Tutorial Page 11-7 previous page Table Of Contents Going from point to linear surveying of the Earth s surface brings us to altimetry.
Laser is a shortened term for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.
Other laser materials include gallium arsenide and excited gases such as neon or helium. Both visible and infra-red wavelength light can be generated in this way. Laser altimetry has been conducted from aircraft platforms for several decades. Aircraft can be scheduled to fly in good weather, offsetting the main disadvantage of using lasers, cloud interference with the light beam. Lasers are also reliable and very accurate tools for determining distances to satellites in orbit.