Classification
Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
Distribution
Limited Distribution C: Restricted to U.S. citizens who are employees of the federal government or its contractors
See Security information for instructions on participating in short courses with limited distribution.
Instructor
Chris Valenta, Georgia Tech Research Institute
Duration
Half-day course, runs 1300-1700
Credits awarded
2 CLPs
Course Description
Although LIght Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) systems have been around since the invention of the laser, these instruments have seen remarkable development and deployment in the past decade. From their use as part of the sensor suite for autonomous vehicles for navigation, to their use as an authentication mechanism for smart phones and tablets, and to their use as remote sensing instruments to help forecast weather and provide data for climate change research, LIDAR data products provide outstanding situational awareness for their users. This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals and the theory of LIDAR; their major components; optical, electrical, and mechanical performance analysis; applications; and data products.
At the end of the course, a successful student should be able to:
- Explain how a LIDAR system operates and identify major components;
- Analyze the performance of a LIDAR system and identify engineering tradeoffs;
- Describe the different types of LIDARs and their applications; and
- Understand how LIDARs can be used for directed energy applications.
This course was previously taught as a semester long undergraduate/graduate level course and a longer version is offered as a professional short course through Georgia Tech Professional Education.
Intended Audience
This course is primarily intended for engineers and scientists who have taken college level physics 2 who are looking to better understand LIDAR remote sensing technology. Additionally, managers and non-technical persons will also be able to take away a fundamental understanding of the underlying key technologies.
Instructor Biography
Dr. Christopher R. Valenta is a Principal Research Engineer and associate division head at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory (EOSL) as well as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech. He has built and researched a variety of lidar systems including airborne topography and bathymetric, automotive, and a number of atmospheric lidar systems including aerosol, 3D wind, temperature, water vapor, and ozone, among others. Dr. Valenta is the winner of the 2015 IEEE Microwave Magazine Best Paper Award, a Georgia Tech 40 Under 40 winner, a 2020 SPIE Rising Researcher, and a registered professional engineer in the state of Georgia.