LIDAR Processing & Utilisation - Example Project

Client:  Neighbour Associates – Great Barrier Island

Project: Peter Neighbours of Neighbours Associates (Auckland) were contracted by a family that owns land at Whangaparapara, Great Barrier Island, to conduct the necessary surveys to enable future development of their land.

Because of its remoteness, lack of modern survey control, and difficulty in surveying the bush areas, Neighbours Associates looked at purchasing LIDAR and ortho-photography from the Auckland City Council to get more information without excessive cost being incurred.

It was necessary to conduct ground surveys to coordinate survey marks, tie-in to the LIDAR data and provide detailed topography in areas where the LIDAR was not accurate enough for the purpose e.g. determining boundaries, possible access locations, trees etc.

We utilised RTK GPS to transfer survey control from 5 km away by traversing the southern shores of the island by boat. ’I think we hopped on and off the boat 40 times in one day‘ says Grant. 

Outcome: The exercise was a success with control established to an accuracy of +/- 0.015m horizontal & +/- 0.05m in height.