tapping unknown and unexplored natural resources of their areas for development purposes.

LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges, or variable distances, to the Earth. These light pulses—combined with other data recorded by the airborne system— generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape of the Earth and its surface characteristics.

In the country, the LiDAR project is being centralized by the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

Engineer Mark Vener Vergara, senior science research specialist of the UP Phil-LiDAR 2 project said the LiDAR instrument they used in making the maps principally consists of a laser, a scanner, and a specialized GPS receiver.

In order to come up with reliable maps, the LiDAR project had invested a total of P53 million, including airplanes and helicopters that were used as platforms for acquiring LiDAR data over broad areas.

“The two types of LiDAR are topographic and bathymetric. Topographic LiDAR typically uses a near-infrared laser to map the land, while the bathymetric uses water-penetrating green light to also measure seafloor and riverbed elevations,” Vergara said.

LiDAR systems allow scientists and mapping professionals to examine both natural and manmade environments with accuracy, precision, and flexibility. Today, scientists are using LiDAR to produce more accurate shoreline maps, make digital elevation models for use in geographic information systems, to assist in emergency response operations, and in many other applications.

Meanwhile, Dr. Nathaniel Alibuyog, MMSU’s vice president for research, said it is gratifying to note that the agenda of the turnover ceremony covers a wide range of very interesting items that relate to risk reduction, planning, and importance of resource mapping.

“The MMSU Phil-LiDAR 2 project has produced detailed resource maps using LiDAR’s various applications to be used as aid in production of high-value crops, irrigation assessment, aquaculture production, forest protection, and discovery of renewable energy sources,” he said adding that the LGUs need these resource maps as guides in decision making such as the preparation of their comprehensive land use plans, disaster risk reduction programs and even in their integrated development investment plans,

“This dream project is proactive in providing local communities with science-based information in areas of rapidly changing environment through the use of state-of-the-art technologies backed by skilled, committed and driven LiDAR workforce,” he said.

The LiDAR project is likened to the Project NOAH or the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards. It is a project of the Department of Science and Technology that seeks to empower communities through access to accurate, reliable and timely hazard and risk information.

Like the LiDAR, Project NOAH essentially uses scientific methods to intelligently predict where disaster is likely to strike and in what manner. Through maps, local governments and communities are fed accurate information so that they can better anticipate disasters, take precaution, prepare for when they strike and rebuild and rehabilitate faster, afterward.

Since 2012, it has seen both success and recognition. Several local and international civil society organizations have partnered with the people behind NOAH; the maps, particularly, have served as essential tools in the disaster risk reduction and management activities of local governments.